NBA Superstar Victor Wembanyama Plays 1-On-1 Chess With Fans In New York

Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York Metropolis and performed 1-on-1 with followers on Saturday. He even misplaced a few video games.

Not in basketball, although.

Wemby was taking part in chess. And this wasn’t on a whim: He is aware of easy methods to play and even introduced his personal chess set.

Earlier than the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the decision on social media: “Who needs to fulfill me on the SW nook of Washington Sq. park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote.

It was 9:36 a.m. Individuals started displaying up virtually instantly.

Washington Sq. Park is a identified spot for chess in New York — Bobby Fischer amongst others have famously performed there, and it’s been used for a number of film scenes that includes the sport.

Wembanyama was there for an hour within the rain, from about 10-11 a.m. He performed 4 video games, successful two and shedding two — he informed Bleacher Report afterward that each of the losses had been to skilled chess gamers — earlier than departing to catch the Spurs’ flight.

Wembanyama had been attempting to get someplace to play chess for the majority of the staff’s time in New York — the Spurs performed the Knicks on Christmas and received at Brooklyn on Friday night time. The schedule by no means aligned, till Saturday morning. And even with unhealthy climate, he bundled as much as make it occur.

He posed for images with a few dozen individuals who confirmed up, braving a morning of chilly rain to play chess with one of many NBA’s greatest stars.

“We’d like an NBA gamers solely Chess event, proceeds go to the charity of selection of the winner,” he wrote on social media after his chess journey was over.

Wembanyama is averaging 25.2 factors and 10.1 rebounds this season, his second within the NBA after successful rookie of the 12 months final season. The Spurs play at Minnesota on Sunday.