Carlsen schools chess hustlers in Washington Square Park

By Errol Tiwari On In Chess with Errol |
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen (left) and his challenger for the title Sergey Karjakin. It’s the first time two players who have come of age in the computer era are fighting for the title; this represents a generational shift in chess.
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen (left) and his challenger for the title Sergey Karjakin. It’s the first time two players who have come of age in the computer era are fighting for the title; this represents a generational shift in chess.

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Bobby Fischer, America’s most successful chess player, contested a fair number of chess blitz games in Washington Square Park, Manhattan. Usually, the games are timed at five minutes per player, per game; although five minutes can be reduced to two, or even one minute, upon mutual agreement by the players.

When a competitive chess player visits New York, it is likely there is an inclination to play the game in the park. There is vigorous chess activity that is ongoing, almost on a 24-hour basis, in Washington Square Park in the summer months. Added to that, the park is famous. It is a haven for