Victor Wembanyama took his match to a different venue on Saturday.
The NBA star, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs and goes by the nickname Wemby, went to X in the early hours of Saturday to ask where the best place to play chess is in New York City.
At 9:30 a.m., Wemby chose its home field: Washington Square Park.
“Who wants to meet me at the southwest corner of Washington Square Park to play chess? I’m there,” the center forward posted.
It was a rainy day in New York on Saturday, but that didn’t stop Wemby or its fans from showing up to watch a game at the park.
Two hours later, he posted a photo on one of the park’s many chess boards, surrounded by his opponents.
“Thank you to everyone who stopped in the rain,” Wemby posted Saturday morning after the games.
The NBA jumped on the Wemby bandwagon and posted a video collage of the athlete taking on multiple rivals while spectators took photos of the rare event.
In response, Wemby offered a suggestion: a chess tournament exclusively for NBA players. He said the proceeds should go to the winner’s chosen charity.
Wemby has been enjoying the Christmas week in the North East. The Spurs faced the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, the New York Knicks on Christmas Day and the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
