Game of kings makes a return

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This article was published 25/07/2012 (3902 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shoppers at Garden City Shopping Centre can now rub elbows with kings, queens and even a few knights.

The shopping mall officially unveiled a new, oversized chess board on July 19. The eight by eight-foot surface is portable and features playing pieces that measure 36-inches in height.

The giant game pieces will look familiar to regular patrons of the mall. The shopping centre used to be home to a giant chess square that was located in a recessed pit near the mall’s former Eaton’s location.

Garden City mall spokesperson Erica Bracic said the former chess pit was eliminated more than a decade ago because of improvements that were made to the mall.

“The pit was removed as part of the mall’s expansion project to make way for the addition of the Canadian Tire and Winners stores,” she said.

The new playing surface is dedicated to Daniel (Abe) Yanofsky, a former West Kildonan mayor and Canada’s first chess grandmaster.

Chess fans of all ages attended last week’s unveiling of the chess board.

Senior Ben Fowler said he was pleasantly surprised to discover that the so-called game of kings was back at the mall.

“This is great. I was walking up the hallway and remembered there used to be an oversized wooden set here,” he said as he watched competitors make their moves.

Youngsters from the Manitoba Chess Association were on-hand to square off against each other and take on other challengers.

Members of the public were also encouraged to sign up to play in a free match against five-time Manitoba chess champion Trevor Vincent, who offered to play as many as 25 chess matches at the same time.

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rob.brown@canstarnews.com