Are you game?
Christine Whelan FEO, July 4, 2024, VOL. 5 ISSUE 22
Imagine 32 people dressing up in funny costumes, looking like chess pieces, on a chess board fit for human players with 4’x4′ squares. Imagine them playing live chess, in public to bring awareness and support to the Alzheimer’s Society.
“We pulled this off on Parliament Hill,” Matt Paul, the organizer of the event, was happy to admit.
The first human chess or live chess game in history played at Parliament Hill in front of the Peace Tower was on May 12, 2024.
And now, Matt Paul is excited to bring the next live chess game to the Niagara Region.
While born and raised in Wainfleet, Matt now enjoys being a Ridgeway resident. He thinks walking to the lake for a wake-up swim early in the morning these days is a great way to start the day.
Over his earlier years, Matt would grab moments of the Fort Erie experience for different, common reasons: the racetrack and Friendship Festivals. So, when he decided to make some life changes for his well-being and happiness after spending years working in a stressful occupation, he followed a suggestion from a long-time friend. Take those changes and move them to Ridgeway.
“Life’s too short.”
Paul shared a personal inspiration that helped lead him to bring this particular activity—live chess—to the public.
He remembers that when his grandfather taught him chess, he said to make sure he kept playing the game, “So, when you get like me, and beyond, he said, you will continue to be able to have conversations like these and continue to do the things that you now take for granted.”
Parliament Hill, Ottawa
“In Ottawa, there’s a large chess community,” Matt explained, “So, on Facebook, I posted a couple of shout-outs to people, explaining what we were doing, telling them they had the opportunity to dress up as whatever chess piece they wanted unless the piece was already taken.” It was completely free to play.
The permit was obtained in February. By March, the board pieces were fully spoken for.
“I didn’t know anybody.” He began telling little stories of the different people, strangers to him, who contacted him in response to his social media post, asking to join in.
“We had all walks of life out there on that board. For example, our white queen was a member of the Algonquin people.”
A white knight worked for NATO. One of the original people behind Facebook stopped by to play.
“We had people, families, coming up, on the hill, asking if they could play. The game became more directed by the kids. We just went with it. We just had fun.”
Some brought their own chess boards so they could play along.
Matt said he didn’t set the game up with any parameters or requirements. “It was not meant to be a political statement in any way. It was just meant to get people out and have fun. Spread joy and bring people together.
“In a world where most people are focused on paying their mortgages and bills, which is becoming increasingly difficult for a lot of people, it’s a fun diversion where we don’t think about politics or what’s going to be on our tables this evening. It’s just fun.”
Chess represents and reminds us of the simple things in life. The two older men, sitting in the park, after years of putting in their contribution to the world, now get to sit down, in the shade with the breeze in their faces, to a simple, yet cognitively stimulating game of chess.
Supporting the Alzheimer’s Society
It’s a fundraiser. But, if it’s free, how is this a fundraiser?
The organizer explained, “The only way I want to do things when I do these types of fundraisers is simply.” He explained that these events are meant to bring awareness to the existence of the Alzheimer’s Society and to encourage people to donate directly to the charity itself by going to livechessbythefalls.com and clicking on the button to go to the Alzheimer’s Society website.
“They can donate to the National Research Fund, or they can donate to their local chapter, wherever they are from. My hands are totally out of that part. It’s between the donor and the charity.”
Why this charity?
Matt says it’s a natural combination, explaining, “Chess or any board game, enhances our neuroplasticity, belating Alzheimer’s and decreasing some of the risk factors.”
Live Chess by the Falls
“I know this has never been done in front of Niagara Falls.”
On the day we chatted, the invitations had just begun to go out.”The first people I contacted were the initial players in Ottawa.”
“I’ve got tourists coming now. They’re getting a hotel in Niagara Falls for that weekend.”
He says you don’t even have to know how to play. “You’re not playing, you’re a piece. So, when it’s time to move, someone will tell you where to move.”
“When a piece gets taken, there’s this dramatic scene where the two players have some sort of fake conflict. It’s hilarious,” he laughed.
“In Ottawa, we had an accomplished cellist on the scene. When she found out this live chess game was about to happen with everyone dressing up, she asked to join in. During these dramatic scenes with the players, there was this cello music in the background.”
Regarding the youngest age allowed, he says it’s up to the parents. “When we played the game in Ottawa, we had kids as young as six years old.”
Location: In View of the Falls
When asked where exactly the spot was, Matt replied, “It’s ridiculously wonderful.” With a laugh, he said, “I was so excited when I walked down there.”
He and a friend drove down the parkway and scoped out the different places by the falls, all the way to Dufferin Islands.
“Niagara Parks has given us a permit, agreeing to our making use of the space at the corner of Murray Street and the Niagara Parkway, in Queen Victoria Park.”
Part of the setup allows for sponsorships.
“The chessboard is sponsored,” Matt shared. “We also have permission from Niagara Parks to have balloons so businesses can have their logos on them. We’ll be putting the sponsoring business logos on the website.” Matt stated that this is separate from the donations to the charity. The sponsorships are to offset some of the costs of the event.
If, in the end, they find out they received more support than they needed, they’ll write out a cheque to the Alzheimer’s Society.
So, are you game?
If you are interested in the opportunity to create a costume and participate as a piece in this human chess game on August 25 in Niagara Falls, go to livechessbythefalls.com and follow the instructions.
For further information and to watch the video of the live chess game on Parliament, go to the website.
Photos of the live chess game on Parliament Hill from the website. Professional Photographer Gustavo Hannecke
