Image source: What Should We Do
Great News!
We are delighted to share that we will be holding our Washington Square Chess Exhibition on October 24 from noon until 4pm. This afternoon immersion in chess strategy in and near the Washington Square Park Chess Plaza will commence with a lecture by famed chess Grandmaster Maxim Dlugy, and will be followed by a simultaneous exhibition during which the Grandmaster will play 18 players at once! This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of longtime Greenwich Village resident, Washington Square Music Festival volunteer, and community activist, Doris Deither.
Schedule
12:00pm Chess Lecture by Grandmaster (Southwest Park pathway next to Chess Plaza)
1:00pm Simultaneous Chess Exhibition - Grandmaster will simultaneously play against 18 registrants until one player is left standing (Chess Plaza - Southwest corner of the Park)
Want to Play a Chess Grandmaster?
All ages are welcome to participate, and five spots will be reserved for players 12 and under. Spaces are filling up quickly so if you or your child would like to compete, please fill out the attached form and send it to us ASAP.
We Need Volunteers! We are looking for 10 volunteers to help during the day for a variety of roles including ushers, game monitors, and crowd control. Children ages 14 and older are welcome to help out and we will work with you on a shorter shift for them as needed (if your child is volunteering for school credit we will happily sign off on the relevant forms). Please contact Erika Sumner at (212) 777-1703 with your interest or questions.
About Maxim Dlugy
Maxim Alexandrovich Dlugy was born in Moscow and graduated from Manhattan’s Dalton High School. He won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1985 and was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1986. Known for his speed chess playing, Dlugy was formerly ranked number one in the world by the World Blitz Chess Association. He currently runs the Chess Max Academy on the Upper West Side
Remembering Doris Deither
Described as a force of nature, Doris Diether (1929-2021) was a longtime Greenwich Village preservationist who out of sheer appreciation became a self-taught Washington Square Park guardian and served on Manhattan’s Community Board 2 for over 50 years. Diether helped found Save the Village, a campaign focused on reforming zoning and rent laws in Greenwich Village. Diether also volunteered with the Association’s Washington Square Music Festival for over 20 years. She was also an animal lover with a zest for life - she will be greatly missed.