The Chess Room @ State Library of Victoria

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Anyone for Chess?



Sometime last year, a friend came to stay from Perth. One unusually sunny day in Melbourne he was in the city and messaged me to see what I was doing. I didn't have any plans. He then inquired if I liked Chess? I wasn't sure if he meant Chess - The Musical, Chess - the game, or just mind games in general, so I clarified. As it turned out, he meant Chess. Which was what he said. As it happened, I had learnt to play chess years ago and had really enjoyed it and so I answered yes and enquired why he wanted to know.

He told me to meet him at the State Library on Swanston Street later that day, and so I did. I thought maybe he'd bought a Chess board and we were going to play out the front on the grass but instead he took me inside the library and up some grand staircase and into a room, I s**t you not, specifically for Chess!

There were millions (well maybe I exaggerate) of people with game boards, draughts and chess boards silently, but furiously, concentrating on their next move. I was in awe. I didn't know these types of places existed. Chess rooms! Did we have to join a Chess Club to be in here? Apparently not! We could mosey in, grab one of the several chess boards, grab a table and play. Play till our little hearts were content and our brains could no longer handle the strain of strategy.

Hours later, the library closed and we were sadly forced to leave, but as geeky as this sounds, it was probably one of the coolest things I've ever done. And it was completely FREE!

Check it out.

#games
#city
#rainy_day
%wnmelbourne