On Saturday, October 22nd, the Washington Square Association hosted our second annual Washington Square Chess Exhibition. The event was held where some of the world’s most iconic chess tables exist, in Washington Square Park’s Chess Plaza, and featured famed chess Grandmaster John Fedorowicz leading a simultaneous exhibition against 26 players at once. The participants represented a wide range of personalities and backgrounds, including players with USCF ratings from 1188 to 2275, lifelong enthusiasts, regulars at the Chess Plaza, and five budding pros under the age of 12. In fact, the youngest player was six years old!

Erika Sumner, WSA Chess Exhibition Event Director said, “We are thrilled to host the second annual Chess Exhibition here in Washington Square Park, bringing the community together for a truly memorable day. We hope to carry on this new tradition for years to-come, as we continue creating experiences that enrich the culture of the park and its community,”

The exhibition began at 1pm following a lecture from Grandmaster Fedorowicz. After several hours of playing, the exhibition ended just after 5:30pm with 5 draws, an impressive showing for our Washington Square players! Each person who drew will receive a free lesson from the Grandmaster. Highschool student, Ian Nicholson, was the first to draw and two of the draws came from 10 year old Connor Liao, who was one of only two people to reach a draw with our Grandmaster Maxim Dlugy last year, and his father Michael. Also reaching a draw were Uclid Arias, who gave the most competitive game of the day, and Erik Bergren, who traveled all the way from Westchester to play in the Exhibition..

During the lecture, Grandmaster Fedorowicz gave advice and discussed scenarios with the players, sharing: “You don’t go bishop-takes-knight for the heck of it - you have to have a reason… you might need that bishop later.” He concluded by commenting, “The best thing in chess is when you see an easy plan and you follow through with it.”

For many chess enthusiasts, the chance to play a game against a Grandmaster is a lifelong dream. A native New Yorker and force in American chess, Grandmaster Fedorowicz was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in 2009 and attained his Grandmaster title in 1986. Fedorowicz twice represented the U.S. in the World Chess Olympiad and captained both men's and women's Olympiad teams. In addition to countless awards and titles, he has authored numerous chess articles and two books.

The WSA looks forward to hosting the next Chess Exhibition in 2023, thanks to your donations and WSA memberships.

This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of Greenwich Village resident, world-renowned architect and longtime Washington Square Association Board Member, James Polshek.

JOHN FEDOROWICZ

Bronx native, global chess champion, and author, John Fedorowicz, became known as a force in American chess almost a decade before he earned the title of Grandmaster. He twice represented the U.S. in the World Chess Olympiad and served as captain for both men's and women's Olympiad teams. He is also the winner of five World Open titles with many international victories to his credit from Cannes to Sesimbra to Wijk aan Zee, and was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in 2009. Grandmaster Fedorowicz spends much of his time participating in NYC’s chess community, teaching chess to children, and giving private lessons.

REMEMBERING JAMES POLSHEK

Giant of modern architecture and longtime Greenwich Village resident, James Polshek, believed, “The true importance of architecture lies in its ability to solve human problems, not stylistic ones”, and he infused those humanist values into every building he designed. His many projects included the Museum of Natural History’s Earth and Space Center, the Carnegie Hall renovation, and the Clinton Library. Jim served on the Board of the WSA for decades and will be greatly missed.

THE WASHINGTON SQUARE ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1906, The Washington Square Association is NYC’s oldest neighborhood and second oldest civic organization. During our more than 100 years of service to the Washington Square neighborhood, the Association has supported the Park by providing free programming to the public funded by our membership fees and volunteer donations. Anyone can become a member for $50/year. The Association is entirely volunteer-driven so 100% goes towards our free programs including the Christmas tree and community caroling, The Washington Square Chess Exhibition, support for the Washington Square Music Festival and The Village Trip, and advocacy for community issues.

2nd Annual Washington Square Chess Exhibition A Huge Success