Victor Wembanyama, the towering NBA star, took a break from the basketball court for an unexpected appearance at the Chess Plaza in New York’s Washington Square Park. The 221cm French player, fresh from winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year and a silver at the Olympics, engaged in a series of impromptu chess matches. His social media call for a meet-up drew more than 20 fans, eager to watch or challenge him despite the rain. While the San Antonio Spurs’ center stumbled against a pair of professional players, he found some victory over his brother, which he playfully noted on social media. Wembanyama, who began playing chess at seven, expressed a desire to unite fellow NBA chess enthusiasts, hinting at an NBA players’ chess tournament aimed at supporting charitable causes.
