Chess Fete at St. Nicholas Park!
Battle in St. Nicholas Park. IM Alex Lenderman (center)
giving “Clayton” blitz odds. Photo by Michael Williams.
Chess Drum contributor Michael Williams sent this report about a trip to the famous St. Nicholas Park in Harlem New York. For those of you who don’t know, this park is famous in Black circles for being the place where many “Black Bear” Masters honed their skills. It is also the place where a young Maurice Ashley battled and had to often lick his wounds before returning with a vengeance. By looking at the pictures taken, it appears as if the place was in full swing.
Williams reports that IM Alex Lenderman was out there giving 5 minutes to 1:45 odds to park hustlers. He stated,
I personally didn’t see Lenderman lose a game, but some people said Clayton won a few outright. Farai, you can see him in one of the pics not playing, was given another park legend “Boka” the same odds and doing his thing. I heard Susan Polgar was supposed be coming out there on Sunday. I can tell that park is special… It was beautiful to be in that arena.
Zimbabwe’s FM Farai Mandizha was out there as well giving the same odds. He is becoming a legend in his own right. There is to be a blitz tournament at the park on August 23rd.
Here are a couple of other pictures sent by Michael Williams. St. Nicholas Park seems to have the same feel as Dupont Circle, but more intense. Chicago had North Avenue Beach and Harper Court… LA had Venice Beach. There is a certain allure to chess outdoors!
Things are jumping! Farai Mandizha looking at far right.
A Philly invasion!
To all my chess brothers…If you get a chance try and make it up to St. Nicholas park ..you won’t be disappointed!
Thanks again Daaim for the kind words!
Keep the drum beating!
Keep the ball rolling, we need more of your good stuff Farai 🙂
8) The Chess Drum web site was a good find. I will be going back to it in the future.
Keep coming back and… keep the beat going!!
Hi –
This is a really great post. I am with the Friends of St. Nicholas Park and we would like to either use these photos or others on our group’s website or brochure. Who would I speak with concerning using these great photos?
Thanks!
info@stnicholaspark.org
Michael Williams is the contact. He’s out of Philly and I’ve e-mailed his e-mail address to the address you posted.