NBA star Victor Wembanyama, Wemby to his fans, loves chess almost as much as basketball. For the second straight year, Wembanyama organized a summer , combining his two favorite activities. The festival was held on the outskirts of Paris on August 8 and 9. Along with a basketball tournament, the event included two chess tournaments and several side events featuring streamers like IM , better known as , and IM .
WIM interviews Wembanyama. Photo: Chess.com
The celebration of chess and basketball featured two days of rapid chess tournaments. Wembanyama visited both tournaments and played practice games with some of the younger participants. The kids were up to the challenge, and defeated their much taller opponent in every game.
Maybe having your head closer to the pieces is an advantage. Six-year old Adam Calixte won his match against Wembanyama. Photo: Chess.com
Wembanyama also tried his luck against the famous chess streamers, but they were at least as strong as the children. These games against Song and Rozman were played on center court in a front of an excited crowd. During Wembanyama’s matchup with Rozman, Song provided commentary in French for the fans. He switched to English when Rozman “sacrificed the rook” against the basketball star.
👀
— Chess.com (@chesscom)
Wembanyama observed many of the games in the rapid event. Would you be nervous playing in front of a celebrity? The competitors didn’t seem too worried.
Wemby has the BEST view of chess games 😭😅
— Chess.com (@chesscom)
While the basketball star got a taste of chess, the chess players got to test their skills at basketball. Rozman was up for the challenge.
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Hoop Gambit debuted and continues to grow. Wembanyama plays chess frequently, recently competing with Mohammadreza Firouzja, perhaps better known as Alireza Firouzja’s brother. Rozman analyzed their games.
