Big Chair Recognizes DC Chess Luminaries
Busboys & Poets in Anacostia hosted another Big Chair chess extravaganza on February 21, with a tournament and poetry slam. It was a sell-out event, with players turned away due to space limitations. Those who came played great chess, enjoyed provoking poetry, and heard from people who made DC chess history.
Eugene Brown, the founder of the Big Chair Chess Club (Think B4U Move), returned to Washington to play in the tournament and give an inspiring talk to the assembled group. Wendell Hankins, now the Co-Chairman of the Big Chair Club, directed the tournament and served as Master of Ceremonies for the festivities.
Frank Street, who became the second Black master in the world about 60 years ago, described his history of competition to offer encouragement to the younger players competing, and Ralph Mikell, one of the founders of the DC Black Knights, spoke about its history.
While gray hair was present among the speakers, the theme that chess can be played at every age predominated. The DC Black Knights remains active in the DC Chess League and runs an annual tournament every December. Mr. Street, while no longer competing in over the board tournaments, remains active on chess.com
The U.S. Chess Center has connections to all of the luminaries. Mr. Mikell was the original Treasurer of the Center, a post he held for more than 20 years. Mr. Street sent his son to the Center’s classes when we were located at 1501 M Street, NW, downtown. Mr. Hankins was a student at the Center, and played in many of our tournaments, and Mr. Brown, who was portrayed by Cuba Gooding in the Hollywood production of Life of a King, [Trailer] worked with Center teachers teaching at Kimball Elementary School in Washington.
