Last week, members of the Pittsburgh Chess Club played at a chess demonstration at Duquesne University, and Councilman Bill Peduto was in attendance as a special guest.  

The club includes international chess grandmaster Darmen Sadvakassov, a Kazakhstan native who is now a graduate student in the Heinz College School of Public Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University.  Sadvakassov played 12 others at the same time without even looking at the boards.  Councilman Peduto made the first move of the event against the grandmaster.  Sadvakassov sits with his back to the boards, and judges move his pieces for him after he hears his opponents moves announced by a game official.  He beat 11 of the 12 opponents, and had 1 draw.

The goal of the demonstration was to attract new members to join the Pittsburgh Chess Club, and to show just how much fun the game of chess can be.  Councilman Peduto has helped to bring chess to local events, and is currently working to provide opportunities for the chess club to work with children and others in our parks, particularly Mellon Park.  He was the chess club honoree at the club’s fundraiser last year, and even though they do not endorse political candidates, he always finds time to help them gain exposure and promote their incredible story.

Check out the article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review for more details.