Mission: Beat the Chessmaster

The smell of blue cigar smoke wafted through the air. He wore a black Atlanta Falcons jacket, a light straw hat, and clenched the stub of said cigar in his teeth. A curious crowd of locals, tourists and onlookers gathered round the well-worn chess board in silence. Hands moved lighting-fast to place pieces and then tap down the time clock.

Yes, the Chessmaster was in and ready for business.

Four of Harvard's best chess players squared off in front of Au Bon Pain in an effort to "kick the Chessmaster's ass." Whether that occurred remains to be seen, as the series of games ended in a draw.

Woody McClelland '00, New Jersey's state champion in chess two years running, defeated the Chessmaster 1-0. Christopher Chabris '88, currently a sixth year graduate student in psychology, also prevailed 1-0.

However, Asst. Prof. Andrew Metrick, the head tutor of the economics department, lost 0-1, as did the chess club's faculty advisor Noam D. Elkies (GSAS '87) professor of mathmatics.

Until next time, Chessmaster.

The Chessmaster plays in the Square, weather pending, 9 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.