By Tameka Kenan-Norman, City of Rocky Mount NC
Jude Acers, US World chessmaster and former North Carolina resident, will show off the skill that put him in the record books by playing simultaneous games of chess at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences. “Checkmate Rocky Mount” will take place Sunday, October 8, 2017, starting at 1pm.
Anyone wanting to test their skills against Acers is welcome to register and play. The only prerequisite is that the player must know how to play, how to set up the board and how to record moves.
“We plan to have 100 players that day,” said Sheila Long, recreation services supervisor at the Imperial Centre. “This is something we have never had in Rocky Mount before, and I believe it will be fun for players and spectators alike.”
Known for wearing a red beret and entertaining on the streets of New Orleans, Acers’ love of chess and willingness to play anyone has taken him around the globe. On tour, he typically visits prisons and schools, delighting and inspiring adults and children who may never have thought chess was exciting.
The event is free and open to the public. First Carolina Bank, Hotline Express and the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences are event sponsors.
Rules for simultaneous play and registration are available online at www.imperialcentre.org. For more information, call 252.972.1151. The Imperial Centre is located at 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount NC.
