A permanent undercover oversized chess set and surrounding regular-sized chess tables are to be installed overlooking Byron’s Main Beach – but not any time soon.
That’s if you’re impatient to get down to the popular beachfront spot for a guaranteed game, although if you’re lucky, Byron Bay Chess Club founder Peter Hanna will be there with his temporary set-up.
Mr Hanna can often be found playing or teaching chess at a small card table or on his fabric oversized chess board in between the swing set and the surf club at Apex Park.
Fine-weather Sundays are the best time to catch him, although he says there was a constant crowd of chess enthusiasts gathered for his free public outdoor chess at Byron’s tourist mecca until 2 AM at the most recent New Years Eve celebrations.
Local chess lover beats international Grandmaster
Players and lookers-on come from all over the world and represent diverse ages and chess experience, from visiting children, local youth and longtime chess players to even a Grandmaster from The Netherlands.
Grandmasters are officially recognised by international chess competitions as earning enough points in a complex scoring system to for the title.
There are also Super Grandmasters, who must earn even higher scores, Mr Hanna says.
But on this occasion in a friendly game overlooking the bay, Mr Hanna beat a holidaying Grandmaster, he confides off-air when speaking to Bay FM’s Community Newsroom* last week.
Beginners welcome, for a cup of coffee
Mr Hanna also loves to teach beginners, including children, and is methodical in his approach.
He charges nothing but a cappuccino, he laughs, and can also be found at regular chess club gatherings across the Northern Rivers, simply search for Byron Bay Chess Club on social media.
As for getting a permanent chess play area happening near Main Beach, with some shelter from the elements, Mr Hanna says he has been asking for twenty years.
It’s becoming quite an effort for him to carry all the equipment these days, he says, and the rain often arrives without adequate warning and with force.
Chess petition wins council support
He recently took a petition around Byron Bay, managing to accrue more than 1,100 signatures and the support of outgoing Independent Byron Shire Councillor Cate Coorey.
Cr Coorey took a motion to the council’s last ordinary meeting for the year before entering caretaker mode ahead of upcoming local government elections.
Her motion last week called for support to make Mr Hanna’s Byron Bay outdoor chess area dream a reality.
Independent Mayor Michael Lyon seconded the call for plans to be made for a permanent sheltered spot at either Apex or Dening Park, with the chess club’s willingness to raise project funds noted.
The club was also to be invited to consider ‘interim locations’, according to the four-part motion, which won unanimous support.
Independent Cr Sama Balson was absent on leave from the meeting and did not vote.
Mr Hanna says he’s not interested in setting his outdoor chess play area up anywhere other than Byron Bay and is excited about the non-checkmate win, in council chambers, for a permanent arrangement there.
But he says he’s told it could be at least four years by the time local government processes are finalised and the project finally happens.
Check? Your move. Mr Hanna is in this for the long game.
*Mia Armitage is Bay FM Community Newsroom EP
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