Comments on: Chess, Mahjong and Pi http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2008/09/21/chess-mahjong-and-pi/ Exploring urban life through word and photography Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:47:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David Maloney http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2008/09/21/chess-mahjong-and-pi/comment-page-1/#comment-219018 David Maloney Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:22:53 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2008/09/21/chess-mahjong-and-pi/#comment-219018 I ended up studying at Café Pi last night, it was my first visit. The chess players are indeed a diverse bunch. Heavily accented Montreal English seemed to be the language of communication between most of these very intense gentlemen. There was actually one woman in the chess crowd, but she made it clear that she was there to watch and she didn't play. The cream of vegetable soup I ordered was absolutely terrible. I’ll go back though, just for the atmosphere. On a side note, I overheard a very attractive girl (there for coffee not chess) explain to a young man that a great way to kill someone is to secretly release a venomous snake into their apartment. Interesting idea, no? I ended up studying at Café Pi last night, it was my first visit. The chess players are indeed a diverse bunch. Heavily accented Montreal English seemed to be the language of communication between most of these very intense gentlemen. There was actually one woman in the chess crowd, but she made it clear that she was there to watch and she didn’t play.

The cream of vegetable soup I ordered was absolutely terrible. I’ll go back though, just for the atmosphere.

On a side note, I overheard a very attractive girl (there for coffee not chess) explain to a young man that a great way to kill someone is to secretly release a venomous snake into their apartment. Interesting idea, no?

]]> By: Zvi http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2008/09/21/chess-mahjong-and-pi/comment-page-1/#comment-214414 Zvi Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:12:38 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2008/09/21/chess-mahjong-and-pi/#comment-214414 Yes, chess players certainly can be an eclectic bunch. One time in Washington Square Park in NYC I teamed up with some Puerto Rican character to teach a cute young woman how to play chess. Good chess players usually are not very boastful about their abilities but this guy was going on and on about him taking on the old guys who really are grand-masters. I didn't take him very seriously and we weren't playing a serious game so there was no way to tell.... I happened to pass by the park again a few days later, and there he was, taking on the old guys just like he said. He even had a handicap since apparently he was the favourite. The only other time I can recall a chess player 'showing off' was a Brazilian guy who was basically just trying to 'toy with me.' He over-extended himself one match and I almost beat him. Then he told me that he actually had been ranked number 3 in Brazil at some point. For real. Not that Brazil is a chess powerhouse or anything.... Yes, chess players certainly can be an eclectic bunch. One time in Washington Square Park in NYC I teamed up with some Puerto Rican character to teach a cute young woman how to play chess. Good chess players usually are not very boastful about their abilities but this guy was going on and on about him taking on the old guys who really are grand-masters. I didn’t take him very seriously and we weren’t playing a serious game so there was no way to tell….

I happened to pass by the park again a few days later, and there he was, taking on the old guys just like he said. He even had a handicap since apparently he was the favourite.

The only other time I can recall a chess player ‘showing off’ was a Brazilian guy who was basically just trying to ‘toy with me.’ He over-extended himself one match and I almost beat him. Then he told me that he actually had been ranked number 3 in Brazil at some point. For real. Not that Brazil is a chess powerhouse or anything….

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