The official opening of the Giant Chess Set in downtown Medicine Hat took place on Tuesday.--NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
The seventh annual launch of the giant outdoor chess set in downtown Medicine Hat took place Tuesday.
Rita Bessant, executive director of CORE Association, said the season is starting a little later than usual because of the COVID-19 lockdown. The organization wanted to ensure it could comply with all health and safety guidelines to operate.
The giant chess set has been in the city for more than 12 years and was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009 as being the world’s largest.
The Medicine Hat Chess Club began the tradition and in 2014 transferred it to CORE.
The set is located next to the Medicine Hat Public Library on First Street SE, where many people make a point of enjoying the challenge of a game of chess.
The set is outside on a permanently-surfaced giant chess board with usable giant wooden chess pieces, conceptualized and developed by Bill Taylor and members of the Medicine Hat Chess Club. The pieces are hand- and lathe-crafted from teak wood and imported from Indonesia.
Taylor was at the launch on Tuesday.
One of the goals for CORE, in more than six decades in the community, is to be inclusive and provide employment opportunities. Two of CORE’s clients will be helping to ensure the smooth running of the chess board this summer for people to enjoy.
