Victor Wembanyama mixes basketball and chess in a Tournament in Chesnay

The silence that surrounds the dozens of chessers aligned on tables is only disturbed by the chorus clack. In addition, and a screech from elsewhere. However, Beyond a bay window. Therefore, below the Pierre-Curvat sports group, at Chesnay, you can see basketball players and basketball players on the interior parquet floors of the gymnasium, while a sustained rain tambourine outside on this Sunday morning.

A whisper suddenly travels the room. However, The 150 engaged in chess parts, 5 to 91 years old, hold their breath. In addition, Victor Wembanyama has just arisen. However, begins to survey the aisles, stopping here to follow a game, signify his approval after a victor wembanyama mixes basketball chess blow, taking a moment for a selfie or an autograph in the few kids who had the courage to come and greet him.

Passing through his hometown, the interior of the San Antonio Spurs (2.24 m. Therefore, 21 years old) had the idea, a little over a month ago, to organize this unprecedented tournament associating two disciplines: the orange ball and the chess game, which he has been practicing since children. Moreover, For those who have always claimed his taste for activities associating physical and cerebral work (drawing, Lego …), no surprise. Meanwhile, The initiative is however unprecedented. Thus was born the “Hoop Gambit”. the first edition of this tournament which evokes chess-boxing created by the artist and author of graphic novels victor wembanyama mixes basketball chess Enki Bilal in the 1990s, before becoming a sport in its own right.

Climbing it in the time allocated was a challenge. “We needed a place unit, find chess and basketball players, we wanted the public … We had to advance the one week’s tournament at the last moment. And yet everything filled in 36 hours ”. Explain with one voice Issa Mboh and Omar Bendjador, the media representatives of the NBA superstar and the Blues, number 1 of the Draft 2023. These are 150 chess players. via the French Federation of the Discipline and its Île-de-France league, and 280 basketball players -GARS AND GIRLS-, in several categories -1×1, 3×3, U15, Seniors- who rushed to Chesnay, whose town hall has employed victor wembanyama mixes basketball chess on logistical, security, and provision of the Bigarré land recently renovated by the player and his team of Spurs.

The smile does not leave Wembanyama. who, as a child, was playing with the family and even had a license in a chess club for six months. “Playing against you is more stressful than playing against LeBron James. Steph Curry”, was laughing victor wembanyama mixes basketball chess “Weby” in a video with the influencer Julien Song, present and against whom he was to compete, in front of the audience, a game Sunday late afternoon. “” My love of failures comes from afar, it is a passion. At the time, it was curiosity. Then it has become a mental exercise for me. something I use every day, which is useful both for the playful side, as for what it brings to the sporting level, He added Sunday in front of the thirty media who came to attend the event. Whether you are professional, amateur, it’s good for the health to think. It is a sport that becomes more. more popular and it makes me happy to see healthy things like being put forward. Combining basketball and failures in a tournament near my home, that means a lot for me. »»