BALLOON CHESS MATCH

Grandmaster Neuman won while flying over the Český Kras

[23.09.2015 00:00:00] - Grandmaster Petr Neuman won the historically first chess match in a balloon when he defeated grandmaster Martin Petr during their flight over the Český Kras. On Saturday 12th September they flew in a hot air balloon from Karlštejn to Hýskov.

The balloon chess match was organised by the Prague Chess Society as part of the balloon fiesta on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Balonklub Praha. First, two balloons filled with hydrogen took off from the Letenská pláň in Prague and they soon rose up to the height of 1.5 km, where a convenient west wind was blowing. Meanwhile, the grandmasters where signing an occasional postcard, to be sent by balloon post, and waited for the decision of the Aviation authority, whether the taking off of hot air balloons will be possible. In the end, eight hot air balloons were transported to the Berounka River below the Karlštejn castle and got ready for the flight over the Český Kras. The more than three hours long flight was enough for one pretty game of rapid chess, which can be viewed here.

Both grandmasters were ennobled at the end of the flight and everyone was impressed by the whole event. You can enjoy it too thanks to the photos by Anežka Kružíková and Richard Cortes.













The full photo gallery of the balloon chess match can be viewed here.

| Pavel Matocha | visits(3865x)