A movie in close contact with the owner of 'Chess shop' which became the last one in New York is on sale

Chess is a board game that has been loved by many people since ancient times and still boasts a great popularity. On the other hand, it is easy to compete on the Internet, it seems that old-fashioned chess specialty shops that can play face to face are disappearing. A movie attached to Imad Khachan, owner of Chess Forum , the only chess shop in New York, has been released on YouTube.

The Last Chess Shop in New York City


"Chess Forum" has quiet secrets in the town of New York.

Inside an elongated shop, tables and chairs with chess boards on the left and right along the wall are lining up.

On the wall there were pictures of many American literary figures.

"I came to the US to obtain a doctorate in American literature ..." ...

Imad Khachan, owner of Chess Forum.

Mr. Khachan, a Palestinian refugee, said, "My father said," The door is closed as the child returns home, there is not such a terrible thing as this. "I went to this place elsewhere I would like to make it a place where people without it will visit. "

Chess Forum has other people who visit to buy chess supplies ......

Many people gather and play chess.

These two people are playing "Speed ​​Chess" whose time is determined to be five minutes per person. It is a rule to put a timer that shows the time of day aside and stop the timer when you move the frame.

Mike Bloom, a regular at Chess Forum, says, "When I come here, I always play speed chess, which is about 200 games in a week."

Also regularly Sebastian Ospina said, "I normally play chess on the Internet, but it is fun to face people and play regulars like Mike at this place."

When two regulars play Speed ​​Chess, each will move the coma one after another with nearly no time.

Mike says, 'Sebastian is a very aggressive player, but if I am better then it's fast to play ...'

Sebastian says "Mike's play is faster than I. It's faster than life," he joked.

Khachan said, "Even if you do not speak anything, you can sit face-to-face and play chess, even if you do not understand the language."

It is said that you can communicate with each other without having to exchange words by playing chess.

People playing chess at Chess Forum vary in sex and age.

Some children are accompanied by mothers and play chess.

Khachan does not get married and there are no families ... ...

He seems to feel that he is the father of all people visiting Chess Forum.

Khachan shows various chess items to men who brought in small children.

"When my grandfather was still alive, the whole family had gathered several times a month, but recently there are not many opportunities for families to come together."

However, when I meet Chess Forum with Mr. Khachan and regular people, they feel as if they have reunited with their family despite their race and background are completely different.

When the child asks "Hey, what is your name?"

Mr. Khachan answers "Imad." The child says, "Oh my, that's an interesting name," he laughs.

Mr. Khachan has the idea that "what you own is what you gave".

Khachan, born and raised in Lebanon as a Palestinian refugee, says that New York City has given her whereabouts.

It seems that there was once being a hard life, but in New York there was nothing that felt the danger of life.

When the night comes to New York ......

Chess Forum 's store has lights and the chess items displayed are beautifully emerging.

When asking customers, "What are you studying?" Khachan asks the customer, "I am studying movies and TV" The answer. "I am looking forward to see it in Hollywood," said Khachan who watches the guests with a smile.

Mr. Khachan says that Chess Forum had been open 24 hours a day and had no place to live and accepted people who wandered New York's night.

In fact, among the regulars of Chess Forum, people who do not have a house to live are also included. He seemed to call the person who was in charge of the shift of the night "King of the Night".

Now when the business is over, Mr. Khachan closes the key and locks the door.

Mr. Khachan said that he loves the night in New York.

Mr. Khachan says that on the streets of New York there are two people living in the closed house of the curtain at night, those who are in the town without sleeping at night, two students.

"In the morning people will open the curtain, the night of my favorite New York will disappear," Khachan disappeared in a night town.