Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Chess is a timeless game, and some would call it a universal sport. One businessman, John Cordisco, appreciates it so much he started a competition here at home. Let's visit his corner of the Southern Tier.
"I was around as a teenager when Bobby Fischer won the world championship back in the early 70's," says John Cordisco. "I got hooked on playing it then, and once you're hooked, you're always hooked for the rest of your life."
But once you're reeled in, where do you play in Broome County?
Cordisco invites all ages to his corner store.
"It isn't like any other sport, where you're physical or your age determines who plays what. You can have an 8 year old -- In fact my first annual, I had an 82 year old play an 8 year old, and an 8 year old won."
That could happen again this year. Daniel Wright, 8, is matched up against Cordisco.
Daniel's Dad says he learned from the best -- his older brothers.
"When it got to the point where he was beating them, they said, 'You need to go play in a tournament.' " Roger Wright, of Powell, says. "We're here today to try it out."
Win or lose, Daniel is happy to play, and Roger is happy to watch.
"As you watch a chess tournament, you don't see a lot of activity, but mentally, there's a lot of activity going on." Roger says. "It's just really exciting to see him being able to compete at this level."
The game of Chess teaches life long lessons too.
"It teaches them a lot of things. How to plan, how to look at things, how actions have consequences, you make a bad decision, and how it affects you," says Cordisco. "[It] teaches them a little bit of patience, cause usually kids are a little impatient, adults too."
The chess set is a teaching tool and a universal symbol.
"You can go anywhere in the world, any country, any language, show them a chess set, and they know what it is," Cordisco sums it up best.
The tournament continues Sunday. Play starts up again at 10 a.m.
Cordisco invites you to his store on the corner of Chenango and Robinson Streets in Binghamton.
If you want to play, for fun or for the experience, show up around 9:30 a.m.
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