This story was originally posted on Reddit. It is a first-hand account of a worker in a local Parisian chess shop who was given the opportunity to participate in a chess tournament against Victor Wembanyama at NBA Summer House, a free multi-day interactive event involving basketball, fashion, and music.
‘I work at a chess store. Two days ago, people from the staff (which staff I’m not sure exactly but they work for the NBA) entered my workplace with the intent of purchasing a small chess set for Wemby
to play with at the 2026 NBA Summer House…We chatted a bit, they told me what the set they were buying was for and I was like “Man, I wish I could be there but I work on Saturdays.” They bought the set and one or two other things and left. But then they came back, phone in hands, filming me, immediately asking me: ‘Do you think you could beat Wembanyama?’ To which I answered: ‘If he’s still at the same level as last year… maybe?‘…They asked me to get there at 3pm, which I did…then Victor freaking Wembanyama, The Alien himself, played chess against little-o-me…“
This was not a straightforward chess game.
“Format was: we play chess for ten moves, then “free throws” for 30 seconds (with a tiny hoop and ball, throwing from our chairs), then back to chess for ten moves, etc. First to check mate the other or to make 15 free throws wins. Or if someone reaches the end of their time limit, they lose…Wemby and I didn’t really finish, I think the staff was a bit rushed by the time but I’d say he won ’cause I think his position on the board was better (if I recall correctly we were equal in terms of pieces taken), and he made more free throws than me (duh).“
During their moment together, the luckiest chess store employee in history was able to ask Wemby a few questions:
“I got to ask him three questions (the staff encouraged us to do so but it’s quite hard to talk while trying to stay focus on a game of chess).
Q1: “Did you get the chance to meet with the rookies?”
Wemby: “No, I was in France this whole time.”
Q2: “Are you eager to meet them?”
Wemby: “Of course.”
Q3: “Do you know Quaintance and Reed play chess as well?”
Wemby: “No I didn’t. Wait no, I knew about Quaintance but not about Reed”Obviously, there’s so much more I wanted to ask but, like I said, not easy to think clearly while playing chess. Especially a 3-minutes format, especially against Victor freaking Wembanyama!“
If you click on the Reddit link, you can see a couple of photos of the two playing.
Before the chess shop employee played, Wemby hosted a match against a younger player.
The weekend kicked off with a live performance by French rapper Tiakola on Friday night and ran through Sunday evening, but Wemby’s time in France is not over. According to R. C. Buford, 8-10 of the Spurs players are heading to Paris to workout with Wembanyama as he prepares to join the French national team for four games. France’s first game against Serbia is in Belgrade on Aug. 20, and the tournament concludes in Sweden on Aug. 30.
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