Chess Grandmaster Beats 25 Challengers At Same Time In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra elevated the bar at the West Orange Chess Club in a Simultaneous Chess Exhibition held at the Toby Katz Community Center on Aug. 19. The event also served to support Mishra’s traveling and playing costs.

GM Mishra is the youngest-ever player to achieve the title of Chess Grandmaster. He accomplished this feat at the age of 12 in June 2021. Born in NJ, Mishra was born in New Jersey and is the highest-rated player in NJ, the 13th strongest player in the U.S. among active USCF members, and ranked 138th in the world among active FIDE members as of August 1st.

“In chess we call this a simultaneous exhibition, where one player plays many at the same time,” began Andrew Chan, WOCC treasurer, chess coach, and an instrumental part of West Orange Schools' chess clubs. 25 games were set up across tables at Toby Katz.

“There wasn’t a scoring system, but we kept track of wins, draws, and losses of the players,” continued Chan.

“Unfortunately, three hours wasn't enough time to finish all 25 games, so we decided to try to speed up the results by having each unfinished game played one on one in a blitz format (each side gets three minutes to finish the game). At that point, it was pretty clear Mishra would win all the games, and he finished with 25 wins and no losses."

West Orange High School Class of 2025 valedictorian Andrew Chan was the only player that had a chance/opportunity to win his game but couldn't find it with the seconds he had left on the clock.

“We had a great crowd, and parents were happy to see their kids so excited to have an opportunity to play with such a young grandmaster,” Chan added.

When asked if Mishra enjoyed his visit to West Orange, Chan said, “Although it was a bit rushed, he did enjoy it. I managed to speak to him as I drove him to the airport, and he liked our setup and space for a local club. He appreciated how we ran the club and made him feel comfortable to be there. I hope he will have time in the future to visit clubs like ours to help revive interest in chess clubs again.”

Some of the younger players were excited about GM Mishra’s visit.

“My name is Himansh Rathod, and I’m 10 years old. First, I just want to say a huge thank you to GM Abhimanyu Mishra. Playing chess against you today was like trying to solve ten puzzles at the same time — while my brain was shouting, “Help!”

Even though I didn’t win (okay… not even close!), it was still the coolest thing ever. I mean, how often do you get to play against a Grand Master who can think faster than a calculator?

I also learned something important: chess isn’t just about moving pieces — it’s about being brave, using your imagination, and sometimes, just hoping your opponent doesn’t see your sneaky plan. (Spoiler: the Grand Master always sees it!)

Thank you to the organizers for setting this up, and to all the players who joined. I had so much fun, and I know this is a day I’ll never forget.”

Thirteen-year-old Devina Shah, Founder of Queens of the Board Girls Chess Club, said, “When my coach, Andrew Chan, and dad told me I’d get to play in a simul against Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra at the local West Orange Chess Club, I couldn’t believe it. Abhimanyu Mishra — the youngest grandmaster in history — coming to the very club where I’ve played so many times? And I would be sitting at one of the boards? The news made my heart jump.

When GM Mishra entered, he greeted each player with a warm smile and handshake before the games began. The room quickly shifted into quiet focus as players leaned into their boards, searching for the best moves. When it was my turn, I steadied my breathing and made my move. GM Mishra circled the room calmly and confidently, but every time he returned to my board my heart raced. I carefully recorded every move — I wanted to remember this game forever!

In the end, I lost my game. But I walked away proud. I played against a Grandmaster — someone who has dedicated countless hours to mastering chess — and I did it face-to-face, not just online. Even more importantly, I was part of an event that would help him continue striving for his own goals. The simul wasn’t just about playing a Grandmaster. It was about being part of a chess community that believes in supporting one another’s dreams, the same reason why I started my girls' chess club. I’m grateful to the West Orange Chess Club for hosting such an inspiring event and giving me the chance to be a part of it.”

For more information on the West Orange Chess Club, go HERE.

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