Israeli chess grandmaster breaks world record for simultaneous chess games

[U.S. of America]

An Israeli chess grandmaster has broken the world record for simultaneous chess games, taking the title from Iran.

Alik Gershon, 30, took title after a 19-hour marathon match against 523 players whose row of tables snaked across a Tel Aviv square. He won 454, lost 11 and drew 58.
Israeli grandmaster Alik Gershon in Tel Aviv Alik Gershon started on Thursday and finished overnight

His 86% win rate also outstripped the former record holder, grandmaster Morteza Mahjoob of Iran.

Mr Mahjoob last year bested 397 out of 500 chess players in Tehran.

Jack Brockbank, the on-site adjudicator for Guinness World Records, confirmed the new Israeli record and predicted a renewed chess challenge from Iran.

The new record holder acknowledged the strained relations between the two regional powers, but expressed a wish for peace.

"Hopefully all our wars will be on the chess board, or something cultural, and not real wars," Mr Gershon said. - BBC