Jake O’Brien at 11 years old has become a well-known feature of the Kiama Farmer Market every Wednesday at Coronation Park on the edge of Surf Beach with Jake’s Chess Place. Since April earlier this year, young, old, new, and veteran chess players have played chess in a lovely outdoor environment.

However, that outdoor environment can be challenging for an indoor game like chess, with Jake having three chess sets on tables in the open air. The wind can lead to overturned games, pieces can be stolen or go missing.

Last week the Bugle reported and supported that Jake had made a call out to the Kiama community to donate or help pay for a giant chess set to be a feature of the Kiama Farmers Market and to make the outdoor version of chess so much more enjoyable and easier.

Gerringong Uniting have kindly lent their outdoor chess set, at least for a while, and Tricia Ashelford the market manager managed to spray some chess squares to make a temporary chessboard on Wednesday 9 August. A permanent giant chess set has yet to be donated.

“I will be looking into getting some black and white linoleum squares for the future so we can have a proper chessboard, “ she said. Jake was clearly pleased and surprised at the giant chessboard and the ability to be able to stand within the board to decide his next move.

 The giant chess game was a hit with both the young players and spectators and hopefully, Jake’s Chess Place will grow with the striking visuals of giant chess pieces overlooking the sandy Kiama beach at Coronation Park for many markets to come!