JERUSALEM — An Israeli broke the record for most simultaneous games of chess played by an individual Friday, seizing the title from a chess master from his country’s archenemy, Iran.
Israeli chess champ Alik Gershon played 523 people, moving from board to board in a Tel Aviv plaza. He started Thursday and finished overnight, winning 454 matches, losing 11 and drawing in 58.
In London, Guinness World Records confirmed that the Israeli was the new world record holder.
The previous record was set last year by Iranian champ Morteza Mahjoob, who played 500 opponents at the same time in a Tehran arena.
The new record holder acknowledged the tensions between the countries.
“Hopefully this is the only war we are going to have with this enemy, ever,” Gershon said.
He also noted the game’s ancient origins in Persia — now Iran.
“Taking the record from an Iranian in a game that was invented by Iran — it’s going to be even sweeter,” he said before the matches began.
