RCB’s Venkatesh Iyer took on FYERS American Gambits’ Uzbek Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov as cricket and chess came together at ‘Chess & Chill’, a sports programming at RCB Bar & Café, Bengaluru ~

Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s vibrant sporting culture came to the fore on Sunday, 6 September, as RCB marquee player Venkatesh Iyer joined fans and athletes from different sporting disciplines for a special ‘Chess & Chill’ evening at RCB Bar & Café.

The evening reflected the growing sporting culture of Bengaluru, where fans passionately follow a wide range of disciplines beyond cricket. Speaking at the RCB Cafe Chess & Chill event, Venkatesh said, “I’ve been to a lot of cities in the country, but the love for sports in Bengaluru is just amazing, and it goes well beyond cricket. Whether it’s football, athletics, chess, pickleball or paddle, people here take their sport seriously, both in playing and supporting it. That’s what sets this city apart.”

Iyer took on FYERS American Gambits’ Uzbek Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov in an unusual cricket and chess crossover, gaining a first-hand insight into the preparation, strategy and mindset required to compete at the highest level of chess. The sporting crossover also saw Iyer and Sindarov come together for a jersey exchange, with RCB and American Gambits jerseys changing hands.

Iyer also got the opportunity to test himself against Sindarov across the chessboard, discovering just how demanding the game can be. With a touch of humour, he said, “I got the opportunity to play with the world number four chess player. I managed to survive five minutes without losing.”

Reflecting on the experience of Chess & Chill at RCB Cafe, Venkatesh said, “It was a great event. Obviously, the opportunity to understand what goes on behind the scenes in chess, to pick their minds on their approach and their attitude towards the sport was truly mesmerising. On the outset, it looks pretty simple, but there are hours of hard work that go behind this craft. And I was really inspired by them.”

Drawing parallels between chess and sport, Venkatesh added, “I think it teaches you patience and resilience and how to be proactive, how to think ahead. These are just a few things that this game teaches. There’s so much inside the game. I think it was amazing to share the chess board with a world-class player and understand that this is not a simple game by any means.”

The coming together of different sporting communities was central to the evening, with fans getting the opportunity to enjoy an evening of chess, food and drinks while interacting with players from the American Gambits squad.

Speaking about the importance of bringing fans and athletes from different sports together, Venkatesh said, “For the RCB Bar & Café to bring them together in this Chess and Chill event, to make them feel that sports community is one irrespective of the sport that you choose. You’re still a sports person and we’re all in this together. It’s truly amazing and also gives sports persons an opportunity to interact with each other and understand how to hone their skills. It was special in that regard.”

Sindarov was joined by his teammate and ardent RCB fan Nihal Sarin, who had an engaging conversation with Iyer about RCB’s exploits in their recent winning season. Other American Gambits players Bibisara Assaubayeva, Sara Khadem, Daniil Dubov and Marc Maurizzi, along with team coach GM Srinath Narayanan, also joined the evening.

The evening also highlighted the unique relationship between RCB and Bengaluru, with Iyer reflecting on the connection between the franchise and its supporters.

“It has come to a point where Bangalore is now recognised as an RCB centre. Basically, you can relate to RCB if you are from Bangalore. It feels as if we are their team. It’s not a franchise, it’s Karnataka’s team which makes it even more special,” he added.

The evening brought together Bengaluru’s sporting communities in a setting where fans could experience different sports beyond the traditional stadium environment, further reflecting the city’s growing passion for sport across disciplines.