NJ Chess Grandmaster Taking On All Challengers In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Do you have the cerebral fortitude to pit your skills against one of just a handful of chess “grandmasters” in New Jersey?

On Tuesday, July 30, Montclair native "Mac" MacKenzie Molner will appear at a public event in West Orange, where he’ll take on all challengers who are willing to put up a $10 entry fee.

The timed simultaneous exhibition will take place at 8:15 p.m. at the West Orange Toby Katz Community Center, 650 Mount Pleasant Avenue. See more information about this local event.

According to a news release from the West Orange Chess Club:

“With fewer than 1,750 grandmasters in the world, and but a handful in New Jersey, playing GM Mac Molner is an outstanding opportunity to experience chess on an extraordinary level. It is rare that any chess player gets an opportunity to see a grandmaster play live, let alone compete with him.”

The entry fee is $10. Attendees should bring exact change or personal checks. No credit cards or debit cards will be accepted. Players should bring their own sets and competition chess clock, as the event is timed.

Organizers stated:

“Please note that the Katz Community center is on Alisa Drive (650 Pleasant Valley Way) all the way at the end behind the lake. Parking at the Community Center is limited, but there is ample parking in the West Orange High School parking lots near the tennis courts. It is a short walk from the lots to the Community Center through the playground along the ball park fence.”

According to Molner’s online biography, he was born and raised in Montclair, and started playing chess at the age of seven, when he caught the chess bug at a summer camp. In 2007, while a full-time student at New York University, he was invited to play in the World Junior Championship held in Yerevan, Armenia.

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