A Man Who Loves Chess

Here’s a man who loves what he does! In his younger days, Washington had a low Expert rating (mid-2000’s).

"This is where you come if you're any good," says Ron Washington about the lakeside chess pavilion just south of the North Avenue beach house in Chicago. Considering he has spent every summer day there for the past 20 years-from 11 a.m. until dark, when he gets kicked out-he's better than good. "Every now and then I get beat-not too often, but it happens," Washington says. "I'm a hustler. I'm not a fun guy." Washington, who learned to play chess from his barber when he was 14, drives a cab all winter to support his hobby. Claim to fame: Washington once owned a chess club on State and Division called Chess Shop.