Chess Diving with Grandmaster Gareyev

Timur Gareyev, reigning U.S. Open Chess Champion, does a thrilling “chessdive“ for the November Chess Life Magazine cover and video shoot. The Kansas based Grandmaster (born in Uzbekisan), also known as “Blindfold King“ is an adventure addict: an ultramarathoner, yoga enthusiast and blindfold-chess Guinness World Record holder. Gareyev’s manager Jennifer Vallens coordinated the cover and video shoot with Joe Jennings of , who has filmed stunt dives with everything from snowboards to bikes, all-terrain vehicles, and even jeeps. Seemingly a chess board would be simple compared to those other shoots, but a square piece of wood is anything but aerodynamic. Imagine how your hand reacts to the wind when you stick it out a car window at 60 mph; Timur would be falling at 120 mph with the board in hand. This required Jennings to not just permanently attach the pieces but to also doctor the board with a cone attached underneath to provide aerodynamic stability. Gareyev chose to set up a position based