Library’s legacy of chess is set in stone

Chess is having a moment. From central roles in The Queen’s Gambit and Intermezzo, to the rise of social chess clubs around Melbourne, including bars Runner Up and Gilbees, the age-old game is finding new leagues of players.  

Among them, the future chess masters who frequent the forecourt at State Library Victoria to make their moves on the giant public chessboards at the top of the steps.  

Now, thanks to the Library’s generous donors, who helped raise more than $50,000 for the 2023 End of Year Appeal, they’ve had a major upgrade. The former vinyl decals (which were at the mercy of weather and wear) have been set in stone – replaced with two permanent inlaid chessboards made from exfoliated Harcourt Granite from Mount Alexander (for the white squares) and Australian Bluestone from Port Fairy (for the black squares). (Fun fact: the same materials were used to build the tram stops outside the Library and along Swanston Street.) 

Among the vital supporters is the family of Magnus Victor (MV) Anderson, an art and chess afficionado who donated some 6700 volumes of chess materials to the Library between 1959 and 1966. The now famous MV Anderson collection has grown to become the third biggest chess collection in the world, with more than 13,000 volumes of books, magazines, tournament reports and more.  

For Rhys Watson, Anderson’s great grandnephew, contributing to the appeal and the outdoor sets isn’t just about the legacy of his great granduncle. ‘It’s about the relevance of chess for the next generation,’ he says.  

‘The chessboards in the forecourt are an inspired initiative by the Library. To see them become permanent is very exciting. It helps draw attention to the collection and encourages the next generation to have an interest in chess, and we’re delighted to be a small part of that process.’ 

‘If they were locked away upstairs, not everyone is going to venture up there,’ he adds. ‘It’s a game you can immerse yourself in – you can move the pieces and walk onto the board. It’s a far more engaging activity than sitting down at a table or, these days, a computer screen. And I think it beckons people to come inside and engage with the other activities the Library has to offer.’  

But the significance of the sets goes far beyond the game of chess. For Watson and so many others, it’s about connection and community. 

‘I’ve watched the games outside of the Library numerous times, and I’ve always been fascinated by who’s playing and the variety of engagement,’ says Watson. ‘I think there’s a few regulars there who take it seriously but when I see a young family with children playing, that’s really exciting because that’s the future – the next generation.’ 

‘There are not many games that offer that sort of opportunity for engagement,’ he continues. ‘When you sit down at a chessboard, everyone’s equal. I can sit down and play chess with you or anyone else and who we are, what our background is, what our gender is, disability or not, it all fades away. It’s about the mind. You don’t have to be doing bench presses. If you have mobility issues, you can still play chess. For me, that has a wonderful appeal.’ 

Photo: Eugene Hyland

• Explore the MV Anderson chess collection (and chess boards) on level two of The Ian Potter Queen’s Hall. 
• Learn more about chess using our free online chess research guide.
• Have a go on the forecourt (the outdoor chess sets are available between 10am and 5pm).