An Israeli has broken the record for most simultaneous games of chess played by an individual after seizing the title from a chess master from his country’s arch-enemy, Iran.
Guinness World Records confirmed today that Israeli chess champ Alik Gershon is the new record holder. He played 523 people in a Tel Aviv plaza, beating 86 per cent of them.
The previous record, 500 games, was set last year by Iranian champ Morteza Mahjoob.
Acknowledging the tensions between the countries, Gershon said he hoped “this is the only war we are going to have with this enemy, ever”.
This is not the only Guinness title to be drawn into Mideast politics. Israel has a long-running competition with Lebanon over who can make the world’s biggest plate of hummus.
Lebanon currently holds that record.
AP