Toronto-born baseball star Joey Votto takes a swing at chess in his hometown
If you ask George Supol what he thinks about six-time MLB All-Star Joey Votto, he’ll tell you he’s got a great attitude and serves as a positive role model, especially for younger players.
But Supol’s not talking about the Toronto-born baseball player’s abilities on the field. He’s talking about how Votto plays chess.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman has been coming to the Annex Chess Club (ACC), just north of Bathurst and Bloor streets, every week for a few months now, according to Supol.
“The reaction has been very positive,” the ACC director told CTV News Toronto in an email.
News of Votto’s presence at the local chess club was no secret, though. The 39-year-old Torontonian has been posting about his visits since the beginning of the year.
On Jan. 10, Votto announced his first chess win at the club on Instagram, attributing his success to the barley soup he had for lunch that day.
Then, on Jan. 16, Votto was seen taking the GO Train and the TTC to make an appearance at the Monday night chess gathering.
As an observer, Supol said he thinks that Votto is “truly happy” when he makes the weekly trip to the club in the Annex.
“Joey is a great guy and a fantastic baseball player. We're very happy that he has chosen ACC as his home club,” he said.
In another post to Instagram,Votto said that finding a group that allows him to be social and do something challenging/fun has “been a gift.”
“Annex Chess Club, thank you for welcoming me,” Votto wrote.
While it’s hard to say whether or not the draw of Votto’s presence at the downtown Toronto chess club has led to an increase in attendance overall, Supol said membership has been steadily increasing anyways.
“Chess is difficult to master and there is always room for improvement at every level. We need great chess players to inspire the rest of us,” he said.
The length of Votto’s residency at the ACC is still up in the air as reports have indicated he could be ready to return to the Reds as early as this season.
In the meantime, Supol said players at the club look forward to seeing him when his schedule allows, especially in the offseason.
“ACC's fundamental philosophy has always been ‘Chess for everyone!’ — whether you're a sports superstar like Joey or just an average joe,” Supol said.
With files from Abby O’Brien
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.