St. Louis has a game plan that brings together two of its greatest passions. At the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries in the Central West End, Game Plan: The Strategy of Chess & Sports explores how the thinking behind a brilliant chess move is the same thinking that wins games on the field, the ice and the court. The exhibition opened on May 7, 2026, and runs through April 4, 2027, with free admission.
Curated by Shannon Bailey and Emily Allred, the show fills all three galleries. Hall of Legends celebrates elite competitors, from grandmasters to professional athletes, and how preparation, focus and resilience travel across disciplines. Gateway to Great Sports grounds the story in St. Louis, with iconic teams, historic moments and the city’s rise as a global chess hub. Then the Fan Zone turns spectators into players, with interactive, sports-inspired chess experiences for all ages.
The objects tell the story beautifully. Look for a game-used bat gifted to world champion Garry Kasparov by baseball star Joey Votto, hockey gear from Robert Thomas, Cardinals Hall of Fame jerseys worn by Mike Matheny and Adam Wainwright, chessboxing artifacts, and signed memorabilia from Wayne Gretzky. There are also innovative chess sets and a look at hybrid sports such as chess diving and chess wrestling.
It is a joyful, hands-on reminder that chess is a sport of strategy, competition and community — and that in St. Louis, the board and the field have always been closer than they look.
Photo: World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries
