PRAGUE
INTERNATIONAL
CHESS
FESTIVAL

Can a chess festival in Prague inspire the theatre scene on the other side of the planet? The story of the play "Czech Gambit" shows that culture and the international chess community know no borders.

During the Prague International Chess Festival (PICF) 2023, we hosted the world premiere of the play "Czech Gambit" at Prague's Divadlo D21. Written by New Zealand playwright Russell Owen Armitage, the play was inspired by the book Life at Stake (Rozehraný život) by the legendary Czechoslovak Grandmaster Lubomír Kaválek and author Jan Novák. The festive evening took place in the presence of Kaválek's family and many notable figures from the international chess community.

Photo from the world premiere of the play Czech Gambit at Divadlo D21 in Prague (2023). Source / Photo credit: PICF Archive

Journey to Hamilton and a Sold-Out House

Now, this cultural game has reached a fascinating climax. At the end of June 2026, the play enjoyed its New Zealand premiere at The Meteor Theatre in Hamilton. The audience's response exceeded all expectations—the show was completely sold out, with spectators applauding after every single scene.

Grandmaster Murray Chandler and the actor portraying young Luboš Kaválek at the premiere at The Meteor Theatre. Source / Photo credit: Russell Armitage

Surprises On and Off the Stage: A Grandmaster Reunion

The final evening brought an incredible stroke of coincidence. A six-member delegation from the New Zealand Chess Federation, led by Paul Spiller, arrived for the performance after traveling 120 km from Auckland.

Among the guests was Murray Chandler – New Zealand's only chess Grandmaster. It was only on-site that an incredible connection came to light: during his career, Murray Chandler himself had faced Lubomír Kaválek across the chessboard three times!

When playwright Russell Armitage introduced Chandler to the audience after the final curtain call, the hall erupted in thunderous applause. For the young actor playing the role of young Luboš Kaválek, it was an unforgettable experience. After the show, he eagerly took the opportunity to enjoy a long conversation with the Grandmaster.

The theatre team of the play Czech Gambit in New Zealand. Source / Photo credit: Russell Armitage

Chess and PICF Continue to Inspire

For our festival, this is proof that combining sports, art, and compelling human stories leaves a lasting international legacy. The memory of Lubomír Kaválek, whom we honor each year at PICF by presenting the Lubomír Kaválek Award for the best game of the tournament, lives on across the globe.

We would like to thank the entire New Zealand team led by Russell Armitage for a wonderful representation, and we wish the play Czech Gambit many more successful runs!

Take a look at how Lubomír Kaválek and Murray Chandler played against each other back in 1982:

Link to the game: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1095395

Article written by: Kateřina Vídenská