Thursday, April 24 - Chess Anyone? Giant Set Eyed

OCEAN CITY - Somerset Street will be seeing some changes this summer, with the opening of a new retail store along the downtown street as well as the addition of a giant chess set, to be displayed for public use in front of the store.

Summer Set Games, a retail shop featuring family board games, will be making its debut along Somerset Street this summer. Kirill Dunaev, owner of Summer Set Games, presented the Mayor and Council with his idea for a giant chess set this week, receiving unanimous support from the City Council.

'Ocean City and OCDC [Ocean City Development Corporation] have spent so much time and effort for Somerset Plaza. The street has been closed to traffic and good-looking stone pavements been installed. We believe we can contribute to the street by adding a giant chess set,' said Dunaev.

The mobile giant chess set will include a nine-foot by nine foot, 65-pound mat with 21-pound plastic chess pieces, the tallest one reaching 25 inches in height. The chess set will be set up each day in front of Summer Set Games along Somerset Street and removed each night.

The chess set will be a free amenity along the street, said Dunaev.

The council embraced the idea, applauding Dunaev for bringing something new and family friendly to the downtown area.

'I can't wait for the first chess tournament,' said Council member Nancy Howard.

See The Dispatch tomorrow morning for all the week's news.