Golden State Warriors forward Quinten Post added an unexpected title to his résumé this weekend: NBA Chess Champion. At the inaugural Chesstiva, held at Wynn Las Vegas, Post outmaneuvered his fellow basketball stars in a five-round blitz tournament, finishing with an impressive 4.5 out of 5 to claim the crown.
The event, co-hosted by Freestyle Chess and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, brought together NBA players and chess grandmasters for a day of strategy, surprises, and charity. Post’s performance earned him not only bragging rights but also a $25,000 donation to Reading Partners, a nonprofit focused on childhood literacy.
From buckets to bishops, he does it all♟️
Quinten Post showed off his chess skills at Chesstival during Summer League, taking the W in the Blitz tournament—and donating the prize money to a charity of his choice. pic.twitter.com/MBRqyGv7GN
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 14, 2025
Wearing a checkered shirt to match the mood, Post showcased genuine chess flair, including a daring rook sacrifice against Chicago Bulls guard Tony Snell in round three. His only draw came against Dallas Mavericks forward Grant Williams, who himself won the earlier “Head & Hand” tournament alongside chess legend Judit Polgar.
The blitz format featured 12 NBA players competing solo, with grandmasters offering pre-game insights but no in-game assistance. Post’s calm demeanor and tactical instincts stood out, especially in a game where he sacrificed material for a decisive attack, a move that had commentators buzzing.
“I think this will only grow, only get bigger,” Post said afterward. “There’s probably a lot more guys in the NBA who play chess, so we’ll definitely get some more players out here. I’m excited for next year”.
Chesstival raised $50,000 for charity and served as a prelude to the $750,000 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, which kicks off July 16 at the same venue.
