Phish Story April 14, 1996 - Games Magazine By Eric Berlin When patzers Page McConnell and Mike Gordon play chess, 20,000 people may s how up for their game...and their music. That's because McConnell and Gordon a re half of the rock band Phish. The band likes audience participation, so duri ng their tour last fall, they challenged their fans to a chess match-one move e ach per concert. The game was displayed onstage on an eight-foot-square chessboard with stic k-on Velcro chessmen. The banc made it's move at the start of a concert. Then between musical sets, chess aficionados gathered at a table to study a copy of the board and discuss possible replies. When a consensus was reached, a volun teer would go up and move the chosen piece. One such fan was Eric Schiller, wh o, to Phish's surprise, is a national master in chess. "We tended to choose moves more for drama than strategy," said keyboardist McConnell. "But the audience never pressed its advantage, and we won the first game in 30 moves." In game two, Phish played more cautiously...until the tour began to wind down. "We didn't want to leave the game hanging," said McConnel l, "so we got a little more aggressive, hoping to end the game." It ended all right. When the audience captured the queen, the band resigned during its fina l show. Catch Phish this fall, especially if they opt for a rematch. article © 1996 Games Magazine