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Check It Out: Backcourt Mates Play Chess as Part of Pregame Routine
Athletes are famous for their pregame rituals. Some eat the same meal prior to each contest while others make sure they get dressed in the same order and others follow a specific gameday workout plan.
Marlon Pratt Jr. and Malik Brooks of the Roberts Wesleyan University men's basketball team recently added a new element to their pregame routine: A game of chess.
Brooks and Pratt, who are both senior guards for the Redhawks, brought Brooks' chess board to the Voller Athletic Center for the first time prior to their Jan. 12 game against Mercy.
"It's strategic and it helps you to relax," Pratt said.
Brooks started playing chess in high school after watching his uncles play. He brought his board back to campus after winter break and he and Pratt started to play.
"We played a few games in the dorm and we realized how calming it was," Brooks said. "We decided that we'd play before a game to help get our heads in the right place and get focused."
Roberts coach Mark Saladzius gives his players time to do their own things before games, so Brooks and Pratt have his full support.
"Anything that can stimulate the mind is a good thing," Saladzius said. "Different guys have different set ups, but if it helps them to relax and eliminate stress, I am all for it."
Pratt said he started playing chess a few years ago.
"I always hung out with the older guys and they told me that the two places that the most business deals were done is on the golf course and over the chess board," Pratt said. "When they told me that, I knew that I wanted to learn how to play and I have been beating the brakes off of Malik ever since."
Brooks admits that Pratt has an early lead in their pregame series, but he isn't conceding anything.
"He got me the first couple of times, but I haven't played in a while," Brooks said. "I'm rusty."
But, he is getting sharper.
"It's all about thinking and there are not a lot of sports that are strictly mental sports," Brooks said.
Pratt said that playing chess has helped him as a playmaker and leader.
"Chess relates to basketball in a lot of ways because there are a lot of pieces and you need to know what all of them are doing in order to succeed," he said. "You need to think ahead and get everyone involved because any piece can decide the game, just like any player can."
"And you can't overlook anybody," Brooks added.
The Redhawks have won four straight games, including both of their outings in 2024, and Brooks said that he will take his board on the road for this weekend's games at Queens and Molloy.
"New year, new tradition," he said with a smile.