International chess master Brian Hartman will take any opportunity to return to his hometown of Hamilton.

So when Hartman's friend asked him if he'd play a bunch of people simultaneously at Supercrawl, he said yes.

Hartman faced a total of 74 people — earning 71 wins and three draws — during the weekend arts and music festival that showcases local talent. His goal? To promote the game in the city.

"I love playing chess and I like seeing other people playing chess … so any way I can do to encourage or help them in that journey in this small way, it pleases me," said Hartman, 68.

Now based in Seguin, Ont., he's a Canadian Chess Open champion, and a former member of Canada's Chess Olympiad Team as well as team captain.

This marks the second year Hartman was at Supercrawl for a simultaneo

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