Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson shared on X that he “played a lot of chess” in his day, “but never against a President,” after meeting President Joe Biden and hearing his thoughts on “navigating challenging times.” The post, shared from Ferguson’s official account, offered a light, personal moment amid ongoing policy debates in D.C. and Olympia.
Ferguson’s chess nod isn’t just a metaphor: before winning the governorship, he earned an international chess master rating and won the Washington State Chess Championship twice, credentials he has long linked to his strategic approach in public life.
I’ve played a lot of chess in my day, but never against a President! Great to see Joe Biden and hear his thoughts about navigating challenging times. We discussed a few good moves- on and off the board. pic.twitter.com/X21q2NC9mn
— Bob Ferguson (@BobFergusonGov) October 9, 2025