Joey Votto is more than just a baseball player. He's also a chess enthusiast.
The Cincinnati Reds first baseman and six-time All-Star recently traveled to his hometown of Toronto, Canada, to compete in his first over the-board chess tournament, according to his Instagram post on Monday.
Votto, sporting a nerdy ensemble of glasses, a tie and suspenders, said, "Wish me luck."
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According to his post, Votto competed at the Annex Chess Club in Toronto, but the specific tournament is unknown.
The Reds showed support for their star, wishing Votto luck. The team also shared his photo on Twitter, stating, "Future Hall of Famer. Future Grandmaster."
So, how did the 2010 NL MVP fare? In response to the Reds' team account calling him "king," Votto said, "more like pawn."
"I got flattened by a nine-year-old," he replied on Instagram.
Votto played chess before a game in St. Louis in 2021 and later posted a photo with former world chess champion Garry Kasparov on Instagram.
