On the eve of the chess competition, the rooftop of the hotel stood as a solitary refuge above the bustling city. The stars above cast a gentle glow to the edges of the roof.

Benny Watts, the chess prodigy, stood at the edge of the rooftop. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating over the chessboard, now held a glimmer of curiosity as he gazed at the city below with a cigarette between his lips. The brisk wind ruffled his hair, as he leaned against the ledge.