X-Men and Chess: Magneto vs Professor X

Chess is not only a sport played by professionals, but it is also a symbol of a hostile relationship between two of the most famous comic book characters from the X-Men: Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, famously known as Magneto. It was perfectly explained in the X-Men Movies. The films truly featured iconic characters and moments in the comic book genre. From Wolverine’s many berserker rages to Nightcrawler’s attack in the Whitehouse, the series has had its fair share of awesome scenes. But when it came to compelling relationships, nothing ever came close to the strenuously brotherly bond between Professor X and Magneto. Their relationship was often explored with the help of Chess.

Ever since the X-Men movies hit theaters in 2000, chess has been closely tied to these characters. However, the actors, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen never played before the movies and had to learn chess with the help of an expert. The two still managed to make it work and contributed to some of the series' best moments.

Magneto and Xavier's radically different upbringings were examined in X-Men: First Class. Xavier had an affluent family and a generally comfortable childhood, so he never really understood what it was like to struggle. Magneto, meanwhile, lost his family during World War II and endured hardship in concentration camps. Following that, he lived a life filled with thoughts of retaliation and a wish to never again be subjected to such oppression. Nevertheless, chess united them despite the fact that they were created in different environments. 

Chess has always been about one side outwitting the other to win, which is an easy enough notion to grasp. But it's also a game that tests the mind in ways that it might not be accustomed to. Using strategy as the foundation for the game, Xavier and Magneto would frequently argue about their respective points of view, with Magneto anticipating war and Xavier supporting peace for Mutants and Homo sapiens. There was no obvious correct response, which demonstrated how complicated their opinions were. Chess was always in the middle, but no winner was ever presented. On numerous occasions, both sides were shown to be correct; the Cuban Missile Crisis in X-Men: First Class is a such example.

Here is an explanation of one game between the two famous characters. This game was played at the end of X-Men, which came out in 2000, and the match was played between Magneto and Charles Xavier. It was a well-thought-out puzzle, and it is very well remembered in the X-Men universe. Magneto was playing as White while Xavier played as Black. The White has a lot of extra points, but the King is in a lot of trouble. The black rook takes the white Knight at d1, giving a check to the White King. This move was important because if this had not been done, then the checkmate could have been avoided. The White rook takes the Black Rook at d1, and the White moves to b2, and that is a check to the Black King. The Black Knight takes the pawn at b2, and then another Black Pawn takes the Knight at b2. 

But after this, Magneto knocks over his King as he feels that Charles has won. If the match had continued, the Queen would have taken the pawn at b2, and then the black pawn would have taken out the Queen, and it would have been checkmate. 

There were many chess games in the X-Men Universe. In X2: X-Men United, Jean is playing Chess with Professor X at the school when they are discussing Nightcrawler’s attack on the White House. Charles and Erik were playing Chess on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in X-Men First Class, and then later they played in the plane during the events of Days of Future Past. 

Their chess matches were the final equalizer, even though mutant abilities were a major factor in the cold war between Magneto and Xavier. It made the mind-reading Xavier play fairly and made Magneto refrain from approaching so violently. In X-Men: The Last Stand, this was most evident when he dispatched the "pawns" to battle.