The Game Face of Williams

Aeneas Demetrius Williams

The Game Face of Aeneas Williams

Born January 29, 1968 in New Orleans Williams is a former professional football cornerback and free safety who played for the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. No doubt a personal career high was playing in Super Bowl XXXVI for the Rams, but Williams might be best known for delivering the tackle that ultimately ended the Hall of Fame San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Steve Young’s career. After his own injury Williams retired from professional play in 2005.

Today, Aeneas Williams is a minister with at Spirit of the Lord Family Church in Clayton, Missouri. He visited the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis (CCSCSL) during the 2008 U.S. Chess Championships to meet founder Rex Sinquefield and Major League Baseball pitcher Todd Worrell. All three men are concerned about the education system in the city and are working to improve the lives of children in St. Louis.

Williams and Worrell were moved by the works of the CCSCSL, and spent the rest of the afternoon playing their first game of chess with help from Sinquefield and Executive Director Tony Rich. The born competitors weren’t willing to end the game even after the press coverage ended.

As part of their VIPtreatment, Williams and Worrell posed for photos, just like the top 24 chess players competing in the tournament had. Worrell gave a game winning smile, but not Williams. Williams said chess is too serious and decided it was best to put his game face on.