News

The results from Saturday’s games have now been finalised and are available. Good wins in the Ladder tournaments were achieved by Michal, Otis, Wyatt, Kieran, Uzzaer, Eden, and Lewis. Each of these players demonstrated great skill and determination throughout the competition, making their victories well-deserved and impressive. Other games that were played on a friendly and casual basis included 960 chess, various forms of handicap chess, and the intriguing game of suicide chess. However, it Read more

A lively group of 20 young fledglings flew in today, eager to participate in some engaging tuition sessions and enjoy a variety of exciting games designed especially for them. A diverse mix of 960 chess, KO chess, suicide chess, and handicap chess was played, which successfully kept the level of interest consistently high throughout the entire event. This variety of formats ensured that players remained engaged and challenged in different and exciting ways. We are Read more

Today, three new members joined us, helping to increase our total number to an impressive 24, which is the highest we have ever reached so far. So welcome Henry, Taha, and Renato! We truly hope you enjoyed your very first day with us and that you found it both exciting and rewarding. We look forward to seeing you again soon and hope you will return for many more great experiences ahead. Only Jon Catchpole and Read more

Fifteen youngsters gathered today on another scorching hot morning, and considering it is half term, that’s actually quite a good turnout. Younger brother of Wyatt, Otis joined us today to learn the basics and after a lengthy session of this and that, he managed a game with Zayd… very well done! Card Tricks With the help of some pre-printed instructive chess cards, [trying something different to make learning more fun], we engaged the gathering by Read more

Achieving 19 on a very hot and sunny Bank Holiday Saturday is an excellent outcome for the club, reflecting both strong effort and impressive dedication from everyone involved in such challenging weather conditions. One new visitor arrived today, named Vzzaer, who after playing just a few games clearly demonstrated that he possesses a sharp and impressive chess brain. His quick understanding of the strategies and tactics showed that he has great potential in the game. Read more

Today, 23 juniors stepped over the threshold, which is a fantastic and encouraging number for us. Among the new visitors were Thomas, Oscar T, and David; we sincerely hope they enjoyed their time with us and found the experience rewarding. We warmly welcome them to come back again for future visits. My sincere thanks extend to the dedicated tutors Jon Catchpole, Samuel Gorsuch, and John Heath, without whose invaluable help and support the club simply Read more

Today we had a good, strong class consisting of 19 members, who were divided into three different sections based on their skill levels: Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginners. This allowed each group to focus on exercises and techniques suited to their experience and abilities, ensuring everyone received targeted instruction and support. Jon Catchpole led the Master Class in the annexe room, which included participants Constance, Kieran, Samuel and Jonah. The session involved compiling various strategies, focusing Read more

You can definitely count on the fact that holidays usually mean family activities take top priority, which is why we see a lower number this May Day Bank Holiday weekend. Today, there are just 13 juniors participating, reflecting how many are likely spending time with their families instead. A very warm welcome to Thomas, who has joined our club for the very first time. He is a young beginner full of enthusiasm and determination, showing Read more

A total of 23 juniors walked through the doors of the library today, bringing a lively and energetic atmosphere. It was especially wonderful to see familiar faces like Gagan, Tishi, and Felicity return after taking a short break. In the main room, where both intermediate and beginner players were gathered, I took the opportunity to demonstrate several examples on the display board illustrating the tactic known as ‘discovered attacks and checks.’ This allowed everyone to Read more

Today, a total of 21 enthusiastic juniors gathered to make up the lively chess ‘party,’ creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere for everyone involved. For the very first time, a second ‘secret’ room was introduced and utilized specifically for the more advanced players. This special session was expertly led by Jon Catchpole and abely assisted by new tutors Russell Peg and Samuel Gorsuch, who brought fresh energy and support to the group consisting of Wyatt, Read more