Chess in Schools and Communities

Here we have details of a brand new social chess event.

Given that dogs are allowed, we recommend careful study of the Coll(i)e System.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has a well-established interest in chess, hosting CSC’s Solidarity Match between UK and Ukraine in 2023 as well as regular events for employees, their children and friends.

On Friday 13 June, they generously hosted nine schools from Tower Hamlets for a day of chess activities organised by CSC.

Each school sent in a team of six pupils who received lessons from a CSC tutor. They then learned about the work of the EBRD and the many different employment opportunities available at the bank, before taking on FM Miguel Senlle Caride, the bank’s strongest chess player, in a simultaneous display.

Miguel was very impressed with the standard of his opposition, and awarded medals to the children who played the games.

After lunch, it was time to put the children’s chess skills to the test with a four-round tournament.

The chess was excellent but even more impressive was the concentration levels on display and the sporting manner in which the games were played - the children were competitive but supportive of their peers.

At the end of the event, we handed out medals to the highest scorers and a trophy to the winning team - Thomas Buxton Primary School.

The tournament was the final event in the 2025 Stepney Primary Schools Chess League. Thomas Buxton completed an amazing season by becoming the first school to retain the trophy.

Our congratulations to them and to all the schools that took part in a very enjoyable day: John Scurr,, Cayley, English Martyrs, Stepney Park, Mayflower, Chisenhale, St Peter’s London Docks, and Bangabandhu.

A huge thank you goes to the EBRD for their continued support and especially to Miguel and Simone for all their help organising the event in advance and hosting the schools on the day.

CSC is always keen to encourage more girls to play chess. A key reason for us running chess lessons during curriculum time is to encourage all children to enjoy the game.

Girls perform at least as well as boys in our lessons and we are hopeful that this success will lead to more balanced after-school clubs, many of which are currently dominated by boys.

We were therefore delighted to team up with She Plays To Win, a charitable organisation run by IM Lorin D’Costa, and St Marylebone CE School, a leading comprehensive school in Westminster, to run a tournament just for girls.

The event was aimed at girls who had not competed in a chess tournament before - for many of the participants it was their first experience of using clocks or playing under the touch-move rule.

In total, over 50 girls from across London signed up to play, competing in one of two sections, for primary and for secondary pupils.

The participants played five games of chess, with the gaps between the rounds interspersed with some coaching from Lorin and a football match in the school’s playground. The games were competitive, but played in a notably supportive manner, and the standard of chess was excellent.

Our congratulations to the winners: Bea (Secondary) and Iris (Primary), and to everyone who took part in a really enjoyable day. A huge thank you to Mr. Ford, a teacher at St Marylebone, for organising and hosting the event, and to our excellent student volunteers, Clem, Nina, Julia, and Florence.

We are already looking forward to growing the event next year!

Goldstone Primary, a long-term CSC school in Hove, triumphed in the Sussex Primary Cup on Tuesday 10th June.

Around 30 teams from East and West Sussex battled it out over the course of the year and Goldstone were seeded in the top division for Finals Day at Windlesham House School in Pulborough, who kindly hosted the event.

In a tightly fought division, Goldstone came out on top by just half a point.

'The team did brilliantly and it was especially gratifying to finally win as they came so close in the two previous years of this competition' said Goldstone chess teacher Andrew Wallace.

Goldstone was one of only a handful of state schools participating and a special mention must go to top board Magnus Gomez who was undefeated throughout the year-long tournament. Fantastic performances also from Henry Freeman (who only learned to play in September), Arfan Hasan, Sol Becker and Hugo Rojas.

Competition will be stiff for places in the team next year as we seek to defend the trophy!

Tonight’s webinar focuses on the Sicilian Defence.

The event is FREE to all juniors aged 7-13.

Details can be found via the link.

https://www.chessinschools.co.uk/webinars

Top CSC Tutor, Jo Hutchinson, delivered an excellent day of social chess at Scunthorpe’s Cafe Indie yesterday.

The day attracted players from all over Scunthorpe and the surrounding areas.

Incidentally, Jo is not merely following the recent trend for social chess sessions; she has delivered various such social events before (dating to pre-COVID times, in fact).

Jo has always been an innovator, not an imitator!

Tomorrow!

Please support this social chess event if you are in the area.

Chess open day this Saturday in Scunthorpe from 10am-2pm. Why not pop along and have some friendly games. Refreshments available. Free entry. Would be great to see you there!

It is all happening in London this week!

Social chess in action!

Chess open day this Saturday. in Scunthorpe. Come along and have some friendly games. Everyone welcome. Refreshments available. Free entry.

ChessFest 2025 will soon be upon us!

Tonight's webinar takes a look at the Queen's Gambit.

Not the TV show, but the chess opening!

Our webinars are free to all players aged 7-13 and details are available via the link.

See you at 6.00 p.m.!

https://www.chessinschools.co.uk/webinars