Minor Pieces

Back in 1975 I played in a weekend tournament celebrating the centenary of Kingston Chess Club. I’m still in touch with two of my opponents, Kevin Thurlow and Nick Faulks, today. They both post regularly on the English Chess Forum and I also see (and, on occasion, play) Nick at Thames Valley League matches between… Continue reading

There are many of us who enjoy an intellectual challenge over the breakfast table. These days we might solve a crossword or a sudoku. In the days before crosswords and long before sudokus, there were those who would solve a chess problem over breakfast. Many daily and weekly publications would carry a regular chess problem,… Continue reading

You’ve seen this a couple of times before: a 1902 Surrey Trophy match between Richmond and Redhill. It’s time to meet Richmond’s Board 8: Cecil Frank Cornwall. Cecil had been born in Chorlton, Manchester on 16 November 1883, so he was still in his teens at the time of this match. His father, Frank Edward… Continue reading

There are those who are of interest because, like William Ward, they’re strong chess players who had distinguished careers. We can follow their results and study their games. There are others who might have had shorter or less distinguished chess careers but who are of interest because of their lives outside chess, or perhaps because… Continue reading

Last time we left William Ward in 1909, when he had just competed in his fourth British Championship. As it happens, it would be his last appearance (perhaps his legal work was more pressing) but he continued playing in the City of London Championship, as well as in county matches. Here, as you can see,… Continue reading

Last time we left William Ward at the time of the 1901 census, where he was staying overnight with one Isidore Wiener. As we know he played for Richmond at the end of 1902, was he living in our part of London at that time? But before that, in April 1902 William Ward played a… Continue reading

Here’s some hot news from Redhill Chess Club, back in 1902. There are a few interesting things to note here. At this time, Surrey League matches, just like the London League today, took place at central London venues, rather than on a home and away basis. You’ll also spot that, as so often in their… Continue reading

If you take the train to Whitton station (one stop after Twickenham) and turn right you’ll find yourself in Whitton High Street, with a turning into Bridge Way (named after the railway bridge, not the card game) on your right. If you walk along Bridge Way you’ll find two turnings on your left, Cypress Avenue… Continue reading

It’s time to continue the story of Richmond Chess Club through the 1890s. The club, as we’ve seen, was young and ambitious, and decided to enter the Beaumont Cup, run by the Surrey County Chess Association. The Surrey League (except that it never seems to be called that) started in the 1883-84 season. It seems… Continue reading

Here’s something you might have seen before: Twickenham Chess Club’s 1896 victory over Metropolitan. Regular readers will have met several of these players already, but not Twickenham’s Board 6: E B Schwann. Edward Bagehot Schwann was born in Hampstead in 1872, probably towards the end of September. Edward came from a privileged background. His father,… Continue reading