Mums, dads, and juniors take note. A chess-themed family-fun day featuring Argentinan IM Ayelen Martinez will be held in our neighbouring borough next month.
The event in Castle Square, Elephant and Castle, is being put on by Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC), the charity that delivers chess to state schools and libraries throughout the UK.
CSC has extended its schools programme in Southwark and now offers subsidised chess lessons and after-school clubs in 15 schools in the borough, impacting over 2,500 children this year alone.
Five of those schools are in Elephant and Castle.
The Elephant and Castle project has been enabled by a grant from Delancey, a real estate investment and advisory firm, which has worked closely with the charity since 2013 with successful collaborations in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham.
Delancey supported the ‘Every Child a Chess Player’ initiative in Newham, which aimed to give every child in Newham state primary schools in school years 2 to 6 the opportunity to learn how to play chess, helping them develop their skills outside of traditional learning.
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CSC now teaches over 2000 children a week in Newham and runs hugely popular chess clubs in all the borough’s libraries.
IM Malcolm Pein, CEO of Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC), said: “We are delighted that we are now able to extend our work in Southwark and make chess accessible for the community in Elephant and Castle.
“The event will provide an opportunity for complete beginners to become involved in a fun event for all of the family to enjoy. We hope to inspire the next generation of chess champions and continue to promote the benefits of this wonderful game in this key inner city location.”
The day will start at midday and will be open to everyone in the community. We will be hosting a simultaneous chess display, where members of the public can pit their chess strength against the International Chess Master Ayelen Martinez from Argentina.
Ayelen has represented Argentina in the Women’s World Chess Championship and also at the Chess Olympiad.
There will be a giant chess set for all to join in and play, with chess master commentary too, alongside free chess lessons for children throughout the day.
This event will be held in the run-up to the World Chess Championship which will be in London and starts just a few days after; the air will be abuzz with chess mania!
Where?
Castle Square, Elephant Road.
When?
Saturday 3rd November 2018
The Schedule:
12.00 event starts
12.15 simultaneous starts
12.30 game on giant chess set starts
16.00 event finishes
Feel free to drop in and out whenever you wish, no matter how good you are at chess there will be something for you to enjoy.
