Announcing ChessFest 2022

It's Back, Bigger and Better than Before!

ChessFest is a fun-filled outdoor event, entirely free, open to all. Starting from 11am and running till 6pm on Sunday the 17th of July. At Trafalgar Square you can look forward to:

Hundreds of chess boards for casual chess.
Twelve giant chess sets to play on against other ChessFesters. You will also be able to test your chess and athletic skills in speed games on these sets.
A giant human chess match, 32 professional actors resplendent in costume take on the role of the chess pieces and re-enact famous games from chess history.
Multiple simultaneous displays from some of the UK's top chess players, be warned, they take no prisoners!
Free chess lessons for children led by our Chess in Schools tutors.
Meet Fun Master Mike of Chesskid.com as he presents his Puzzle Rush Challenge and bring your children to the ChessKid tent.
Chess Lectures celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1972 World Chess Championship match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky and the 25th anniversary of Garry Kasparov's match against IBM's Deep Blue.
Are you smarter than a 7 year old? Meet the UK's brightest chess prospects, Bodhana and Kushal, fresh from their gold medal triumphs at the recent European Junior Chess Championships.

To catch a flavour of what to expect of the day, watch a video of last year’s event:

Amid temperatures that reached higher than 30 degrees Celsius – it was the hottest day of the year thus far – chess fans and their families and friends watched a live performance by actors of the Immortal Anderseen-Kieseritsky Game of 1851, which many believe was played just a couple of blocks away from Trafalgar Square, in the famous 19th century chess salon Simpson’s on the Strand.

ChessFest is not just in London, but in Liverpool too, with a sister event happening at Liverpool ONE's Chevasse Park. Who has the stronger players ? There will be a livestreamed team match between the two events to decide that very question!

For further details about ChessFest please visit the event website.

Chess in Schools and Communities are looking for volunteers to assist at ChessFest. Tasks include setting up in the square and packing up. Setting up chess sets, supervising play on the giant chess sets, matching members of the public to play, and even playing a few games against members of the public! Volunteers must be aged over 18.

We can offer travel expenses within the M25, lunch and refreshments, as well as a staff ChessFest t-shirt. If you would like to find out more, please contact us either via info@chessinschools.co.uk or by calling 020 7935 3445 (office hours only).

How to Donate

YOUR SUPPORT is key to ensuring the work of the charity continues, and that we keep bringing the benefits of chess to our schools and communities. Please do pass on this newsletter to your contacts and help to spread the good word! If you, your organization, friends or acquaintances wish to make a donation to help the charity then please read more and remember to Gift Aid the donation, if possible.

The event is proudly supported by XTX Markets, a leading algorithmic trading firm who deliver liquidity in the Equity, FX, Fixed Income, and Commodity markets. XTX has offices in London / New York / Singapore / Paris / Mumbai. This is the second year they have supported ChessFest.