ChessFest
ChessFest is a series of events taking place each July, aimed at introducing people of all ages to the game of chess. CSC introduced ChessFest in 2021 and attendance has grown steadily, reflecting increased interest in chess among the general public. On 7th July 2024, a record 23,300 people attended our flagship ChessFest event in London’s Trafalgar Square. ChessFest is proudly supported by our sponsor, XTX Markets.
Trafalgar Square
The culmination of ChessFest each year is our major public engagement event in Trafalgar Square. CSC takes over the whole square for a day of fun, free, and family friendly chess activities. In 2024, visitors could:
watch several performances by our living chess set, re-enacting famous games of the past
receive free chess lessons for children and adults from professional chess teachers and top UK players
play on one of 10 giant chess sets dotted around the square
watch two masters battle it out in a test of speed and strength - giant blitz chess
Challenge a Chess Master at speed chess
play casual chess against other visitors on one of 300 sets around the square
watch a Blindfold Chess exhibition
observe all the action on a giant screen (12 x 7m) broadcasting all the action from the square.
take part in Puzzle Rush competitions organised by ChessKid
cheer on the London team in a live match against ChessFest Hull.
Many of the UK’s top chess players joined us for the day, including England’s top player, Grandmaster Nikita Vitiugov, British Champions, Grandmasters Gawain Jones, Matthew Sadler, Stuart Conquest, and Chris Ward, as well as British Women's’ Champions, International Master Harriet Hunt and FIDE Master Akshaya Kalaiyalahan. In addition, three of the UK’s new generation of chess stars, Supratit Banerjee, Ethan Pang, and Bodhana Sivanandan, took on members of the public in simultaneous displays and in our Challenge the Chess Master tent.
Regional events
In parallel to our London event, other ChessFest celebrations take place in other cities around the country: Liverpool, Nottingham, Hull. Members of the public can receive free chess lessons from CSC tutors, take on masters in simultaneous games, play on giant chess sets, and learn more about the CSC Schools’ Programme and the wider chess community in their area.
If you are interested in putting on your own ChessFest event next year, CSC would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us here.
School events
In addition to these public events, ChessFest also includes two days of invitation-only school events in the magnificent setting of Manchester Square, west London. Schools from around the country are invited to attend, with those outside London being offered travel bursaries to support their trip. Schools from as far away as Teesside, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and Gloucestershire have all been welcomed to our ChessFest school days.
Once there, children can receive lessons from CSC tutors, take on a chess master in a simultaneous game, and test their skills in a tournament against their peers from across the UK. We have also been fortunate enough to be supported by the nearby Wallace Collection, whose educators bring genuine pieces of 15th- and 16th-century armour to the square for our children to try on. In 2024, we also welcomed special guests ChessKid. You can read about this event here.
www.chess-fest.com
