Steve
• How did you first learn to play chess? (e.g., from a family member, a friend, a book, online)
I was shown the basic moves by a cousin then my father had a friend who played chess at work so I got to go round once a week to his house to play and learn the game properly and in more depth (a bit like the Queen's Gambit series on Television).
I also learnt from a Ukrainian friend who introduced me to 'Eastern European' games.
Plenty of tea and biscuits were consumed! The chess books came somewhat later and my parents bought me a chess computer.
• How old were you when you played your first game?
I was ten years old for my first game.
• Were you part of a chess club or team in school or college?
I was a member of the chess club at secondary school and won my first competition there.
• How long have you been playing chess in total? Have you played consistently, or were there periods where you took a break?
I have been playing chess for fifty years consistently, entering competitions here and there.
• Who are your favourite players (past or present), and have they influenced your own style?
My favourite players are Nigel Short, who I played against in a simultaneous display some years ago in Ashton, Bobby Fischer, Karpob, Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen (The GOAT).
• What is your primary motivation for playing chess? (e.g., mental challenge, social aspect, competition, fun)
My primary motivation for playing chess is the mental challenge - it focuses my mind and keeps the grey matter ticking over.
• Do you prefer competitive games (tournaments, league matches) or casual friendly games?
I prefer tournaments and league matches because I can challenge my knowledge and skill of the game.
• What time controls do you enjoy the most? (e.g., blitz, rapid, classical)
I enjoy rapid and classical forms of chess because it is more structured. Blitz is too fast a game for me.
• How would you describe your personal style of play? (e.g., aggressive, positional, tactical, defensive)
My personal style of play is defensive, whilst looking for opportunities to see a weakness in my opponents play.
• What is your favourite part about being a member of the club?
My favourite part about being a member of the club is inclusion with like minded individuals, contributing and helping on club and match nights which has improved my game.
• What are your goals in chess right now? (e.g., improve your rating, learn a new opening, meet new people)
My goals right now are to hopefully improve my rating and gain a regular place in one of the teams. Meeting and helping new people and continuous improvement.
• Do you study chess outside of playing games? If so, what is your primary mode of training (e.g., books, online puzzles, analyzing games)?
I regularly play online on Chess.com. I like puzzles and the odd analysis of games, especially at the club where some of my games have made the big screen!
• What are your favourite chess resources? (e.g., books, websites, YouTube channels)
My favourite chess resources are books, websites and watching old and new streamers on YouTube channels - anything chess related.
• Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of chess?
Outside of chess I like the majority of sports - my favourite being football, rugby league, snooker and darts. I enjoy travelling and eating out with family and friends.
• What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting at the club
The main piece of advice I would give would be enjoy the interaction with all ranges of chess players and embrace the help and support of the more experienced players to develop your game.
David
Background & How You Started
• How did you first learn to play chess? (e.g., from a family member, a friend, a book, online)
Although I was showed how the pieces moved when I was about 9 on a family visit to friends in Coventry I was basically self-taught. For example I didn’t know that en passant existed until I was playing tournament chess and an opponent told me in a post mortem session I could play that type of move.
• How old were you when you played your first game?
Again about 9 but then I stopped playing until I was about 15 in 1972 and saw that the Fischer v Spassky was in the news. That interest only lasted until the match ended unfortunately.
• Were you part of a chess club or team in school or college?
No as there were better things to do like football.
• How long have you been playing chess in total? Have you played consistently, or were there periods where you took a break?
I have been playing chess for almost 60 years from start to finish but when you take into account all the layoffs then probably about 40 years in total the great majority of those in the
21st century!
• Who are your favourite players (past or present), and have they influenced your own style?
Morphy and Fischer – I’m so taken by their clarity of thought and how they played the game. I would consider myself a bit of a hacker rather than a positional player and that kind of play is seen in so many of their games. Modern day players leave me a bit cold if I’m honest.
Motivations & Preferences
• What is your primary motivation for playing chess? (e.g., mental challenge, social aspect, competition, fun)
Now it is to give something back to the game in a coaching and mentoring role. I think over the last 15 years we really have achieved something as a club.
• Do you prefer competitive games (tournaments, league matches) or casual friendly games?
Casual games these days at the club or online on LiChess. Since I had a cardiac arrest in July 2024 my concentration is nothing like it was so longplay has been shelved for good.
• What time controls do you enjoy the most? (e.g., blitz, rapid, classical)
I was brought up on 5 minute chess so I now really play the modern equivalent of 3 mins plus 2
seconds per move. I can play that by intuition rather than having to concentrate too hard.
• How would you describe your personal style of play? (e.g., aggressive, positional, tactical, defensive)
As I mentioned above someone who likes to go for the King if at all possible.
• What is your favourite part about being a member of the club?
Seeing players develop and make friends too. I love giving talks about how to improve your game and am especially proud when they win individually and as a team. To be honest setting the club up has just been the best thing ever. I can say that I have now found out exactly what I was always meant to be.
• What are your goals in chess right now? (e.g., improve your rating, learn a new opening, meet new people)
I know that I can’t live forever so I am always trying to find someone that I can hand the baton to so the club continues to flourish when I can no longer run things.
Engagement & Other Interests
• Do you study chess outside of playing games? If so, what is your primary mode of training (e.g., books, online puzzles, analyzing games)?
Yes all the time. I play online on LiChess and look at books and You Tube as well as using Chessbase to prepare lessons for students and the club
• What are your favourite chess resources? (e.g., books, websites, YouTube channels)
I prefer to look at the games in books by the old masters rather than modern games plus I use Chessbase every day
• Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of chess?
Yes I play walking football at least twice a week and run regularly and have a season ticket at Manchester City. My wife and I like to travel as much as we can too.
• What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting at the club?
Improve your tactical skill first and continue that at least weekly, then concentrate on endings and then look at openings
Pete
Background & How You Started
• How did you first learn to play chess? (e.g., from a family member, a friend, a book, online)
I first learnt to play chess when I was very young, probably 8ish. It was my father who taught me
• How old were you when you played your first game?
I used to play with my father and then when I had children of my own I taught them – I then didn’t play them when they beat me !
• Were you part of a chess club or team in school or college?
No – never played at school or college
• How long have you been playing chess in total? Have you played consistently, or were there periods where you took a break?
That would be giving my age away !
• Who are your favourite players (past or present), and have they influenced your own style?
Afraid I have never reached the dizzing heights of having a style !
Motivations & Preferences
• What is your primary motivation for playing chess? (e.g., mental challenge, social aspect, competition, fun)
I play chess at the club to help the beginners – so, fun
• Do you prefer competitive games (tournaments, league matches) or casual friendly games?
Friendly
• What time controls do you enjoy the most? (e.g., blitz, rapid, classical)
Ones that mean I have lots of time to think
• How would you describe your personal style of play? (e.g., aggressive, positional, tactical, defensive)
Bad
• What is your favourite part about being a member of the club?
Seeing the young members learn to play, progress and move out of my group
• What are your goals in chess right now? (e.g., improve your rating, learn a new opening, meet new people)
No goals, just helping at the club
Engagement & Other Interests
• Do you study chess outside of playing games? If so, what is your primary mode of training (e.g., books, online puzzles, analyzing games)?
Afraid not...
• What are your favourite chess resources? (e.g., books, websites, YouTube channels)
I tend to watch Gotham Chess on YouTube – he explains in a way I can understand and follow
• Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of chess?
Archery and Dungeons and Dragons or any TTRPG (yup, bit nerdy)
• What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting at the club?
Just dive in and have a game with someone. I’m not sure how many games I have lost (more than I have won) but you learn more by losing than winning. Anyone and everyone is willing to have a game and talk it through afterwards with advice or pointers.
