One of London’s biggest running groups has set up a chess club in Bermondsey after one of its members was inspired by the Netflix show the Queen’s Gambit.
Ben Stone, who is part of London City Runners, which is headquartered in a Druid Street railway arch, said he had long been looking for a chess club in London but had “never found one that was young enough and fun enough”.
He put the idea to Tim Navin-Jones, London City Runners’ founder, in summer 2021 and the new chess club – the ‘Knight Club’ – was born. The chess club meets “religiously” between 1pm and 3pm on Sundays – and every other week there is a tournament.
The tournaments usually bring in about 30 or 40 people, with competitors of all ability levels playing in a knockout system. It’s free to play but the custom is that whoever loses buys the winner a drink.
People who have been knocked out tend to play other games like Monopoly and Connect4, before gathering together again to watch the final. The final is played on a chessboard made by a local plumber out of bathroom tiles.
Although the tournaments are competitive, organisers said that the atmosphere was very welcoming, and players give each other advice and lend out books on chess strategy. The club is apparently also very diverse.
Tim said: “It’s very fantastically multicultural. You might think that chess would not be, but it really is.”
Women apparently make up about half of the people who take part, but “the people that tend to win it are blokes,” Tim added. “I’ve ever seen a lady win it – yet.”
“We’re always encouraging more women down,” Ben added.
To take part, go to London City Runners at 130 Druid St, London SE1 2HH on Sundays at 1pm.