"Chess Master @ The Local", Happy Hour, Watford, 25 August

[Roger Lancaster]

Not a congress but an event, this is part of the ECF's initiative to bring chess to the masses by staging events in open-to-all locations including pubs. Optimum scenario, as far as ECF is concerned, is to attract 'interested but occasional' players but the fact that I'm posting here tells you that regular players - both adults and (accompanied) children - are also welcome.

One event will be at The Happy Hour pub in Watford on Thursday afternoon/evening, 25 August, with the highlight (after lighthearted 15-minute tournaments beginning 3.30) being GM Keith Arkell taking on all-comers from 7.0 onwards. Free entry with the ECF sponsoring prizes for tournament winners, simul winners and a best game prize, plus a £20 meal voucher from The Happy Hour for the first person to beat Keith.

There will be 16 sets and boards at the event, courtesy of Watford Chess Club, with either 11 or 12 being used in the simul and others available for general use. It's rarely possible to know in advance how many people will turn up for free events so there's an element of guesswork in knowing whether this will be the right number, too many or too few - an organiser's nightmare, in fact! (Probably worth considering bringing a pocket set, if you have one, just in case).

While on the subject of organisers, I'd like to thank ECF publicity manager, Mark Jordan, for his assistance. I think Mark is still looking for other venues so, if something comes to mind, I suggest you get in touch with him.

Coming back to 25 August, for anyone coming by public transport, nearest station is Bushey. That's 15-20 minutes by fast train from London Euston but much slower by the Overground service. After alighting from the train at Bushey, turn left at the foot of the stairs which takes you to the Eastbury Road exit. Then turn left along Eastbury Road and the pub is a 15-minute walk. Any useful late information will be posted on Watford website http://www.watfordchessclub.org

[Roger Lancaster]

Update. There are only limited spaces still available to be among Keith’s first cohort of opponents at 7.0 (spaces should begin to open up around 7.30) but, if you intend coming and wish to by-pass any queue, there’s an eBay facility to be the person to open proceedings by playing the first move against Keith. Auction proceeds to the Chess Trust. Searching “Grandmaster Keith” on eBay brings up the auction – no bidders yet!

[Roger Lancaster]

The eBay auction ends shortly after two o'clock this afternoon. Currently we're referring, in hopeful anticipation of a parallel, to the apochryphal obituary of an eBay executive reading, "Mr so-and-so died on Thursday, the day after his 74th birthday. His first 74 years were uneventful with everything happening in the last 5 minutes".