Patron Saint of Chess

[John Upham]

According to Jimmy Wales august organ, the patron saint of chess is allegedly

Saint Teresa of Avila

However, the following letter to British Chess Magazine (Volume LXXIV, August, page 258) from W.G.Daish (Mr.) of Wateringbury, Kent (July 17th, 1954) reads as follows :

"Sir, - "St," the suggestive abbreviation of the name Stefan (your current issue) revives an old query of mine. Who is the patron saint (not the goddess) of chess, if, indeed, she has one?

St. Francis spoke in harsh terms of this too-engrossing game. Jacob de Cessolis, thirteenth-century monk, whilst choosing it as the theme of a powerful, and best-selling moral sermon - Liber Moralis de Ludo Scaccorum - does not appear to have invoked any saints. He used the chess-board to symbolize Babylon, the pawns being Labourer, Blacksmith, Weaver, Merchant, Physician, Innkeeper, Tax-Collector* and Gambler.

It would be interesting to know if there is any evidence of saintly patronage for this most spiritual (or spirituel, if you like!) of all games.


Can you shed light on this matter?

*I'm sure Mike Basman would be pleased to find the g-pawn given the alter-ago of Tax-Collector : oh what irony for HMRC!

[Geoff Chandler]

HI John,

I think the 'Gambler' is apt for the h-pawn. Lost count of the times I've marched my
h-pawn up v a castled position more in hope than expectation that it will do any good.
In gamblers terms the odds of success are something like 100-1 with 50-1 e/way (I might get a perpetual.)

Some information about your query here:

https://restlesspilgrim.net/blog/2013/0 ... -of-chess/

[MJMcCready]

According to Jimmy Wales august organ, the patron saint of chess is allegedly

Saint Teresa of Avila

However, the following letter to British Chess Magazine (Volume LXXIV, August, page 258) from W.G.Daish (Mr.) of Wateringbury, Kent (July 17th, 1954) reads as follows :

"Sir, - "St," the suggestive abbreviation of the name Stefan (your current issue) revives an old query of mine. Who is the patron saint (not the goddess) of chess, if, indeed, she has one?

St. Francis spoke in harsh terms of this too-engrossing game. Jacob de Cessolis, thirteenth-century monk, whilst choosing it as the theme of a powerful, and best-selling moral sermon - Liber Moralis de Ludo Scaccorum - does not appear to have invoked any saints. He used the chess-board to symbolize Babylon, the pawns being Labourer, Blacksmith, Weaver, Merchant, Physician, Innkeeper, Tax-Collector* and Gambler.

It would be interesting to know if there is any evidence of saintly patronage for this most spiritual (or spirituel, if you like!) of all games.


Can you shed light on this matter?

*I'm sure Mike Basman would be pleased to find the g-pawn given the alter-ago of Tax-Collector : oh what irony for HMRC!

I heard someone say it was Prince Leeroy-quentin of Skegness.