English Chess Forum

Interesting discussion on TMS this afternoon about chess and cricket. According to Graeme Swann, Andrew Flintoff was a 'seriously good chess player' (or words to that effect) as a junior. I think I've heard this before but can anyone verify it? How good a player was he and does anyone know of any other chess-playing cricketers (as opposed to cricketing chess-players)?

This has been raised in here each year, every year, since 2009. Best type 'Flintoff' into the site search bar, and read your fill.

But to save you time: Flintoff was an adequate primary school player, featuring once for Lancashire u-11s. And that's it!

"does anyone know of any other chess-playing cricketers."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Winter_(cricketer)

This season there were two Birmingham League chessplayers on the Birmingham League umpires panel. There used to be three other Birmingham League chessplayers who were Birmingham League umpires within the last 10 years or so.

Paul Terry (Hampshire and England in the 1980s) used to be a BCCA member, at least around the same period.

Maybe postal chess helped to pass the time during rain delays and journeys to away matches?

It's quite possible that GM Peter Svidler will one day describe himself tongue-in-cheek as a chess-playing cricketer.

http://yorkshirechess.org/interview-with-peter-svidler/

"does anyone know of any other chess-playing cricketers."
I've played in European Senior Championships at both sports, though I'd classify myself more as a cricket-playing chesser.

Peter Svidler's batting technique is definitely on the, um, uncoached side. That said, there's some good hand-eye going on here (assuming that the video isn't too heavily edited): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAjaeGMB51c

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 30, 2017 2:29 am

"does anyone know of any other chess-playing cricketers."

Yuzvendra Chahal

Former England Test captain Mike Brearley was a useful chess player in his teens - verge of school first team.

There's this piece about Brearley and Barber doing a chess cricket simultaneous for a few moves in the link below. I have known a fair number of amateur cricketers who played chess. It seems to me that bowlers and allrounders are more likely to feature in the chess-cricket group, possibly reflecting that bowlers prepare whereas batsmen practise.

http://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/s ... 68726.html

Mike Atherton played a bit, but that was probably mentioned in the previous Flintoff reports.

Keith B Richardson was Englands first Grandmaster. He got his title for ccorrespondance chess. He also played for England at Cricket playing in Englands under 19 team. I believe that he also played First team county cricket. I am not sure which county he played for but he was from Nottinghamshire. So he may well have played for them.

Sadly Keith died in April this year

harrylamb wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:50 pm

I believe that he also played First team county cricket. I am not sure which county he played for but he was from Nottinghamshire. So he may well have played for them.

No record of that here

In a 1888 Bristol simul, JH Blackburne played WG Grace's son, a game watched by the cricketer WGG himself. And 'Young Mr. Grace' won.

Robert Page wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 29, 2017 5:17 pm

According to Graeme Swann, Andrew Flintoff was a 'seriously good chess player' (or words to that effect) as a junior. I think I've heard this before but can anyone verify it? How good a player was he?

David Robertson wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 29, 2017 5:35 pm

But to save you time: Flintoff was an adequate primary school player, featuring once for Lancashire u-11s. And that's it!

He's just appeared in an advert on the television which finishes with him holding up a little trophy to the camera and saying "Preston schools under 11 chess champion".