Who is chessmastery.co.uk?

[Adam Raoof]

I can't find anything about them on whois!

[Carl Hibbard]

I can't find anything about them on whois!

Most of whois is private now don't expect to find out anything from that source.

[Adam Raoof]

I wondered. But if they are breaking the law, who do you sue?

[JustinHorton]

Do they still exist Adam? The Facebook page is not operational, the YouTube channel hasn't seen a new video in five years and the last web page entry appears to be for 2017. The Twitter account last saw action in November 2018.

[JustinHorton]

As to who it may be, I have no idea, but just scrolling through some posts I find that this one says:

The games and italicized comments have been supplied by the Lancashire County Chess captain (and former coach to the young Nigel Short) Mike Conroy.

So maybe he knows.

[JustinHorton]

Additionally, in the first post on the site, the author calls themselves Alchemos which is the chess.com handle of a Stephen Ward from Manchester. There are two Stephen Wards on the ECF grading database, both in the North-West: from Alchemos's chess.com rating it is unlikely that it is the 182-rated guy from Rossendale, but perhaps the Stephen Ward playing for Altrincham and Hale, graded 73, may be the man you're looking for?

[Reg Clucas]

but perhaps the Stephen Ward playing for Altrincham and Hale, graded 73, may be the man you're looking for?

I very much doubt it!

[JustinHorton]

Are you able to share your reasons?

[Adam Raoof]

thanks Justin!

let's hope they are not taking people's money!

[Reg Clucas]

Are you able to share your reasons?

Because I know him well and it's not the sort of thing he would be involved in. But to eliminate all doubt I will ask him and report back.

[Mick Norris]

The Rossendale Stephen Ward did play for Greater Manchester when he was graded u160, so he definitely was "Manchester" before he moved

[Adam Raoof]

I ask on behalf of one the authors of the videos, who would like to contact them!

[Richard Thursby]

Definitely a site to avoid using while it has a TLS certificate error.

[JustinHorton]

Are you able to share your reasons?

Because I know him well and it's not the sort of thing he would be involved in. But to eliminate all doubt I will ask him and report back.

I think Reg is right, and apologies to his friend for selecting the wrong Stephen Ward: the chess.com account threw me. Mick

The Rossendale Stephen Ward did play for Greater Manchester when he was graded u160, so he definitely was "Manchester" before he moved

may have been on the right lines: there's a Twitter user @alchemos who has indeed played for Rossendale and a current lichess account Alchemos with a much higher rating than the old chess.com one, and one consistent with the Rossendale grade.