ChessFest 2022

[Andrew Martin]

This is a short post to thank Malcolm Pein and his team for an extraordinary day of chess at Trafalgar Square. I was lucky enough to be invited and spent most of the day playing blitz chess with the public , which was fun, but pretty tiring in the blazing heat. I thought an open air simul might finish my day off, but no, there was yet more blitz to be played.

I was a shadow of my former self at the end.


Let’s hope this fantastic event continues in 2023 and beyond.

[MJMcCready]

Please post pics if you have some.

[Andrew Martin]

Regrettably, I don’t have, but I am sure they will appear soon.

[MJMcCready]

ok, many thanks. Are sure it wasn't too hot to concentrate on the chess without being flustered?

[Andrew Martin]

I have been informed that over 10,000 people turned up , on what can only be described as an uncomfortably hot day. That gives you the scale of CSC’s achievement. It is important to mention the subsidiary events in Liverpool and Hull.


This is possibly the most important UK chess event in terms of popularising the game since Kasparov v Short 1993.

[MJMcCready]

The numbers sound great but tv coverage is what we need. Popularizing chess was never a bad thing (unless it is roasting hot). Costly on suncream by the sounds of it but then I suppose this is one of those situations where being a titled player makes it easier to stay cool -because you have lots of fans!

[John Upham]

being a titled player makes it easier to stay cool -because you have lots of fans!

I see what you did there.

[MJMcCready]

Well, I thought that after all these years of coming to this site, the very least I could do is drop in the odd truly amazing joke. And you've gotta admit, that is a pretty good one.

[Andrew Martin]

I would retire, whilst you are at the top of your game.

[David Sedgwick]

I was a shadow of my former self at the end.

At the end, I was skulking in a VIP area when Andrew came in to collect his bag. He did indeed look absolutely shattered.

He was one of a number of people who worked incredibly hard throughout the day,

[MJMcCready]

I was a shadow of my former self at the end.

He did indeed look absolutely shattered.

I would imagine so. Well done to all those who made it work in such heat. Far from easy I am sure.