Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · 3d

We have a winner! 🎉🎉🎉Congratulations to Charles Hertan and New in Chess for The Real Paul Morphy - the ECF Book of the Year 2025 Read more at

www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-book-of-... @top fans

ECF Book of the Year 2025

In today’s hectic chess world, it is easy to forget that the game we play now is built on foundations established many years ago. A biography of a player — perhaps the most talented who ever lived — w...

www.englishchess.org.uk

1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · 11d

The ECF’s Junior Selection Policy has been updated to reflect changes in the way England Juniors will be selected and qualify for major international individual and team events. The full policy is at www.englishchess.org.uk/Juniors/juni...

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · 16d

Read GM Nigel Davies on Hull 4NCL Congress 2025 on our Substack at englishchessfederation.substack.com/p/hull-4ncl-... It first appeared in our magazine ChessMoves - free to members - join at www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membersh... Photo: Brendan O'Gorman

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · 17d

♟️ Well done to Junyi Zhang who finished 9th in the FIDE World Cadet Under-12s with 7.5/11 despite being only 11 years old.

♟️ His games included a win against IM Abdalrahman Sameh Mohamed who became Egypt's national chess champion in 2024.

♟️ Table etc at s2.chess-results.com/tnr1234781.a...

1 1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · 23d

Leonard Barden on interest in English blitz tournaments growing rapidly, Kai Hanache, 13, beating 3 GMs & congratulations to Eugenia Karas who qualified as top woman www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

Chess: Kai Hanache, 13, beats three grandmasters at UK blitz qualifier

Schoolboy also beat three international masters and made a huge ratings gain, but was edged out in the final round

www.theguardian.com

5 4

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · 29d

🌟 Congratulations to Peter Sullivan! 🌟

FIDE has recognised Peter with a Certificate of Appreciation for his incredible voluntary work bringing chess into prisons. Since 2017, he’s set up clubs in 20 prisons, using chess to support rehabilitation. Peter’s work shows how chess can change lives.

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · 29d

Watch live the qualifier for the UK Open Blitz Championships, with GMs Jon Speelman, Eldar Gasanov, Shreyas Royal, Matthew Wadsworth. Follow from 11:00 Saturday on:

lichess.org/broadcast/20...

www.chess.com/events/2025-...

view.livechesscloud.com#e27adbd6-e5f...

📷 Yuri Krylov & Brendan O'Gorman

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 17

The wonder of chess: Prodigy, 10, takes on golden oldie, 92 - Bodhana Sivanandan v James Sherwin worldchess.com/news/the-won...

Photo by Fanella Headlong

1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 17

Tim Wall's article Coaching That Inspires is now available on the ECF substack. Read free at
englishchessfederation.substack.com/p/coaching-t... - whilst there subscribe, so that you don't miss out on our regular quality content.

2

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 16

Congratulations to Paul Billington, photographed here receiving his ECF Award for Contribution to Accessible Chess. 🏆

Paul is the Inclusion Officer at Shropshire Chess Association. Read about Paul's achievements at www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-awards-2...

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 13

♟️ Chess unites generations! At today’s UK Open Blitz Qualifier in Cardiff, James Sherwin (92) faced Bodhana Sivanandan (10) — an 82-year age gap across the board. ✨

You can still enter future blitz qualifiers here 👉 britchess.wufoo.com/forms/2025-u...
📸 Thanks Fanella Headlong!

3

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 12

Congratulations to the winners of the BCET Awards! The Chess Trust made 8 awards: St Catherine’s School Bramley; Stockport Grammar School; Brentwood School; Redhill Prep School; Radcliffe & Bingham Chess Club Juniors; Guildford Juniors; Gosforth Juniors; Whitefield Primary School

1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 10

Read Tim Wall's report 'England Juniors Win All Four Glorney Events' at englishchessfederation.substack.com/p/england-ju... If you like the content, you can join us for as little as £9.99 which includes our monthly mag ChessMoves - more info at www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membersh...

1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 10

The ECF Book of the Year 2025 shortlist has been announced. Many thanks to the judges Ray Edwards, Jovanka Houska, Sean Marsh and congratulations to those who made the shortlist. www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-book-of-...

1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Sep 8

The ECF are delighted to announce that we have hit over 20,000 members for the first time!! A big thank you to all our members - old & new! 🙏 Join us at www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membersh...

2 2

Reposted by English Chess Federation

DMU Archives and Rare Books @dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social · Aug 26

This lovely lil booklet on Modern Chess (1972) by Gabriel Vicente Maura for #ChessTuesday. The variant includes the invention of a new piece, the Prime Minister, with the powers of a bishop and a knight. From the @englishchess.bsky.social Library. @richardjameschess.bsky.social #chesshistory #chess

colour image of booklet cover with stylised design of the queen, king and new piece, the prime misinster which is similar to a knight on a podium.

Black and white image of Vicente holding the 81 squares chess board.

2 5

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 31

♟️ The 1st of 16 qualifiers for the UK Open Blitz was held in Hampton, London yesterday.

🎉 Many congratulations to Shreyas Royal who qualified for the Final, and to Eunice Hng who qualified for the Women's Final.

📈 s2.chess-results.com/tnr1240758.a...

2 1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 29

Nominations are invited for various positions on the English Chess Federation Board and they must be made by Thursday 18th September. Find out more about the vacancies and the process at www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-agm-call...

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 23

🎉👏 Congratulations to International Arbiter Matthew Carr, awarded a FIDE Certificate of Excellence!

20 years in chess, 18 as an arbiter — from leading events like the Cambridge International Open to mentoring new arbiters through ECF courses, Matt’s impact has been immense.

1

Reposted by English Chess Federation

DMU Archives and Rare Books @dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social · Aug 19

#ChessTuesday Grandmaster Harry Golombek visited Norwich for a simul vs 26 club members: he won 24, drew 1, and lost 1 to secretary H.C. Hughes. Scorecard from @ecfchess Library. My son’s already trying to work out the moves! @englishchess.bsky.social @richardjameschess.bsky.social #chesshistory

Image of a handwritten scorecard where Golombek plays white and resings on turn 37

2 2 9

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 18

Many congratulations to Brandon Clarke who came joint first and gained a GM norm at the Mindsports International Festival 2025. 🎉 Other great performances included Sohum Lohia and Jonah Willow who both finished on 6.5/9 s3.chess-results.com/tnrWZ.aspx?l...

📷 Brendan O'Gorman at 4NCL

1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 17

♟️✨ The 5th London Mindsports Centre Chess Festival is buzzing! With 2 rounds left & norm chances on the line, it’s all to play for.

Lance Leslie-Smith: “Competitive but friendly, with blitz & Chess960 adding fun. A surprise Naroditsky’s blitz visit lit up the room!”

1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 16

♟ Kingston Invitational fills the summer league gap with top-class chess & IM norm chances. This year honours IM Gavin Wall & Paul Durrant, two giants of local chess. Great to see so many fresh from the #BritishChess Champs back in action — some can’t get enough!

3

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 14

🎨♟ Artist Pia Sprong brought her unique eye to the #BritishChess Championships in Liverpool, capturing the focus & tension of the games in stunning drawings. View her work here 👉 piasprong.nl/page/1971bbf... #ChessArt

1 1

English Chess Federation @englishchess.bsky.social · Aug 13

The new Coventry International will take place from Sunday 26th October to Friday 31st October 2025 at the Holiday Inn Coventry - full details at www.englishchess.org.uk/coventry-int...

Coventry International

www.englishchess.org.uk

1