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It costs £450 + £100 for kit if your child is accepted onto a County pathway.

But according to the ECB, the "State of Equity in Cricket" is improving.
www.ecb.co.uk/news/4400947

ECB publishes State of Equity in Cricket Report 2025

The report provides an update on progress happening across cricket to make it more accessible and inclusive.

www.ecb.co.uk

November 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

Have You SEEN How Well Jospem Is Doing At The World Cup? Jose Martinez, We Salute You!

worldchess.com/news/jospem-...

worldchess.com

November 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

English chess fans delight: GM Shreyas Royal is being anything but peaceful at the Tournament of Peace 2025 in Zagreb.

He is leading the field on 5.5/7 so far with a performance rating of 2752.

Go on Shrez!

November 12, 2025 at 10:29 AM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

We'll see what happens to Mr Kramnik then.

November 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

Yes, we know the World Cup is wild and exciting. But on its rest day we just want to draw your attention to another international tournament World Chess has helped boost. worldchess.com/news/preside...

worldchess.com

November 10, 2025 at 2:42 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

After looking at the various possibilities, here's my bet on who'll qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates:

- Erigaisi
- Abdusattorov
- Firouzja
- Pragg
- Nakamura

London Chess Classic looks critical for FIDE Circuit points.
------------
Giri, Caruana and Bluebaum are already there.

November 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

The Chess World Cup in Goa is throwing up some incredible pictures. Here's a roundup of what's happened this week: worldchess.com/news/world-c...

worldchess.com

November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

Nepomniachtchi Crashes Out Of World Cup In Latest Sign Russian Chess Is In The Doldrums

worldchess.com/news/ian-nep...

Nepomniachtchi Crashes Out Of World Cup In Latest Sign Russian Chess Is In The Doldrums / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform

The elimination of GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia's number-one, in Round 2 typifies the state of Russian chess. He went out with a whimper.

worldchess.com

November 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

Russian number-one Ian Nepomniachtchi is on the brink of crashing out of the chess World Cup in R2.

Nepo has already fallen out of the world's top 20.

Russian chess, which used to dominate the world, is in the doldrums.

November 5, 2025 at 11:23 AM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

280 people a night.

Most chess clubs can only dream of that.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...

Cocktails and checkmates: the young Britons giving chess a new lease of life

Laid-back clubs proving a hit in London, Birmingham and elsewhere as people look for new ways to socialise

www.theguardian.com

November 4, 2025 at 11:56 AM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

MGW?

November 3, 2025 at 7:46 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

FIDE says it has been busy strengthening ties with the IOC.

Hmm.

Grovelling might be more accurate?

www.fide.com/fide-strengt...

FIDE strengthens ties with IOC, UEFA and ARISF – International Chess Federation

www.fide.com

November 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

It's a sorry state of affairs when there's only one woman among 206 competitors at FIDE's flagship chess World Cup, one of the most prestigious events the game has.

But this is where chess finds itself.
worldchess.com/news/divya-d...

Farewell, Divya! Only Woman Competing At Chess World Cup Is Knocked Out / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform

India's 19-year-old star-in-the-making GM Divya Deshmukh, the FIDE Women's World Cup winner, was in a field with 205 men. We really hoped she would make her mark.

worldchess.com

November 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

🎵Oh, Mickey, you're so fine...

England's chess hero Michael Adams has started the FIDE World Cup with a trademark win.

C'mon Mickey!!!

November 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

Your regular @theworldchess.bsky.social weekly roundup

This week: Magnus does his thing, the World Cup (!), and sadness and anger over Danya's death continue as details emerge, the funeral is held, and Kramnik sticks to his guns.

The chess world remains a dark place.
worldchess.com/news/world-c...

World Chess Weekly: Magnus Rules Again As World Cup Starts (Without Him) / News / World Chess - Official FIDE Online Chess Gaming Platform

While the sad controversy over Daniel Naroditsy's death rumbles on, the chess world hasn't stood still this week. Particularly, GM Magnus Carlsen.

worldchess.com

October 31, 2025 at 11:07 AM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

Emil Sutovsky, the FIDE CEO who usually has a lot to say, hasn't posted on X since October 22.

His last post was, at best, insensitive about Naroditsky.

October 30, 2025 at 11:54 AM

Leon Watson

@leonwatson.bsky.social

Tata Steel and the @schoolschess.bsky.social London Chess Classic are two events where politics and controversy rarely happen. They're just about good chess, and we love that.

Enter GM Hans Niemann.

worldchess.com/news/tata-st...