Psyon Chess Club, Chislehurst
Social and competitive chess on Thursday evenings in Chislehurst.
Psyon Chess reestablished the historic Chislehurst Chess Club, welcoming back several of its original members to revive a local institution that had run for over 61 years before closing during the pandemic. The club exists to foster casual social play and competitive chess locally, and anyone keen to learn, play, compete and enjoy chess is welcome.
The adult club meets on Thursday evenings at Chislehurst Methodist Church, and runs through the normal league chess season. Whether you are looking for a serious game against a rated opponent or a casual one over a coffee, there will be someone to play.
The club is anchored by its chairman — an International Arbiter and a coach accredited by FIDE, ECU, ECF and ChessPlus — and supported by a committee of members.
Club night details
- When
- Thursdays, 7.45–10pm
- Where
- Chislehurst Methodist Church
Prince Imperial Road, Chislehurst
BR7 5LX - Who for
- Adult players of any strength, from casual to rated league standard.
- Membership
- Annual and mid-season memberships are both welcome.
- Contact
- Chairman at satish@chess-uk.com
Your first visit
Book a first trial visit through the contact form and expect a relaxed atmosphere in a local church room, and a warm welcome from one of the committee members — usually the chairman. You will be introduced to the other members, and if you have no official rating your playing strength will be gauged so that you can be paired with someone at your own level for a casual game. During the league season the club is a busy room, split between social play and serious league matches.
Nobody is pressed to join on the first night. Take the time to decide before signing up and paying the annual membership fee, and before registering with the English Chess Federation for the Bronze membership that is the minimum needed to play league matches and be rated officially by the ECF.
The club supplies boards, pieces and clocks. Bring your own notation pad or pen if you have a favourite.
Competitive chess
Competition is encouraged through an annual intra-club championship, and the club currently fields three teams in the Kent Chess League: the Harvey Cup, the Introduction Cup and the Foundation Cup. The club is small, friendly and growing, so a new member has ample opportunity to be considered regularly for league play. The club secretary organises the league fixtures and the club championship.
Psyon Chess also conducts FIDE and ECF-rated tournaments across southern England — Cambridge, Oxford, Greater London, Kent, East Kent and Hampshire — which gives members a direct route into rated competitive play at every level.