Chess Clubs
Some excellent local chess clubs in Suffolk for all abilities are listed below.
Today, chess players typically develop their game via a blend of in-person and online tools, events, and clubs, and newcomers have the luxury of picking up the basics either online or in-person.
During the global pandemic there was a very limited amount of over-the-board (OTB) chess, so Suffolk Junior Chess set up a new online club on the website lichess.org, which is free to join and participate in.
Online chess is no substitute for over-the-board chess, but it does have some advantages. Visit our SJC Online Club page to find out more.
Online Chess Clubs
| Club name | Location | Meetings | Who | What happens? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk Junior Chess Online Chess Club | Lichess | Wednesday club evenings: 7pm – 8pm Weekend Tournaments & Events | Ed Player & Tim Kent | This is a new junior club that provides beginners to tournament goers with the opportunity to play chess online with other local players. |
Over-the-board Chess Clubs
| Club name | Location | Meetings | Who | What happens? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bury Knights Junior Chess Club | Moreton Hall Community Centre Symonds Road Bury St Edmunds IP32 7EE | Every Friday, 6 – 8pm from September to end of March, with a short break for Christmas. Chess continues to 9.30 pm for Division 1 members in a joint session with the adult club. | Bob Jones | The club is split into 4 or 5 divisions with the divisions ranging from top level experienced tournament players through to absolute beginners in the ‘lower’ divisions. The club aims to offer fun and mpetitive chess with internal leagues and grading. Players in Division 1 enjoy a mix of coaching and competitive fun chess. Coaching is also offered to beginners to help them learn the moves and basic strategy and checkmating. From 8pm, players from Division 1 are invited to join the adult club night which runs until 9.30pm. |
| Ipswich Junior Chess Club | Lecture Hall Ipswich County Library Northgate Street IP1 3DE | Saturday mornings, 9.45am – 11.45am. | Martin Tomes | Players are paired up with other players of approximate similar ability. Coaching is offered, although not every week. Home and away matches are arranged with other clubs, with a club competition taking place in the summer. |
| Martlesham Junior Chess Coaching | Martlesham Heath (Please contact Dagne for details) | As arranged with Dagne | International Master Dagne Ciuksyte | IM Dagne Ciuksyte runs the individual and joint lessons to all level junior chess players (and their parents) concentrating on the intensive chess tuition. For more information please visit https://dagnechess.co.uk/ or contact Dagne on mjchessclub@gmail.com. |