Hammers, we’re in for something special.
We’re delighted to announce that Jonathan Mestel will be our guest speaker at the club on Monday 2nd March at 7.15pm.
Not only is he one of the great figures of English chess, he is also Professor of Applied Mathematics at Imperial College. Expect insight, stories, and probably a few mind-bending ideas along the way.
Part of England’s Chess “New Wave”
Mestel was a key figure in the surge of English chess strength that followed the 1972 World Championship match between Fischer and Spassky. In the years that followed, England rose to become one of the strongest chess nations in the world, powered by talents such as Tony Miles, Jonathan Speelman, John Nunn, Nigel Short, and of course, Jonathan Mestel himself.
He was right in the thick of that golden era.
A Few Highlights (and there are many…)
Jonathan’s list of achievements is long and varied. Here are just a few standouts:
- Three-time British Chess Champion – including his extraordinary 1976 victory in Portsmouth, where he won his first nine games
- Olympiad Gold Medal for best board performance in 1984
- Two team silver medals and one bronze representing England at Chess Olympiads
- Awarded the Grandmaster title in 1982
- World Chess Solving Champion (1997) — a reminder that his chess strength goes far beyond over-the-board play
And that’s only scratching the surface. He’s also a highly accomplished bridge player, which tells you something about the breadth of his strategic mind.
A Special Evening at the MSC
This promises to be an informative, entertaining, and genuinely memorable night. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor, a casual player, or just chess-curious, this is a rare chance to hear from true English chess royalty.
📍 Venue: London MindSports Centre
🗓 Date: Monday 2nd March
⏰ Time: 7.15pm start
Make sure you’re there — evenings like this don’t come around often.
John White
Events Officer