Month: April 2026

We’re delighted to share some important news: Hammersmith Chess Club has been formally registered as a charity by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

This marks an important step in the club’s development. Over recent years, Hammersmith has grown not just in numbers, but in ambition—expanding our junior programme, launching initiatives such as our Women & Girls Hour, and strengthening our role as a welcoming, inclusive space for players of all ages and abilities.

Becoming a charity reflects what the club has already become in practice: a community organisation with a clear purpose. It will help us to build more sustainably for the future, support our outreach work, and ensure that we can continue to make chess accessible to as many people as possible.

This is not a finish line, but a foundation. The focus now is on making the most of this new status—developing our programmes, deepening our links with the local community, and continuing to offer a friendly, competitive and inclusive environment for everyone who walks through the door.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the club’s journey so far. We’re looking forward to what comes next.

Adam Cranston
Chairman

At the start of the season, we set ourselves a clear set of goals in the Central London League.

With three teams entered—Hammersmith 1 and 2 in Division Two, and Hammersmith 3 in Division Four—the brief was simple:

• Promotion for Teams 1 and 3 to Divisions One and Three
• Consolidation for Team 2 in Division Two

As it turns out, things went rather well.

Both Hammersmith 1 (captained by Tom Townsend) and Hammersmith 3 (captained by David Steyn) didn’t just compete—they won their divisions convincingly, securing promotion with room to spare. That alone would have made for a very satisfying campaign.

Meanwhile, Hammersmith 2, under the guidance of Andrew Cuff, had a more dramatic journey. After a distinctly shaky start, the team found its footing, steadied the ship, and ultimately did exactly what was asked of it, retaining its place in Division Two.

The outcome is perfect: next season, Hammersmith 1, 2 and 3 will line up in Divisions One, Two and Three respectively.

Job done in the  Central London League, the focus now shifts to the other leagues where there is work to be done and plenty of chess to be played before the season fully wraps up.

A New Junior Chess Academy Launches at the Mindsports Centre

We are delighted to announce that a new Junior Chess Academy will be launching at the Mindsports Centre this summer term, run by Adam Cranston.

This is a very exciting development for junior chess in West London. The Academy will focus on competitive play and structured improvement, giving young players the opportunity to receive regular coaching and, just as importantly, to play serious rated games every week in a supervised environment with post-game analysis.

This combination — coaching, competitive games, and analysis — is widely recognised as one of the most effective ways for young players to improve, and we expect the Academy to become an important part of the junior chess scene at the Mindsports Centre.

How it works

Each week, students will receive:

• 30 minutes of coaching in small groups of roughly equal ability
• 60 minutes of rated rapid games followed by analysis

Details

• Time: Wednesdays, 4:30–6:00pm
• Venue: Mindsports Centre
• Dates: 15 April to 8 July (excluding 27 May) — 12 weeks total
• Ages: 6–16, all abilities welcome
• Cost: £250

Places are limited and the Academy is expected to fill quickly. If interested, please contact Adam directly at adamrcranston@gmail.com.

The Junior Chess Academy is independently run and is not part of Hammersmith Chess Club’s junior programme.  As we continue to develop the chess ecosystem at the Mindsports Centre, we are delighted to welcome the Academy as a partner. Junior chess has never been better served in West London.