Twenty-two members of Hammersmith Chess Club travelled to Lübeck last weekend to renew a friendship that began seven years ago when a group from Lübeck Chess Club visited Hammersmith during our summer season at the Albion. We always intended to return the visit, but the pandemic intervened. This year, we finally made the journey.
Lübeck Chess Club proved a wonderful host. Founded more than 150 years ago, it has over 200 members, thriving junior sections, around 20 teams and its own dedicated clubhouse—making it a club with much in common with Hammersmith.
Our travelling party reflected the breadth of our own club: juniors and adults, competitive players and social members, parents and supporters alike.
The weekend began with a Friday evening blitz tournament, won by Tony Niccoli ahead of Peter Finn, followed by a rapid tournament on Saturday, won by one of Lübeck’s talented junior FMs. Temperatures climbed above 37°C, making the playing hall almost as challenging as the opposition! The planned long-play match was sensibly abandoned because of the heat, but an excellent barbecue hosted by our Lübeck friends ensured the afternoon was no less enjoyable.
Sunday was devoted to exploring Lübeck itself—a beautiful Hanseatic city and well worth a visit. As always, however, the lasting memories were not only of the chess but of the friendships renewed and new ones made.
The exchange continues this weekend when our Lübeck friends visit London. They’ll be joining us for a friendly match on Friday evening, attending ChessFest on Sunday, and taking part in our club blitz tournament on Monday 13 July.