Britain’s most famous chess Grandmaster visits Lancaster this weekend, where he’ll play in a special contest.
Local top local chess players and rising stars of the game will have the opportunity of a lifetime when they get to play one of the UK's strongest ever players, chess Grandmaster Nigel Short MBE.
Nigel will play 25 of them at once in a simultaneous chess game at The Borough in Dalton Square on Saturday (June 21), starting at 2pm.
Nigel earned the title of Grandmaster when he was just 19 and was ranked third in the world just a few years later when he challenged Garry Kasparov for the world title.
Now, having just turned 60, Nigel is still a huge name in chess. Since 2022 he has been the Director for Chess Development for the World Chess Federation, FIDE.
His journey began in Bolton where he started playing chess at age 5 and rapidly became a chess prodigy beating some of the world's strongest players. He focused on chess full time from age 17.
His competitors include some of the new rising stars of chess.
They include Max Fyson, aged 12, joined Lancaster Chess Club just a year ago and impressed local players with his talent including being awarded 'Player of the Season' in the Lancaster and Morecambe District Chess League and won the Lancaster Chess Club Championship this year.
Also playing is fellow Lancaster Chess Club member, 16-year-old Om Reddy Jayar, has claimed several tournament wins including Lancashire Junior Champion 2025.
Richard Walsh, Secretary of Lancaster Chess Club said “Although Nigel now lives in Greece, he always remembers his roots in Lancashire and it is fantastic news that he has agreed to do this event.
‘’Whilst Nigel will be tough to beat, the match is sure to be an experience never to be forgotten for those lucky enough to have the opportunity to play.’’
Tony Johnson, Lancaster BID Manager, added: “It’s fantastic to see that Nigel has agreed to visit Lancaster to offer local chess players such an amazing opportunity.
‘’With chess becoming more popular, it’s events such as this and the Lancaster Chess Congress in August which encourage visitors to visit our historic city and discover what Lancaster has to offer.”
Nigel will also be signing copies of his latest book 'Winning' before the match.
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