Wallace Chess
Wallace Chess in London offers a variety of chess-related activities primarily aimed at children and young people. Wallace Chess emphasises creating a fun and team-oriented experience in addition to learning and competition.
Club Profile
Weekly Sessions:
Wallace Chess Club offers lessons at 2 venues.
- Swiss Cottage Club: Held on Mondays from 5:15pm to 6:15pm at Swiss Cottage Community Centre, 19 Winchester Road, London NW3 3NG.
- Kensington Club: Held on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:50pm to 5:50pm at St Mary Abbots Centre, Vicarage Gate London W8 4HN.
Who can join:
- Weekly Chess Clubs: Children aged 4 to 9 of all skill levels, from complete beginners to intermediate and advanced players, are welcome to join the weekly clubs. The hour-long sessions include tournament games and lessons on chess tactics, strategy, and basic principles, tailored to the children’s skill levels. Termly sign-up with weekly attendance is required.
- Elite & Junior Squads: These are invite-only coaching programs for talented children, designed for those who are strong players in their school or year group. The Junior Squad meets on Saturdays for 2 hours, and the Elite Squad meets on Sundays for 4 hours. Currently, squads are held in Swiss Cottage and Kensington. The program includes coaching sessions and travel to tournaments, with the aim of helping children reach their competitive potential, potentially representing the UK. Applications for a place are possible.
How much does it cost:
- The entry fee for the Wallace Chess Festival is £40 (including VAT), and it is a condition of entry to have ECF Silver Junior Membership, which costs an additional £6.
- For online bookings made via ClassForKids, please note that a platform fee will be charged if you pay by card. Payment by bank transfer is free of charge; you need to select the “alternative payment method” at checkout.
- Information regarding the cost of weekly chess clubs, holiday chess camps, and the Elite & Junior Squads is not explicitly stated in the sources.
Mission of the school and the background (about the founders):
Founded by Astrid S. Wallace and John-Paul Wallace, their aim is to use chess to foster confidence, cognitive skills, and sportsmanship. Wallace Chess focus on an experience of being part of a team and having fun, in addition to learning and competing. This approach intends to suit both those already skilled in chess and provide a perfect introduction for beginners.
Alumni achievements:
- Wallace Chess has a track record that includes 5 students representing their country.
- They have also achieved many victories in school team tournaments.
Additional information:
Wallace Chess organises:
- Holiday Chess Camps: These camps are held throughout the school holidays at venues in Swiss Cottage (Swiss Cottage Community Centre) and Kensington (St Mary Abbots Centre). They cater to children aged 4 to 16, from beginners to advanced players. Options for full days (9am-4pm) and half days (9am-1pm) are available, with full week bookings required. The camps typically run from Monday to Thursday. Activities include friendly tournaments, chess puzzles, lectures, endgame and tactical learning, practice with chess clocks and notation, as well as chess-related arts and crafts and outdoor breaks. The final day includes an award ceremony.
- Wallace Chess Festival: This competition has sections for different age groups: U7, U9, U11, U13, and U18. This annual event offers students the opportunity to compete against other young players from London in games graded by the English Chess Federation (ECF). The next festival is scheduled for Saturday 21 June 2025 at Brighton College. There are sections for age groups U7 to U18. Participation requires an entry fee and ECF Silver Junior Membership.
- Wallace Chess Grand Prix: This is a yearly award for the child who accumulates the most points from achieving top 10 finishes in the holiday camp tournaments throughout the year. Full week attendance at the camps is required to earn points. The winner receives a trophy, and their name is added to a perpetual trophy.
- Corporate Chess Events: Wallace Chess also organises chess events for businesses, including simultaneous exhibitions, blindfold exhibitions, speed chess tournaments, problem-solving in teams, and chess trivia quizzes. These events are noted as being particularly suitable for the legal and banking sectors due to the emphasis on strategic thinking.
Contacts:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 0787 965 5581
Address:
Swiss Cottage Club at Swiss Cottage Community Centre, 19 Winchester Road, London NW3 3NG,
Kensington Club at St Mary Abbots Centre, Vicarage Gate London W8 4HN
Web site: https://wallacechess.com/
All information provided on this website is gathered from publicly available sources, including the official websites and pages of individual clubs and organisations. While we aim to keep the content accurate and up to date, we cannot guarantee its completeness or reliability. We advise visitors to verify details directly with the respective clubs before making any decisions.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.
Post a review