Welcome to the Perth Chess Club.

  Welcome to the Perth Chess Club, the oldest chess club in Perth . This year we celebrate one hundred and nineteen years of playing chess, and we are still going strong. We have a dedicated group of players, old and young, male and female who come out in all weather to enjoy what the club has to offer. Our members are a diverse group, originating from Europe, Africa, and even some, Australia . We are however always on the lookout for new players, and I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to our club night which is every Wednesday at 7pm, (starting 14^th January 2009).

Our club nights are structured such that we are always playing some tournament or other. In the year just passed we used a number of different formats from lightning to the more traditional ninety minute flagfall. We also hosted a handicap tournament as well as the interesting “Fixed Opening” tournament. The success of these tournaments was indicated to me by the fact that two thirds of our membership won prizes in them. Although we always have something organised, don’t let that put you off from just dropping in, as there are always a few people spare to have a friendly game. In addition to these tournaments we also have a number of inter club games which always brings out that competitive edge in us.

The highlight of the year for me was the visit of Australian Grandmaster Darryl Johansen to our club, where he hosted a simultaneous exhibition, (see photo gallery). Darryl was very generous in allowing us to play White on all boards, and had us smiling for much of the night with his humorous observations about the various games he was involved in. He still ended up winning 18, drawing 2 and losing 1 game, (the game he lost was a blindfold game).

This is my first year as President of the Perth Chess Club and I am looking forward to it with a degree of excitement. My background is that I am from Wales in the UK, learnt to play chess when I was about eight years old and have been a slave to it ever since. I have lived in Australia since 1982, currently in Mindarie, but due to shift work have been unable to indulge myself by playing in a club setting for most of that time. Now that I have the shift work out of the way, I can enjoy the Royal Game.

If you are thinking of getting back into club chess or you would like to see what a chess club can offer, then why not give us a try? We look forward to seeing you during 2009, at our club nights.

Martin Daniels                                            President                                                          Perth Chess Club

December 2008