ChAMPS Chess Challenge 2025.

Hi Chess People.

Here is all you need to know about the ChAMPS Chess Challenge 2025.

GM Keith Arkell came to Eccles in support of promoting Chess in the Community of Manchester.

On Monday 10th February Keith played simultaneous chess games at the Eccles High Street Venue. This was to encourage more ladies and learners into the game. He played about 28 games and everyone from all different age groups and abilities were given the chance to play a Chess Grandmaster.

The only player to have beaten Keith was young Eccles player Daniel Crofts. Keith awarded Danny with a signed copy of his book, Arkell’s Odyssey: To view photos please click here: https://rb.gy/12efbu

On Wednesday 12th Keith played a total of forty five ECF rated 3+2 Blitz games with anyone who wanted to test their chess skills and abilities by trying to beat him in a blitz game.

Nobody was able to beat Keith on this occasion and the night proved to be very popular as you can see by the photographs here: https://rb.gy/udz6e8

During Keith’s time visiting Eccles he took part in the Eccles ChAMPS Chess Challenge 2025.

This challenge was designed for players of all different playing strengths and abilities who wanted to play against a Grandmaster in a classic rated game who would never have normally been given the chance to do so.

The games were an hour long with no increments and if they wanted a 3+2 blitz game after their classic game they would be more than welcome to do so.

Nobody beat Keith in classic game and the only players to have beaten Keith in a biltz game were Mike Surtees and Nathan Sarin.

These are the pictures of the people who took part in playing against Keith in classic and/or blitz rated games with the exception of myself: https://rb.gy/rab8f8

At the end of Keith’s stay he had played twenty eight classic games and seventy four Blitz games reaching a grand total of one hundred and two games!

This is the second time Keith has visited Eccles helping to promote Chess in the Community and our local chess community continues to grow and flourish. This would have not been possible to achieve if it had not had been for the support of all the players and the help of Paul Keevil who was the arbiter and put the results through to the ECF for rating. (I will be publishing the results after they have been verified).

Many thanks to Keith for all the help and support he has given us and we very much look forward to his next visit!

On a personal note I think there should be more community high street chess venues promoting chess and the local councils should consider supporting this as it’s a great way of bringing people together in a supportive and positive way.

(Pictured above players holding scoresheets from the ChAMPS Challenge 2024)

Barbara Farrar

Eccles Community Chess Club

07743888585