Eccles Chess Club starts petition for match venue flexibility

A local Eccles Chess Club has started a petition to improve the flexibility of available match venues.

The Eccles Community Chess Club currently run two groups weekly, with the sessions running Monday and Wednesdays.

The groups Ladies and Learners in chess, and the Wednesday Social Chess Night run from 7pm until late.

The chess sessions offer residents of all ages the opportunity to play the game, with it being free to attend, with the group also hosting regular matches against other chess groups.

The community chess clubs are ran by Barbara Farrar, the sessions operate out of two venues, one is a quiet, self-contained venue at her house and the other is a well-equipped and comfortable high street venue.

The petition was set up by Barbara as hosting chess matches in pubs, clubs or halls are becoming increasingly expensive.

This petition will encourage chess matches to be hosted in any venue that provides acceptable playing conditions.

The English Chess Federations (ECF) encourages chess matches to be played in home residences because it is considered to be more affordable.

Barbara uses her home residence for chess events and League Matches, but when it comes to some matches, some players object because they do not feel comfortable playing in someone else’s house.

Barbara opened up about the struggles of hosting a chess event, she said: “I hired a room in Eccles town centre which cost £120 for an evening because the team we were playing against did not want to play chess at the Eccles home match venue.”

And it’s not just the expenses that are an issue when it comes to finding a venue, some spaces aren’t suitable for the players and the conditions the games should be played in.

Barbara said: “There are rooms to be hired in pubs, but I do not think these are suitable for the many young players, women and minority ethnic players we have, plus they can be too noisy.

“We need to try and find a way of balancing the needs of the minority of players, who are not happy playing in private houses with the rights of the majority who are.

“Eccles Community Chess Club is perfectly willing to compromise and will consider any reasonable proposal that satisfies the needs of all chess players.”

It is important to have these groups open as it gives people the chance to play competitive chess who currently do not have access to a local club.

Barbara said: “It brings people together from a whole range of social backgrounds and walks of life.

“It has a wealth of opportunities to study and once understood, it is a lifetime’s passion for many people.”

If you would like to sign the petition, click here and for more information visit their website.