The East Cheshire social chess evening has become a feast of blitz chess, blitz heroes, Cordon Bleu snacks, vintage wines, all in the luxury venue of the Cheadle Hulme Instutute (Valet parking for overflow competitors).
Or maybe I have been a little carried away by the promotional drive which has resulted into a flood of new members into the club. On this day, the tournament registration queue stretched around the room, as new members vied with old.
The chess was up to its stunning quality, matching the sumptuous playing conditions. The top guns had arrived from New Zealand and New Islington, Burnage and Bramhall, Poynton and Parrs Wood.
I arrived in time to see in the midst of the hubbub the calm figures of David the Dauntless, and Steve O’Kelly de Galway the official tournament organisers.
They moved as a well-drilled team, registering the competitors and preparing to arrange the pairing for first round.
A racing bike was propped up in the executive parking area. It’s owner was Tom ‘Green Green Grass’ Jones and hot favourite for the Grand Prix event. He is talking with John Oldbutfit Reedwarbler, the other top ranked player. Their friendly appearance could not conceal the burning ambition that had led them to the event rather than to the football match going on between Nottingham Forest Outlaws and the Manchester Red Devils.
I had high hopes of taking advantage of Tom’s fatigue after his 8,000 mile return trip from New Zealand by plane and bicycle. Oldbutfit had seriously weakened his chances by sharing his encyclopaedic knowledge of chess openings in his lectures to club members. Yes, I was in with a chance ...
