Norths Chess Club

09/09/2026

New venue. Same club. More certainty for your chess.

The Purdy begins at 7:30pm on Tuesday 15 September at The Alcott, 1 Birdwood Avenue, Lane Cove.

A good chess night should be about the moves on the board, not whether we have a room to play in.

Norths at Cammeray has been our home for many years, and we have enjoyed many memorable evenings in the Auditorium. But changes to room availability now put our playing calendar under pressure.

The Irvine Room is being converted to accommodate snooker tables, removing our backup space. Meanwhile, increased commercial bookings mean the Auditorium will be available to us less often.

Of the 16 chess nights remaining before our December AGM, four are already lost and another four are at risk. Losing half our remaining nights could mean a four-round Purdy and cancellation of the St George Big Board.

Our members deserve a better playing experience, a reliable calendar, uninterrupted tournaments and time to enjoy chess together.

So we’re making a move.

Norths has offered us space at The Alcott in Lane Cove. Following three visits by two committee members, the committee decided on 7 September to run the Purdy there as a trial.

The aim is simple, keep you playing, keep our tournaments running and make every club night worth the trip.The trial will give us a chance to assess the venue together, and your feedback will help shape what comes next.

We’ll share more details soon. For now, put this in your calendar...

Purdy opening night
Tuesday 15 September · 7:30pm
The Alcott · 1 Birdwood Avenue, Lane Cove

Thank you for making this club what it is. The venue may be changing, but the best part of our chess nights is coming with us, our members.

See you across the board at The Alcott.

Send a message to learn more

21/04/2026

Junior Tournament Wrap-Up

What a fantastic day of chess at Norths. A strong field of young players, a great learning session with WIM Biljana Dekic, and plenty of competitive games made for a really enjoyable event.

Congratulations to all players who took part, and especially to our prize winners:

Overall Results
1st Place: Harvey Zhu (7/7)
2nd Place: Suria Daniel (5.5/7)
3rd Place: Linda Qian (5/7)

Category Winners
Under 1300: Leo Kevork (3/7)
(also on 3/7: Kenneth Chang, Walton Tran)
Under 1000: Oliver Shao (4/7)
Best Unrated: William Pellow (3/7)
Best Female: Ariya Daniel (4/7)
(also on 4/7: Dhwani Gupta)

It was great to see such enthusiasm across all levels, from first-time competitors to more experienced juniors. A big thank you to everyone who participated, and to the parents and supporters who helped make the day run smoothly.

We look forward to seeing you all at the next event.

17/04/2026

Junior Tournament Reminder – Limited Spots Left!

Just a quick reminder that our Norths Chess Club Junior Coaching & Tournament is coming up this Sunday, 19 April… and we’re nearly full.

There are only 21 places remaining.

It’s a great opportunity for junior players to...

• Learn from WIM Biljana Dekic in a one-hour coaching session
• Compete in a rated tournament (ACF & NSWJCL)
• Play at least 7 rounds of fast, exciting chess
• Compete for a $650+ prize pool

If you’re planning to play, now is the time to secure your spot. Once we hit capacity, entries will close.

Register early to avoid missing out.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/NorthSydneyChessClub/JuniorCoachingAndTournament

17/04/2026

GM Mitrabha Guha Simul – Event Wrap-Up

A big thank you to everyone who came along to our simultaneous exhibition with Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha on Tuesday night. It was a fantastic turnout and a memorable opportunity to see a world-class player in action up close.

For those of you who left early, the final score was 0 wins, 0 draws, 21 losses, a clean sweep for GM Guha. A tough result, but a great learning experience for all involved, and a reminder of the level at which top players operate.

Here is a collection of photos from the night so take a look, tag yourself, and feel free to share.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and helped make the evening such a success.

06/04/2026

GM Mitrabha Guha Simul

Join us for a special night of chess as Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha takes on multiple opponents at once in a simultaneous exhibition.

Date: Tuesday, 7 April
Time: From 7.30pm
Venue: Norths Chess Club
Entry: Free for members and non-members
Spots: Limited to 20 players. First in, best dressed.

How the simul works:
• There are no clocks.
• When GM Guha arrives at your board, you play your move first.
• He then replies and moves on to the next board.
• Please do not move while he is at another board.
• If you are not ready to move when he reaches you, your board may be skipped until the next round.

This is a great opportunity to challenge yourself, learn from a world-class player, and enjoy a classic club chess experience.

Spaces are limited to 20, so arrive early if you want to play. Spectators are welcome.

See you Tuesday night at Norths!

03/04/2026

We are very sad to share the news that long-time Norths Chess Club member Otto Gram passed away on 26 March, aged 96.

Many of you will remember Otto as a quiet and familiar presence at the club, often arriving each week on his bicycle well into his 90s. What many may not have known was the remarkable life he led beyond the chessboard.

Otto was a pioneering helicopter pilot, recognised with an MBE in 1977 for his role in search and rescue operations. His career took him across New Zealand, Nepal, Malaysia and beyond, always at the forefront of aviation and rescue work. Even into his later years, his spirit never slowed, still riding, painting, and living with quiet determination.

Otto’s daughter has shared that he will have a private cremation. In a fitting tribute to his life’s work, his ashes will be flown by helicopter and scattered over the volcano where he earned his MBE.

He is remembered as a pathfinder, a gentleman, and someone whose story ran far deeper than many of us realised.

Our thoughts are with his wife Dot, his children Brett and Kazz, and his family.

Rest in peace, Otto.

22/03/2026

North Chess Club Junior Coaching & Tournament
Sunday, 19th April @ Norths Club (Auditorium & Irvine Room).

Learn. Play. Win.
Join us for an exciting day of chess designed exclusively for junior players! Kick off with an hour of expert coaching from WIM Biljana Dekic, followed by a competitive rated tournament, all under one roof.

Coaching with a Women's International Master:
The day opens with a one-hour coaching session led by WIM Biljana Dekic, tailored especially for developing players. Whether you're just finding your feet or looking to sharpen your game, this is a rare opportunity to learn from an elite coach. Stronger players may opt to skip the lecture and head straight into tournament mode.

The Tournament:
After the coaching wraps up, it's time to compete! The tournament features:
• 15-minute games (per player, for the whole game), fast, fun, and intense
• Swiss format with at least 7 rounds
• Officially rated by both the ACF and NSWJCL
• Limited to 80 players, so secure your spot early!

Open to all juniors aged under 18 on the day of the tournament.

Prize Pool:
Over $650 in cash prizes up for grabs:
1st Place — $250
2nd Place — $150
3rd Place — $100
Best Player Under 1300 — $50
Best Player Under 1000 — $50
Best Unrated Player — $50
Best Female Player — $50

Trophies awarded to all category winners! Prizes and trophies are determined by a tiebreak.

Schedule:
10.00am — Sign-in opens
10.20am — Coaching lecture begins
11.20am — Round 1 starts
4.15pm — Prize giving
4.30pm — Close

Entry Fees:
$30 — General entry
$20 — Norths Chess Club members
$10 — surcharge for late entries

What to Bring:
Pack your morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea or purchase at Norths' The Pantry. It's going to be a full and fantastic day of chess!

Don't miss out, places are limited to 80 players. Register early to avoid the late entry surcharge and guarantee your spot!

14/03/2026

09/03/2026

Wrap-Up: An Evening with GM Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand

What a remarkable night for the chess community.

On Monday evening, Norths Chess Club had the honour of hosting Vishy Anand for a truly special event that brought together players, fans, and members of the wider community. With more than 450 people attending, the club was filled with excitement and a shared appreciation for one of the greatest players in chess history.

The evening began with a wonderful private dinner, generously hosted by Don’t Tell Uncle (Cammeray), who closed their restaurant especially for the occasion. It was an incredible experience and a memorable way to welcome Vishy to Sydney.

The lecture, Strategic Thinking: Lessons from 40 Years of Chess, offered fascinating insights into decision making at the highest level of the game. The live game analysis and audience Q and A that followed gave everyone a rare glimpse into how a world champion thinks at the board.

A special thank you to GM Ian Rogers for hosting and interviewing Vishy during the evening. His thoughtful questions and deep knowledge of the game helped make the conversation engaging and memorable for everyone in the room.

We are also grateful to our sponsor Tech Mahindra, who supported the event and kindly supplied the fantastic images featured in this post.

Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it such a special night for the Norths Chess Club community. It was an evening we will remember for a long time.

22/02/2026

This Monday Night – GM Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand at Norths!

Just a reminder that tomorrow night we welcome Vishy Anand to Norths Chess Club for a very special evening.

📅 Monday 23rd February
🕢 7.30pm start
📍 Norths Chess Club
🎟️ Free entry – open to members and non members

Five time World Chess Champion. India’s first Grandmaster. A true legend of the modern game.

Vishy will present his lecture, Strategic Thinking: Lessons from 40 Years of Chess, followed by live game analysis where he talks through his thinking move by move, and an interactive Q & A session.

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the greatest players in chess history. If you have ever wanted insight into how a world champion thinks at the board, this is your chance.

See you tomorrow night!