Edinburgh Chess Club

Club Renovations

As we head into a new club year, we are delighted to announce that the club will be getting some renovations done during August. The rear windows in the main playing hall are receiving some much-needed attention and the spare room (the locked door on the left in the hall) is being completely renovated so that we can expand our chess playing area, increase the number of tables in the club, and give our members more room during our increasingly popular and well-attended Tuesday club nights....

Club Renovations As we head into a new club year, we are delighted to announce that the club will be getting some renovations done during August. The rear windows in the main playing hall are receiving some much-ne…

The 2026 Scottish Chess Championships

The 2026 Scottish Championships have just concluded in Hamilton. Competition ranged across three events – the Open, the U1800 and the Scottish Rapidplay tournament. Edinburgh Chess Club were well represented across all three events and took home a number of the prizes too! Usually the blog reports on proud parents enjoying their child’s success but this time it is the other way around! ...

The 2026 Scottish Chess Championships The 2026 Scottish Championships have just concluded in Hamilton.  Competition ranged across three events – the Open, the U1800 and the Scottish Rapidplay tournament. Edinburgh Chess Club were …

The Godfather, Part IV

The blog’s spies are out and about everywhere. One of our undercover agents recently took this covert picture of some nefarious activities occurring in the club…what’s going on here then, eh? To the right we see our illustrious president, Craig Thomson, sitting quietly re-evaluating his recent life choices or mulling over some subtlety in the Grünfeld defence (hard to tell which from this distance)…but it seems he is being filmed!...

The Godfather, Part IV The blog’s spies are out and about everywhere.  One of our undercover agents recently took this covert picture of some nefarious activities occurring in the club…what’s going on here then, eh?…

Conversations In The Club 03: Emilija Morrison

Conversations in the Club is our ongoing series introducing the people who make Edinburgh Chess Club the special place that it is. Each post offers a glimpse into the personalities, stories, and passions behind our community. Today we sit down for a coffee and a chat with… What is your name and playing strength? My name is Emilija Morrison and I am a beginner....

Conversations In The Club 03: Emilija Morrison Conversations in the Club is our ongoing series introducing the people who make Edinburgh Chess Club the special place that it is. Each post offers a glimpse into the personalities, stories, and pa…

O Captain! My Captain!

On Thursday night Edinburgh Chess Club was treated to a wonderfully engaging talk by Scottish International Master Craig Pritchett. The lecture was about the life and games of Captain George H. MacKenzie. “Who’s that?” you might ask but, even if the name is not familiar to you, you may well have seen one of his great brilliancies as it has appeared in nearly every collection of combinations over the past century…what’s white’s best move here?...

O Captain! My Captain! On Thursday night Edinburgh Chess Club was treated to a wonderfully engaging talk by Scottish International Master Craig Pritchett.  The lecture was about the life and games of Captain George …

And Now, the End is Near…

As the chess season glides blissfully towards its end, and we gaze with horror upon the prospect of enjoying the Scottish summer in temperatures above 16C, do not despair chess friends…one final treat awaits! A reminder that this Thursday (June 25th), International Master and renowned chess author Craig Pritchett will be at Edinburgh Chess Club giving a talk about Captain MacKenzie – arguably the greatest Scottish chess player of all time – covering some of the Captain’s games and anecdotes from his amazing life....

And Now, the End is Near… As the chess season glides blissfully towards its end, and we gaze with horror upon the prospect of enjoying the Scottish summer in temperatures above 16C, do not despair chess friends…one final tr…

Edinburgh Chess Congress 2026

Last weekend saw the happy return of the Edinburgh Chess Congress after a seven year hiatus. The event was very well attended and the playing hall was packed to capacity with players across a range of playing sections (Open, Major, Bishops, Knights). The Open section (and title of East of Scotland champion) was won by the top seed - our very own Freddy Waldhausen Gordon, congratulations Freddy!...

Edinburgh Chess Congress 2026 Last weekend saw the happy return of the Edinburgh Chess Congress after a seven year hiatus.  The event was very well attended and the playing hall was packed to capacity with players across a…

Scottish Girls’ Championships

The Scottish Girls' Championships were held at the end of May at St. George’s school in Edinburgh. Interest in the tournament was at a record high with over 45 participants across the Open, Primary, and P5 & Under sections. Edinburgh Chess Club are particularly proud to be associated with some of the players; Shriya Madhu (Open), Nilakshi Bhattacharjee (Open), Charushri Uma Shankar (Primary), and Zara Anwar (P5 & Under) are all attendees at our Sunday morning junior classes which are run by our friends and partners at…...

Scottish Girls’ Championships The Scottish Girls’ Championships were held at the end of May at St. George’s school in Edinburgh. Interest in the tournament was at a record high with over 45 participants across the Open, …

Conversations in the Club 02: Simon Gibson

Conversations in the Club is our ongoing series introducing the people who make Edinburgh Chess Club the special place that it is. Each post offers a glimpse into the personalities, stories, and passions behind our community. Grab a coffee, take a seat, and let's see who we meet today... What is your name and playing strength? Simon Gibson, intermediate. What is your relationship to Edinburgh Chess Club?...

Conversations in the Club 02: Simon Gibson Conversations in the Club is our ongoing series introducing the people who make Edinburgh Chess Club the special place that it is. Each post offers a glimpse into the personalities, stories, and pa…

Captain Mackenzie: Greatest Chess Scot!?

Edinburgh Chess Club are delighted to announce that international Master and renowned chess author Craig Pritchett will be giving a talk at the club on Thursday 25th June. In this talk, Craig will rattle through the life, times and achievements of Scotland's universally acknowledged eventual 'world top ten player'; the great Paul Morphy's successor by repute as US 'champion' from around the late 1860s....

Captain Mackenzie: Greatest Chess Scot!? Edinburgh Chess Club are delighted to announce that international Master and renowned chess author Craig Pritchett will be giving a talk at the club on Thursday 25th June.  In this talk, Craig…