Maidenhead Chess Club celebrates 120 years of chess excellence

Nigel Dennis takes on Keith Trower in the quick play tournament on Monday.

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Maidenhead Chess Club members celebrated 120 years of chess excellence in the town with a vibrant affair and an exciting quick-play tournament on Monday evening (January 6).

The club was established by Benjamin Hobbis - then Lord Mayor of Maidenhead - in 1906 and the anniversary marks more than a century of chess being played competitively in the town.

From humbling beginnings at The Cliveden Temperance Hotel, then located in Queen Street, Maidenhead, it has become an important part of Maidenhead's cultural fabric.

On the evening, Andrew Smith delivered a masterclass in the quick-play tournament. True to his reputation, the over 65s British Champion arrived fashionably late and missed the initial presentations, but once seated at the board he won all six of his matches, displaying his customary nous and tactical skill.

The evening was also marked by a couple of fitting tributes to long-standing members Nigel Dennis and club president Keith Trower.

This year will see the introduction of two new annual tournaments and trophies in their name - The Nigel Dennis Cup and the Keith Trower Trophy.

Nigel Dennis is one of the most popular members of the club and is well known to generations of players across Berkshire and beyond.

He has dedicated over 50 years to running the club’s junior section and his commitment to nurturing young talent remains a cornerstone of the club. Many of his proteges have gone on to represent the club and achieve success at a regional and national level.

“Nigel’s dedication has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said club president Keith Trower.

This inaugural competition is supported by a generous donation from the Louis Baylis Charitable Trust.

The Keith Trower Trophy honours the current club president, who has been a member of the club for more than 60 years.

Much like the founding president, Benjamin Hobbis, Keith is a man of many interests. Having only recently hung up his football boots, he is still a regular at Watford FC matches. Outside the chessboard, he’s equally well-known in the community for his work as an electrician - a profession that makes him particularly adept at ‘lighting up’ the chessboard.

Keith also donated a striking centre piece for the trophy, a piece of artwork titled 'A False Move' depicting John Bull locked in a strategic chess match with the Pope, with Queen Victoria represented as the precariously placed chess piece.

Maidenhead Chess Club continues to welcome players of all ages and abilities to join and improve their game. Weekly meetings and competitions foster a sense of community with players meeting on Monday evenings from 7.30pm at St. Luke’s Community Hall.

“Chess brings people together, transcending generations and backgrounds,” said Keith Trower.

“As we look to the future, we aim to honour this legacy while building a vibrant, inclusive community, after all we all breathe the same oxygen, so we ought to all get along.

“Here’s to another 120 years of chess, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments!”

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Founding and Early Years

The club was founded during the Edwardian era as a space for intellectual challenge and social interaction. Its first recorded meeting took place in 1905, led by Mayor Hobbis at the at the council chamber of Guildhall. An early minute book, still in the club’s possession, reveals that matches often featured a handicap system, with players graded into classes based on skill.

During World War I, the club made a notable contribution by sending chess sets to soldiers stationed in France, demonstrating its commitment to community and morale. In its formative years, other influential local names such as Stuchberry, Peake and Willetts contributed to establishing the club as a respected institution.

A Historic Rivalry with Reading

A cornerstone of Maidenhead Chess Club’s identity is its rivalry with Reading Chess Club, which predates Maidenhead and has been a formidable competitor since the clubs first clashed in 1906. That match, which was covered by the Advertiser at the time, ended in a narrow 4.5–5.5 loss for Maidenhead, setting the stage for over a century of fierce competition.

To this day, the clubs face off in the Berkshire leagues, providing some of the most exciting matches of the season.

Maidenhead were triumphant winners of the 2024 Berkshire League but in the Knockout Competition Cup final, Reading prevailed over Maidenhead with a commanding 5–1 victory.

Growth Through the Decades

Over the decades, Maidenhead Chess Club has adapted to changing times. The demolition of the Swan Hotel led to a relocation to the Rest Café on Bridge Road in the 1970s. This marked a period of growth, with Wednesday nights at the café becoming synonymous with competitive chess.

Membership surged, and the club expanded its presence in the Berkshire and Thames Valley leagues, achieving numerous championships. Notable players like Don Walsh, who represented Berkshire, and junior champion Alan Potts, brought success in the 1970s.

After a brief period at the Maidenhead Library, the club found a new home at St. Luke’s Church.