ChessFest Returns to Trafalgar Square
On Sunday, 12 July, ChessFest, the annual celebration of chess, returns to Trafalgar Square in central London, offering a unique opportunity for ordinary players and children to experience top chess free of charge. Complete beginners are welcome and will receive instruction from Chess in Schools and Communities tutors.
The action starts at noon and continues until 7pm. Throughout the day, experts including nine-time British champion Michael Adams, three-time champion Gawain Maroroa Jones, and many other international players will give simultaneous displays or be available for one-to-one speed games in the Challenge the Chess Master tent.
Activities and Attractions
Visitors can play their own games with hundreds of chess sets available, including giant sets. Living Chess will be performed by professional actors on giant boards. Attendees can test their tactical skills on Puzzle Rush or watch chess masters battle in a game of giant blitz.
England’s national coaches will observe simultaneous and blitz games, looking for potential talent. In 2021, Adams faced six-year-old Kushal Jakhria, who later won world and European junior titles.
Event Details and Accessibility
ChessFest 2026 is sponsored by XTX Markets, which also supports the annual London Classic. Trafalgar Square is accessible by public transport, with bus routes and Charing Cross tube station nearby. For those unable to attend, other ChessFest events will be held in Portishead (11 July), Hull (12 July), Liverpool (19 July), Coventry (25 July), and Lancaster (17 August).
175th Anniversary of the Immortal Game
This year's ChessFest marks the 175th anniversary of the Immortal Game, played at Simpson's-in-the-Strand in June 1851. The game, won by Adolf Anderssen with spectacular sacrifices, will be reenacted as a Living Chess game during the festival.
England Teams for Olympiad
England's chess selectors have announced national teams for the 200-nation Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September. The open team includes Nikita Vitiugov, Michael Adams, Gawain Maroroa Jones, Luke McShane, and Dan Fernandez, captained by William Watson. The women's team features Lan Yao, Jovanka Houska, Bodhana Sivanandan, Harriet Hunt, and Elmira Mirzoeva, captained by Stuart Conquest.
Hopes for a strong performance are tempered by the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest, where England's open team finished 20th and the women's team 27th. The open team is weaker without David Howell, who has family and media commitments. Fernandez, the 2025 Commonwealth Champion, is the only under-30 member. The women's team includes the nation's top five rated players, including Sivanandan, who debuted at age nine, offering potential for a positive surprise.
Puzzle Solution
4031: 1 Ng6+! Ke8 (if 1…fxg6? 2 Qxe6+ Kf8 3 Qe7 mate) 2 Qxe6+! fxe6 3 Rxe6+! Bxe6 4 Re7 mate.
