Worcester Chess Congress

About the Worcestershire congresses

The beginning

An Open Chess Congress in Worcestershire was first run in 2009 with the enthusiasm of Andrew Moore and Andrew Farthing. They wanted to benefit local charities as well as stimulate chess in Worcestershire and much of each year's surplus goes to a local charity selected by the organisers. The choice of a weekend shortly preceeding the British Championship proved popular as has the Worcestershire venue. In the most recent Open tournaments players from several European countries entered.

Since 2014, the principal organisers have had less available time and a Worcestreshire congress was revived in 2017 by Ray Collett and Andrew Farthing as a closed event. Worcester summer congress benefits from the support of The King’s School Worcester.

The current aim of the organisers is to provide a low-cost chess congress for Worcestershire county players and it was decided there would be no cash prizes. Players compete instead for county titles and trophies.

Raising money for good causes

Malcolm Pein (left) receives cheque for £900 for Chess in Schools and Communities
from organiser Andrew Farthing in 2014 (Picture Vitharnsak Tao Bhokanandh)

The success of the congress and the generosity of the organising and control team in giving their time freely to support the event have helped raise thousands of pounds for charity.  In its short history, the congresses have helped the following charities:

2022       St Richard’s Hospice (£150)
2019       St Richard’s Hospice (£100)
2018       St Richard’s Hospice (£150)
2017       St Richard’s Hospice (£150)
2014       Chess in Schools & Communities (£800)
2013       Leukaemia CARE (£720)
2012       St Richard’s Hospice, Worcester (£900)
2011       Age UK, Sandwell (£650)
2010       St Mary’s Hospice, Birmingham (£500)
2009       Plica Awareness and Research (£60)

The venue

The congress was held this year in the heart of the city at The King's School Worcester, on the site of the long demolished Worcester Castle, adjacent to Worcester Cathedral. The very first congress was held at Catshill near Bromsgrove and then for the next few years was based at the University of Worcester at their west side St John's campus.

Worcester

For non-playing members of the family, there are good visitor attractions in the city and not far away: Worcester Cathedral, The Civil War Museum, cricket, horse racing, and boat cruises along the Severn.