ChessFest in Trafalgar Square, London, attracted more than 20,000 visitors on 13 July. England’s grandmasters gave simuls and met amateurs at blitz, living chess was played with professional actors, plus a transatlantic prodigy match.
The occasion was marked by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announcing the renewal of government support for chess, which was axed earlier in the year. The previous backing of £500,000 ($670,000), launched by Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives in 2023, was for elite chess generally, and supported the English men’s and women’s teams at the 2024 Budapest Olympiad.
The new support, along with a £500m grant for youth service projects, will act as a spur to players such as England’s youngest grandmaster, Shreyas Royal, 16, and Bodhana Sivanandan, 10.
3981 GM Vincent Keymer v GM Benjamin Bok,…
