Junior Chess - Overview

Whether it be for learning, competition, or just the fun of playing, juniors of all ages are welcome at the club. Our regular club nights on Tuesdays 7.30pm to 10.30 pm are open to junior players of all ages (with parental support being welcomed for the youngest players).

The club has been a centre for Scottish junior chess for many years and has fostered the development of many of Scotland’s best players- from International Master Mark Condie in the 1980’s to our present club champion Freddy Waldhausen Gordon. At only 14, Freddy is already an established international player and will represent Scotland in this year’s World Team Championship in Budapest.

In recent years the club has hosted a number of girls chess tournaments in association with Scottish and UK initiatives supporting the development of girls chess, particularly She Plays to Win.

The recent boom of online chess platforms has led to many discovering the game at a young age. Playing with other children and adults at the club brings all the benefits of chess , whether that be concentration, critical thinking, or just having fun in a sociable environment.

Membership

Junior membership is open to anyone aged under 18 and various options are available for families where applicable. See our membership site for details or contact our membership secretary at membership@edinburghchessclub.co.uk.

We also run separate dedicated junior training sessions for both beginners and developing players and organise separate junior competitive activities.

The club aims to provide a welcoming and safe place for all to enjoy and develop their chess. As part of that, we work with the Edinburgh chess community and Chess Scotland to broaden access and inclusion, and ensure that all junior trainers are registered under the PVG Scotland scheme.