Formed in 1929
Revived in 2018
For information on our Junior Club,
please scroll down.
Kindly sponsored and supported by Chess & Bridge. Click the logo to visit their website.
WHEN DO WE MEET?
EVERY MONDAY EVENING FROM 19.30 ONWARDS
WHERE IS THE CLUB?
EPSOM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
ADDRESS
22 West Hill, Epsom, KT19 8JD
If you are driving to the venue, the best place to park for free is on nearby Wheelers Lane or alternatively on Court Lane. Both roads are no more than 200 yards from the church.
We are one of Surrey's most ambitious and fastest-evolving clubs. We welcome all players regardless of ability and would love you to come along and try out the club. You will improve in no time!
We are committed to achieving a more equal gender balance by providing women and girls with plenty of playing opportunities in a supportive environment.
In a competitive sense, our long-term aim is to win Division 1 of the Surrey Chess League. However, we are keen to support all members, including relative beginners and youngsters, to become an active part of our club and even captain one of our teams.
We run regular blitz tournaments, which are ECF-rated, allowing new members to integrate quickly and test their skills alongside more serious players and friends of the club.
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO AND JUNIOR CLUB
Check out our surreal promotional video! Can you guess the soundtrack? The club has been on quite a journey since 2018.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR JUNIOR CLUB
Epsom Junior Chess Club was launched in November 2019 and is run by the club's founder and 29-year-old president, Marcus Gosling. He is ably assisted by club secretary, David Flewellen. It is aimed at intermediate-level juniors aged 7-15.
Two back-to-back sessions take place on Thursday evenings from 6.45-7.45pm and 7.45-8.45pm in the Upper Lounge area of Epsom Methodist Church. Less experienced players attend the earlier session, whereas stronger juniors opt for the later session. Places are now very limited.
Sessions cost £6.50/pupil, paid on a termly basis. New pupils should get in touch beforehand if they would like to join.
For beginner sessions, we recommend the classes at the excellent new Chessington Chess Club.
CLUB HISTORY
The original Epsom Chess Club existed from 1929 to 1967, led throughout by a legend of Surrey chess, Hector Marshall. However, due to competition from other clubs and the difficulty of finding a permanent playing location, it went out of existence in the late-1960s. These days are fondly remembered by Mike Wickham, who is the only remaining member to have played for both the original club and our modern incarnation.
In 2018, two keen chess-playing friends,
Marcus Gosling and Ravi Sharma, decided to revive Epsom Chess Club. Marcus remains the youngest president of any chess club in Surrey.
Our adult teams have multiplied for the 2023/24 season and we now have the most of any club in the Surrey League. We aim to ensure that all players get an opportunity to represent the club if they would like to. We cater for relative beginners too.
Our club nights take place on Monday evenings at Epsom Christian Fellowship, a cosy and well-kept church a few minutes' walk from Epsom town centre with parking nearby.
MEMBERSHIP
Chess players of all abilities are most welcome at Epsom Chess Club.
Serious players will have the opportunity to represent us in a number of matches in Surrey league and cup competitions, whereas casual players will be able to hone their skills against other members over a drink.
Annual membership fees (usually payable in August) for the adult club:
ADULT FULL MEMBERSHIP - £60.00
'UNWAGED' MEMBERSHIP - £30.00
Members must also sign up to the English Chess Federation or renew their membership annually, and can do so below.
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membership-rates-and-joining-details/
In 2023/24, we are conducting a knockout Club Championship (our annual internal competition). The reigning club champion is Peter Large, an International Master, pictured on the right. We also run additional Surrey Individual competitions and fun events throughout the year.
PRIVATE TUITION
Epsom Chess Club president, Marcus Gosling, teaches in a large number of schools around Surrey and South London.
He also runs private one-to-one sessions on weeknights for both children and adults. As well as chess, in the past he has taught Russian and French to adults and English as a Foreign Language to both children and adults. Marcus also runs junior tournaments and courses, writes chess books for kids and has experience studying and working in Russia.
For further details, please contact Marcus here:
We have several other players who teach chess and are able to pass on their excellent understanding of the game to other Epsom Chess Club members. We have IM Peter Large (pictured left), IM Graeme Buckley, IM Susan Lalić and Emma Buckley to name but a handful.
EPSOM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
22 West Hill
Epsom
KT19 8JD
FIND OUR ADULT CHESS CLUB
CONTACT DETAILS
TELEPHONE / TEXT - 07711 94 64 55
EMAIL - marcus94gosling@gmail.com
Marcus Gosling - club president
We look forward to hearing from you. Give it a go!