MP Theresa May makes first move of Maidenhead Chess Club's championship final

Maidenhead MP, Theresa May, was invited to make the first move of the Maidenhead Chess Club's Championship final, which took place on Friday evening (May 17).

The final was a generational battle between Calvin Chris Biju, a student of Sir William Borlase's Grammar School and Ishan Wiratunga, a lecturer at London Metropolitan College.

Calvin only recently joined the club, but has made rapid progress, whereas Ishan had a few decades of experience playing the game on his side.

After two closely contested games, experience prevailed with Ishan winning both games to take the title.

The first game was an exchange French Defense in which Ishan had a strong attack with white, but Calvin managed to defend robustly against of flurry of attacking pieces on the semi-open g file.

The second game saw Calvin attacking the middle with the white pieces in the From’s Gambit and getting a better position, but Ishan was able to exchange queens and hold the worse pawn structure. Ultimately, his experience prevailed and Ishan won both games on time.

The visit of the former Prime Minister also coincided with the club's 120th anniversary, with the chess club first founded in 1905 with the then mayor of Maidenhead, Benjamim Hobbis, becoming its first president.

The club is currently thriving following the pandemic with many new players having joined in recent years. Some players have rediscovered the game after a period of not playing while other new enthusiasts discovered it for the first time during the lockdown period.

This anniversary year has also been a successful one for the club as it managed to win the challenging 'Silver Rook Trophy' in the Berkshire Chess League's top division under the captaincy of Nigel Smith.

More success followed as the club's juniors comprehensively won their Division X competition in the Thames Valley League, suffering only one defeat in 12 matches.

With the league seasons having now concluded, the club will stay open until August for social chess with a range of summer activities planned including blitz/rapid competitions and simultaneous displays.

Everyone is warmly welcomed to come and give the game a go at the 'Over The Board' sessions every Monday from 7.30pm at St Luke's Community Hall on Norfolk Road.

The current president is Keith Trower, who is always on hand to welcome newcomers with a cup of tea and a game of chess.