Maidenhead Chess Club hold charity 'simultaneous display' match with International Master Lorin D'Costa

Lorin D’Costa (right) with Nigel Dennis

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Maidenhead Chess Club held a charity simultaneous display match this week with one of the country's best players Lorin D'Costa taking on 15 club players - including eight juniors - simultaneously.

The event was a great success, with Lorin showing his exceptional chess skills, defeating all but one opponent.

His one defeat came against Nigel Dennis, who managed a robust defence and emerged victorious with an extra knight.

The chess club has had a history of supporting Lorin's charity 'She Plays to Win' which aims to encourage more girls to learn how to play the game and benefit from playing chess.

A few years ago, the club hosted another simultaneous display match with Lorin for the charity. In a simultaneous display, a strong player like Lorin plays multiple opponents (typically 15-20) simultaneously, moving from board to board. During his last visit, Lorin won all his games except for one draw against Paul Jenota.

On Monday (July 8) he returned to the club to take on 15 local opponents and defeated 14 of them, however, Maidenhead's Nigel Dennis was able to thwart him.

Lorin also remembered playing Nigel when he was a junior in a county match some 20 years ago, Nigel is a prominent player in his own right and has played various chess congresses over the years, with Hastings and Gibraltar being highlights. Nigel has the longest continuous entry in the Hastings competition, with his 60th appearance happening earlier this year.

The event was a great success, and, in total, the club has raised more than £250 for the 'She Plays to Win' charity.

The club's charity donation was boosted by a touching and generous donation from Marissa Ellis, the daughter of David Isaacson, a local Maidenhead player who passed away recently.

David was a formidable chess talent who represented South Africa in two Chess Olympiads and regularly played the game at an international level.

In his later years, he focused more on correspondence chess and continued to share his passion for the game with others.

Marissa offered her father's extensive collection of chess books to the club and several members purchased these books, raising further money for the charity.

Marissa was pleased to honour her father's memory by supporting such a worthy cause.

Chess Club member Yury Krylov said: “Maidenhead Chess Club is grateful to Marissa Ellis for her generous donation and to all the members who supported the cause.

“This contribution will undoubtedly help inspire and empower more girls to take up and enjoy the wonderful game of chess.”