Angela Eagle

2nd August 2008 Angela opens 95th British Chess Championships with Liverpool Lord Mayor


 

It was a great honour to be asked to open the 95th British Chess Championships with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Steve Rotherham. The Championships are taking place over two weeks in the magnificent surroundings of St George’s Hall in the middle of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture celebrations. Many of the games in the open tournament can be followed on the internet for those who cannot make the trip. For those who can, there is live analysis of the leading player’s games and excellent coaching for children all going on outside the playing arena itself.

 

Walking into the hall certainly took me back to old times. I spent many years of my young life foregoing the summer holidays and battling it out over 64 squares for the chance to have my name inscribed on a British Championship trophy. I am happy to say that I succeeded and shared the British under 18 Girls Championship title with Jane Richmond (nee Garwell) in 1976!

 

I am also told that I am the only current Member of Parliament to have a British Chess Championship title to my name. Chess is a fantastic and rewarding endeavour and I have never forgotten the lessons in strategy and tactics that my chess career taught me to say nothing of the feats of concentration and focus which are essential to be effective. Here I am pictured with the President of the English Chess Federation Gerry Walsh, Stewart Reuben, the tournament controller and Lord Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotherham trying his hand!


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