Hammersmith Chess Club Triumphs at World Championship

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Comes first competing against 54 other teams

Back row (left to right): Ganguly Aryaman, Alistair Hill, Thomas Villiers, Ashley Stewart
Front row (left to right): Maria-Alexandra Ciocan, Marco Gallana, Gaston Franco, Kai Hanache, Gesneria-Codruta Cepoi

June 16, 2025

The home team has triumphed at an international chess tournament held at the Novotel West London.

Hammersmith Chess Club claimed first prize in the Under 2200 section which excludes Master-level players. It came out on top competing against 54 teams from around the world to secure the full €5,000 amateur prize.

The victory at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships crowns a week of fast-paced competition that included grandmasters, prodigies, and amateurs, all drawn together by a shared love of the game.

Participants in the event ranged from Nobel Prize-winning scientist and former Royal Society President Venkatraman Ramakrishnan to local schoolchildren. AI pioneer and accomplished chess player Sir Demis Hassabis was cited as an inspiration, underscoring the game’s ties to innovation and scientific discovery.

The junior and youth programme at Hammersmith Chess Club is at the heart of its mission, and regular training sessions and competitions are held along with active mentoring. The club aims to create an inclusive and supportive environment where children of all backgrounds can develop their potential, build confidence, and find joy in intellectual challenge.

“This is about more than just winning,” said a club spokesperson. “It’s about showing what’s possible when you give young people the tools and support to grow. Our juniors are the future, and today, they’ve shown they can compete with the best.”

The club is based at the Mindsports Centre at 21 Dalling Road, W6 0JD.

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