Former British champion Mike Basman thinks war and starvation would be prevented if more people played chess because “people would think ahead and store food away”.

Players can pit themselves against Surbiton chess teacher Natalie Gibbs, 29, and will win a cup of coffee if they beat the champ.

Basman, who organises tournaments for a living, said: “Chess is very popular in the schools, when you think that 70,000 children play, but it doesn’t have the same profile on the high street.

“Kingston has the Rose Theatre but Surbiton hasn’t got anything to oppose Kingston, except its railway station. If you could bring Surbiton forward as an area where chess is played and have a chess festival, it would be something that puts Surbiton on the map.”

The Beat the Champ competition starts at noon on Sunday, October 4 at C’est Bon cafe in Victoria Road.

Source
Kingston Guardian