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The game of chess is as well-known as it is iconic. From New York City parks to online tournaments, players can be found all over the world sitting down to match their wits over an eight-by-eight square board. Though the origins of chess are ancient, having been around for at least a thousand years, the game is thought to have originated in the Indian subcontinent and been adapted over the centuries. The version of the game which we know today is thought to trace its routes to the south of Europe.

At first glance, the game may seem simple. Players face each other across the chessboard and take control of one set of pieces each. One set of pieces is traditionally black and the other white, though in modern chess sets the pieces and the squares may be differentiated from each other in many different ways. The squares of the board alternate dark and light, and the players take turns at moving their pieces. Players begin the game with the same number of pieces each, each piece having its own unique set of movements it can make on the board. The pieces capture, block, and out-maneuverer each other with the ultimate goal of pinning down and trapping the opponent’s King.

The enormous number of potential moves available makes chess a deeply intellectual game of strategy.

Chess is a globally popular game and today it is even considered a sport. It is recognised as such by the International Olympic Committee, though it remains to be seen whether it will be included in the next Olympic Games, which will be held in Tokyo in 2020. However, whether this happens or not, the sixth year of the DeMontford Bell Kings Place Chess Festival in July 2019 certainly pleased fans. This global event brings hundreds of players together of all calibres. In 2019, the Festival included the My First Chess Tournament Under 85 – an opportunity for beginners without the benefit of chess-club membership to compete in a tournament. Of course, the festival also caters to more experienced players, with a range of categories for all ability levels.

Thomas Noel Collister Jackson, himself a mid-ranked international chess-player, works at a company which has been involved in sponsoring the event. The tournament takes place in King’s Place, an arts and conference venue in King’s Cross, London.