3Cs’ double puts rivals in check

TOP PLAYER... Jamie Horton played in the World Junior Chess Championships in India

OLDHAM’s reputation as a hotbed of chess has again been recognised.

Oldham’s 3Cs club has become the first in the country to receive a second English Chess Federation club of the year award.

Founder Steve Rigby is extremely proud of the national status: “3Cs is recognised as a national centre of excellence for chess. It has produced a champion of England twice in Steven Gordon, who has also been a grand master.

“This Oldham club competes on an international level; I’m not sure how many other organisations in the area are operating on such a high level. I am incredibly proud we have achieved this for Oldham.”

Member Jamie Horton (19) has just returned from representing England in the World Junior Chess Championships in India.

Jamie travelled to Pune, close to Mumbai, to play in the annual junior tournament against some of the world’s best under-20s.

Jamie played 13 games during the two-week event and gained five points: “It was a very different experience, playing in a world tournament,” he said.

“I really enjoyed playing some of the world’s best chess players. There was a different kind of pressure in those games.

“Some of my opponents were incredible - including an eight-year-old boy from New Zealand. Fortunately, I was able to beat him!”

Jamie started playing when he was six and, when he began to beat all of his school opponents, realised this was something he was good at.

It wasn’t until he joined the Oldham club that things started to get serious: “3Cs Chess Club is widely known as the best in the area; it has some very strong players.

“I started coming about seven years ago and the high quality of coaching has really helped me to push my game forward.”