Enniskillen Chess Club
NOW retired, Dr John Phillips, who lives with his wife in Rossorry, is the Fermanagh chess champion – although he plays down that title – and he is anxious that new faces join his Monday night senior club and a schools’ club that also meets on Mondays, after school.
Last Thursday, under sunny skies, Dr Phillips and his playing companion, Dr David Caithness were inviting passers-by to join David in an outdoor game in the forecourt of the Enniskillen Presbyterian Church building, or indoors if they preferred.
The stunt was to help promote interest in both clubs.
The senior club restarts on Monday, 15th September in the upstairs Riverview Room of the brand new Bridge Centre at the rear of the impressively restored Enniskillen Presbyterian Church building, starting at 7.30pm sharp and finishing at around 10.30pm.
“We have over 20 minutes”, Dr Phillips explained, “but they aren’t always there, so we’re trying to encourage newcomers all the time.”
He said new faces are welcome and he stressed they do not have to have any knowledge of chess.
“I am very happy to give advice, from the very basics upwards. They can have that on request, within reason.”
The idea is that, once people have a working knowledge of the game, they can then join the club. The Enniskillen All schools Chess Club caters for primary and post-primary pupils. The club meets this season in the Riverview Room in the Bridge Centre on Mondays, starting Monday, 15th September, from 3.30 to 5.30pm.
“It has been going about a year”, Dr Phillips said. “We had two school terms last year, but not in the summer term, and it was going all week when it was active.
“We have about 10 members from time to time, but, unfortunately, we only had less than half the schools taking part. So, we’ve been encouraging school principals to put up posters to announce it, both primary and second-level.”
As for the title, ‘Fermanagh chess champion’, Dr Phillips commented: “The standard in Fermanagh is not very high.”
Dr Phillips can be contacted on two numbers 028 66 329359 and 07707 666 290.