Mates Masters

What makes this chess book different? I believe this is the first book of its kind about chess. So many focus on the best games, or openings, middlegames and endgames to study. What few books mention is players’ early chess experience, which for many is at school. Grandmasters and international masters don’t just appear by magic. They all learn their craft from a young age after being shown the moves. There are pupils at UK schools now who already have IM norms, and thousands of others playing for fun or competitively. This book focuses on the chess history of a British state school, which celebrates its 140-year anniversary in 2023 – King Edward’s Camp Hill School for Boys in Birmingham. Chess at its twin school for Girls is also covered. The chess schooldays of two of this country’s greatest players – Hugh Alexander and Tony Miles – are discussed since they went to a school regularly played by Camp Hill. Other prodigies like Malcolm Baker, Ameet Ghasi, Peggy Wood, Sabrina Chevannes and Sophie Tidman are introduced as well as a legion of enthusiastic pupils who played for their school, county or country. Thirty games are included. Stories of two pupils who founded famous chess clubs are among many highlights as well as the discovery that the school has educated its own International Master. This year Camp Hill played in the finals of the ECF Team Chess Challenge, Team Problem Solving and National U19 School Championships, continuing a history of playing at the highest levels over time beating schools such as Eton College and Manchester Grammar in national championships. At a time when the British PM, Rishi Sunak, has announced £500,000 of funding to improve chess in state schools, this book may inform and help inspire the next generation. Besides the pupils – the Scholars’ Mates part of the title – the valuable role of teachers – the Grand Masters – is highlighted throughout. Besides money, time and enthusiasm are needed to foster success. But the title is not a total misnomer, since a noteworthy pupil played the moves of Scholar’s Mate in a prestigious tournament he organised featuring several grandmasters! Many Old Boys including famous alumni, teachers and headmasters have contributed to this history book, which deviates from the main line occasionally to present an informative and humorous account of both this ordinary and extraordinary British school, Camp Hill. The author himself was chess captain at the school and the third pupil to start a chess club. Anyone connected to chess at the school can join Camp Hill Old Edwardian’s chess club on chess.com to play, study the games in this book or chat.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.

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