Mayor Driscoll makes smart moves at Northumbria Masters
(Chronicle Chess 25 August 2023)
Jamie Driscoll, the North of Tyne Mayor who left the Labour Party to run as an independent, has turned his political expertise to chess, helping the North East’s biggest chess tournament make all the right moves.
Opening the Northumbria Masters Chess Congress in Forest Hall, Driscoll said that chess was exactly the right game for people to take up in the region, as it seeks to be a high-skills hub with full employment in the future.
My chess rating may not be so high, although I play with my kids” Driscoll said. “But for once I agree with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that chess is a great game, which helps top equip young people with all the right skills.
His comments come just two days after the UK government announced a £1 million package of support for chess, particularly in schools and city parks, as well as helping to boost coaching of the country’s most promising young players.
The Northumbria Masters kicked off at Forest Hall Social Club on Thursday, with more than 160 players from a total of 21 countries, including six Grandmasters.
Mayor Driscoll played the first move on the board for English Grandmaster Keith Arkell, who is a World Senior Champion.
Playing against Arkell was an old friend of Driscoll’s – Cramlington chess expert Charlie Storey. Storey is a FIDE Master at chess, but it was Driscoll who taught Storey the moves in ju-jitsu, in which Driscoll is a sensei master.
Storey said: “It’s great to see great minds think alike. I wish Jamie well in his campaign for more cash for the region, and hopefully I can this international tournament.”
Storey faces a tough challenge if he is win the £1,000 first prize in the Masters tournament. On Thursday afternoon, Storey faced Danny Gormally, the Alnwick Grandmaster who is the strongest player in the North of England.
The Northumbria Masters Congress includes tournaments for everyone from beginner to Grandmaster, and is the sixth such event organised by Forest Hall Chess Club’s Tim Wall.
Wall said: “We are very pleased to welcome Jamie Driscoll to Forest Hall today, as we think the skills needed to play high-level chess are just what we need to show the North East in a good light. Hopefully we can grow the congress into one of the best international tournaments in Europe in the years to come.”
The Northumbria Masters Congress runs for five days, reaching its finale on Monday evening. Spectators are welcome at Forest Hall Social Club for all rounds. For full information, go to the congress website: https://northumbriamasters.com