PLAY & LEARN ALONGSIDE THE BEST
Patrons
I remember Gregory Griffiths being an enthusiastic member of Castell Nedd Chess Club when I was a slip of a lad, this chess lover being just a few years older than me. We even played in the same school team, winning against the best of players in the local school matches. His addiction to the game started in Brynoch Church-in-Wales, a product of the long since retired John Dawes. When he took part in the Gnoll chess tournament (a local event run for all the juniors in Neath), playing from 1987 (the under 10s) to 1992 (the under 15s), he managed 7th out of 21 in the U10 section, not a bad result for the sheer quantity that would play. His best results would be 3.5 out of 5 in the U15s. But it was not his game play that made Greg such an importance to the game. More importantly, he was a volunteer who would help out any way he could, his sheer love of the game making him a valuable resource to the club. It would be this drive for the game that would see him start a chess club in Neath College, bringing more players to the game. He was rewarded for his dedication he became Club of the Year in 1993, just before he went off to university. Greg re-joined the club in November 2017, this time becoming one of the original founders of the online chess.com club. During the last six years he has continued to provide support in a number of ways, taking part in events, representing the club in the U1400 and U1200 against international teams to take 22 wins, and giving his advice on the Facebook club chat. If anyone deserves to become patron of the club, it can safely be said that Greg falls into this category, and we hope to see more of him throughout the club’s life.
“Tactics flow from a superior position.”
“Even the laziest king flees wildly in the face of a double check.”
“Chess is a fairy tale of 1,001 blunders.”
“The winner of the game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.”
“When you see a good move, look for a better one.”
“The pawns are the soul of chess.”
“The hardest game to win is a won game.”
“A sacrifice is best refuted by accepting it.”