History
Formby Chess Club was founded in 1937.
Founder member and long-time President J. Rourke MBE, famously once drew with world champion Mikhail Botvinnik in a simultaneous game. Not to be outdone, current President , C.P. Fisher, once beat Botvinnik’s rival David Bronstein in a simultaneous game.
Venues
The club met at Formby Library for many years. The junior club met at Victoria sports and social club for some time, but was later incorporated into the club.
After a brief spell at Formby Red Cross Society we moved to our present premises at Ravenmeols Community Centre.
Competitions
The club has always been active in the Merseyside Chess League. We have won the 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd Division titles many times, but the First Division Title still eludes us.
In 1987-8 the club won the National Club Championship—Major Plate.
Formby chess club have entered a team in the Wirral League for many years and we have gradually worked up to the First Division.
We entered a team in the Warrington and District League for the first team last season.
Members
Past members have included J.E. Littlewood, M.Firth, D.G. Horseman, R.A.Barton, Suzanne Connolly, and the Eagle twins, Angela and Maria, now both Members of Parliament.
Our present strongest member is Stewart Haslinger who achieved his GM title at the British Championship in 2007.
Club Champions
1947 Jim Rourke
1955-6 J.H.McLardy
1956-7 J.H.McLardy
1957-8 J.G. Blencowe
1964-5 W.M. Cunningham B.G. Jones
1965-6 B.G. Jones
1977-8 J.H.McLardy R.J. Platt
1978-9 R.J. Platt
1979-80 R.J. Platt
1980-1 P. Bond R.J. Platt
1981-2 R.J. Platt
1982-3 P. Bond
1983-4 M. Calvert
1984-5 R.J. Platt
1985-6 P. Bond
1986-7 P. Bond
1987-8 R.A. Barton
1988-9 R.J. Platt
1989-90 P. Moulton
1990-1 P. Bond
1991-2 P.Whiston
1992-3 S. Haslinger J.M.Haslinger
1993-4 M.Fraser
1994-5 J.M.Haslinger
1995-6 R.J. Platt
1996-7 J.M.Haslinger
1997-8 J.M.Haslinger
1998-9 Kevin Howard
1999-2000 J.M.Haslinger
2000-1 R.J. Platt
2001-2 J. D. Evans
2002-3 J.M.Haslinger
2003-4 A. M. Smith
2004-5 R. J. Platt
2005-6 C. P. Fisher
2006-7 R. J. Platt
2007-8 C. P. Fisher
2008-9 R. J. Platt
Challengers
2001-2 Ben Shorter
2002-3 Andrew Smith
2003-4 Duncan McNab
2004-5 Allan Worthington
2005-6 Kevin Howard
2006-7 Kevin Howard
2007-8 André Eagle
2008-9 Rob Haseman
Founder member and long-time President J. Rourke MBE, famously once drew with world champion Mikhail Botvinnik in a simultaneous game. Not to be outdone, current President , C.P. Fisher, once beat Botvinnik’s rival David Bronstein in a simultaneous game.
Venues
The club met at Formby Library for many years. The junior club met at Victoria sports and social club for some time, but was later incorporated into the club.
After a brief spell at Formby Red Cross Society we moved to our present premises at Ravenmeols Community Centre.
Competitions
The club has always been active in the Merseyside Chess League. We have won the 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd Division titles many times, but the First Division Title still eludes us.
In 1987-8 the club won the National Club Championship—Major Plate.
Formby chess club have entered a team in the Wirral League for many years and we have gradually worked up to the First Division.
We entered a team in the Warrington and District League for the first team last season.
Members
Past members have included J.E. Littlewood, M.Firth, D.G. Horseman, R.A.Barton, Suzanne Connolly, and the Eagle twins, Angela and Maria, now both Members of Parliament.
Our present strongest member is Stewart Haslinger who achieved his GM title at the British Championship in 2007.
Club Champions
1947 Jim Rourke
1955-6 J.H.McLardy
1956-7 J.H.McLardy
1957-8 J.G. Blencowe
1964-5 W.M. Cunningham B.G. Jones
1965-6 B.G. Jones
1977-8 J.H.McLardy R.J. Platt
1978-9 R.J. Platt
1979-80 R.J. Platt
1980-1 P. Bond R.J. Platt
1981-2 R.J. Platt
1982-3 P. Bond
1983-4 M. Calvert
1984-5 R.J. Platt
1985-6 P. Bond
1986-7 P. Bond
1987-8 R.A. Barton
1988-9 R.J. Platt
1989-90 P. Moulton
1990-1 P. Bond
1991-2 P.Whiston
1992-3 S. Haslinger J.M.Haslinger
1993-4 M.Fraser
1994-5 J.M.Haslinger
1995-6 R.J. Platt
1996-7 J.M.Haslinger
1997-8 J.M.Haslinger
1998-9 Kevin Howard
1999-2000 J.M.Haslinger
2000-1 R.J. Platt
2001-2 J. D. Evans
2002-3 J.M.Haslinger
2003-4 A. M. Smith
2004-5 R. J. Platt
2005-6 C. P. Fisher
2006-7 R. J. Platt
2007-8 C. P. Fisher
2008-9 R. J. Platt
Challengers
2001-2 Ben Shorter
2002-3 Andrew Smith
2003-4 Duncan McNab
2004-5 Allan Worthington
2005-6 Kevin Howard
2006-7 Kevin Howard
2007-8 André Eagle
2008-9 Rob Haseman