A new (old) Battersea Club Champion

Sam reclaimed the Battersea Club Championship for 2026 vs his rival (and good friend Midhun)

Phewee – so the Battersea Club Champs - which runs throughout the chess season - finally finishing at the end of August.

After a fun, busy season, I managed to outlast Midhun Unnikrishnan in the final. It took a nasty rook endgame to do the trick, which I fortunately had fresh in my head after having taught more than a few of our kids this year the joys of such endgames!

In all its splendour - see the latest engraving!

Credit to Battersea Chess Club for running a great event. The Club Championship goes back over hundred years and was expertly managed this year by Greg Taylor – who was himself playing in the Championships for the first time.

Thanks as well to all my opponents (Ethan Luc, Greg Taylor, Chris Rawlinson, Sam Riggs and Tom Farrand) throughout the tournament who gave me some ferociously tough games.

After a to-and-fro game, Sam managed to grind out this rook endgame with Black to secure a 1-0 lead. What move must White play here to draw?

White to play and draw.