Drunken Knights, one of London’s strongest chess clubs, is withdrawing from the London Chess League with immediate effect after being turfed out of its home venue.
The club, which boasts two teams in the league’s top division and a third in division 2, will not complete the 2018/19 season and all games against it are off.
It is also not clear whether the Knights will compete next year.
Drunken Knights have played home matches at The Plough in Bloomsbury for 29 years but it is understood it is no longer possible to reserve Monday nights.
It leaves the club effectively homeless.
No more Drunken Knights?
Secretary and captain Nevil Chan, who took over the running of the club from Chris Haines, said Drunken Knights had reached an “impasse” with the pub management over hosting them.
“We’ve been there 29 years now next year would have been our 30th year,” he added. “When we started that was 16 managers ago, we’ve lasted 16 managers at The Plough but unfortunately we can’t now guarantee the book.
“It is understandable, the pub underwent a big refurb last year and we can’t afford to stay so I’ve had to tell Brian Smith [London League secretary] that we cannot continue.
“We will have to see what happens for next year.”
Drunken Knights have been one of the strongest teams in the league and have fielded an array of talent down the years.
GMs Simon Williams, Danny Gormally, Stuart Conquest and Keith Arkell have all turned out for it along with a long list of strong female masters such as WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni and WIM Sue Maroroa.
Battersea’s first team were due to play Drunken Knights 1 on March 18. That game is now off.
