Hurrah!

I'm a long-time complainer about the lack of evening chess events in London over the summer. And what have I done about it? Nothing, that's what. Nothing but complain.

But now, I am happy to at least advertise a new and very welcome addition to our empty summer calendars: The First Athenaeum Blitz Tournament. Hurrah! The event will be held on the evening of Monday 6 July 2009 from 6.45pm, the format a 10-round 5-minute Swiss, the cost to enter a trifling £5, a bargain especially since all prizes (less costs) will be plied back into prize money. To enter, email James Toon with your name, club and grade or estimated grade.

And oh, if you don't know where the Athenaeum Chess Club meet, their venue is at Dudley Court, Tenants' Hall, 36 Endell Street. Or for those who navigate by pubs, that's just along the road from Covent Garden's The Cross Keys, where no doubt you'll find me before and after the event.

I hope to see you there!

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PS. Turns out, there's another reason -for me at least- to say Hurrah today: "It’s an exciting time to be a nerd," some guy called John Hodgman has just told Barack Obama - who has responded with the Vulcan salute:

No chess, but a Hurrah all the same.