Clubs

Chess Club

We started running a Chess club at the Russian Academy in September of last year. We teach all levels and will happily play with adults who may come and challenge us. Above all, however, we want to instil in the young pupils of CRA a love and enjoyment of the great game. In time, we hope to create a team capable of playing competitively as Cambridge offers many opportunities to do so. Our chess club is run by Lydia Balon and Alexey Abdulaev.

Lydia:
I started playing chess when I was about 5 years old. I enjoyed the logic of the game and the thrill of the struggle. I also liked winning so I got fairly good quickly and started playing competitively when I was 7 or 8. I have won the Megafinal Suprema 6 times and played at the County and Regional level and on the England Girls team. Now I still take part in competitions occasionally, when I can take a break from school work. Teaching chess gives me an opportunity to re-live the happy moments I had experienced as a chess beginner. I love the game and want others to learn to love it too.

Alexey:
I have played chess since I was 9 years old. I liked the feeling of winning against people in a game where you have to think and outsmart the opponent. I won every school championship and the Megafinal Supremo. Being a teacher has helped me to understand the game on a new level and I enjoy helping others to learn how to play this great game.