Fishguard Chess Club only started on the 1st of May 2025. Our first club night was at Trove on the High street in Fishguard, a nervous time to see if there was any interest. On our first night 7 people arrived and we were off!

Six weeks later we had to relocate to Fishguard & Goodwick RFC as we had outgrown Trove. Since then the club has continued to expand and is still attracting new members. We are now the largest (and best) Chess Club in West Wales.

The aim of the club is to provide a safe, friendly and inclusive environment in which to play chess and to grow the participation in the game in the Pembrokeshire area. 

All ages are welcome (our youngest member is 8 years old!) and all abilities, from absolute beginners who want to learn how to play to the more experienced players. We also encourage those players whose experience of the game has been exclusively on line to come and play chess in it’s best form, across the board!

We have a growing junior section (ages 8 to 18) from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm. with regular coaching sessions being held for those who want to improve their game.

As members you can come along and just play a few friendly games on a club night. However, if you would like that competitive edge to your games then the club runs in-house competitions. A 6 round Swiss tournament for lovers of the classical game and a rapid play tournament for those who like the faster version of the game.

We are also members of the Dyfed League, playing matches against teams from Cardigan, Carmarthen and Steynton Chess Clubs with more teams due to join the league next year.

Our members also play in the Dyfed League individual matches which take place once a month.

Most of the above matches are graded with the Welsh Chess Union so will help you build up your grade and improve over time. We encourage support of the governing body by becoming members

We also encourage our members to participate in the wider game in Wales by entering tournaments across the country. Details of which can be found here

Our club is proud to help members improve their game. We offer an extensive library of chess books, magazines, and a chess computer with training programs — all available to borrow free of charge.

Beyond over-the-board play, our online team The Black Knights on Chess.com lets members play friendlies, tournaments, and matches against teams worldwide. Even if you can’t attend in person, you can still be part of the club anytime.