The Sheffield chess veteran still going strong aged 93 – BBC
John Eddershaw, a 93-year-old chess player from Sheffield, remains an active competitor after a lifetime devoted to the game. His recent appearance at the British Chess Championships highlights both his personal resilience and the enduring social role of local chess clubs, where he is widely respected.
Eddershaw, who learned chess aged eight, was the oldest competitor at the Coventry tournament and scored two wins and two draws in the intermediate section, with a rating of 1,450. A former Army serviceman, race walker and tool manufacturer, he established a chess club at Dormer Tools and still travels by public transport to play; he is due to compete in Sheffield in December.
- Sheffield’s 93-year-old John Eddershaw remains an active chess competitor.
- He was the oldest player at the British Chess Championships.
- Chess has been a lifelong constant for the former soldier and athlete.
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John Eddershaw is a 93-year-old chess player from Sheffield who took up the game as a boy and has kept playing competitively into his 90s. He recently took part in the British Chess Championships, a national event held in Coventry that draws players of all ages and skill levels to compete across different sections.
Beyond his chess record, Eddershaw's background includes service in the Army, competitive race walking and a career in tool manufacturing, during which he set up a chess club at his workplace. His story reflects the wider role that local chess clubs play in bringing people together over many decades, often providing a lasting social outlet alongside the game itself.
The interest in his story lies partly in his age and continued participation at a competitive level, and partly in what it represents about long-term commitment to a hobby and community. He is expected to continue playing, with a further tournament appearance planned in Sheffield later in the year.