​Folkestone Junior Chess Club
"Its not the winning, its the taking them apart that counts."
Latin motto: Um gonna pol bothiar armsan legsov.
The FJCC is home to the innovative Folkestone System: a quick and colourful way to learn the openings of chess.
Welcome to Folkestone Juniors Chess Club.
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The FJCC has been meeting for more than 10 years now, and teaches children from 5 through to 15+. The club provides lessons so that young players can have their interest in the game improved and given direction. We hold tournaments so players can also experience a competitive environment, and also just relax and enjoy the game.
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Abilities range from brilliant all the way through to amazing and 'mm, that's original' (=your cheating). We have beginners and have had kids who have played for Kent and in the Kent Grand Prix. All the kids enjoy the game and make progress and most important of all they can all derive confidence from that fact. Chess is one of the few sports to accommodate children on the mental health spectrum, and is often the game such people thrive in.
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Currently the club has more than 40 members meeting at various times - see the CLUB page for the full line up.
Please send an email first via the CONTACT PAGE to get in touch.
Matthew Cussens
[Matthew Cussens holds a current DRB check dated from 14/4/15, which the Sports Centre hold as an electronic file - which will be confirmed on request.] Matthew Cussens has run various after school chess clubs and currently does so at St Eanswythe School. In order to do so, an Enhanced DBS was obtained, dated 22/05/2017.
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For the adult chess club please visit: https://folkestonechess.wixsite.com/folkestonechessclub
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On 17th March 2018 FJCC hosted Shreyas 'Elvis' Royal, a 9 year old chess wizard - and a gentleman as well. LEFT: Here he is taking the oath and becoming an honoree member of the club. In 2021 this young man achieved his FM title - the youngest in the UK - well done Shreyas!
Do pawns have horns? Yes they do!
Here he is sharing his ideas and a game with our juniors. A really professional and polished presentation.
He then proceeded to defeat all our juniors - living up to the club motto; its not the winning, its the taking them apart that counts.
THE OATH: I (state your name) do solemnly pledge allegiance to Folkestone Junior Chess Club and will do all that I can it our never ending quest for world domination. Hooray!
Quite taken with the hat there Elvis!
Promoting juniors at the Leas Cliff Hall, May 2016. The tennis club give it a go - insisting on their own umpire - and then their own rules!
The second annual water pistol fight - before the action. Armed to the teeth with any type of contraption.
The club has the use if an outdoor chess board and plays outside weather permitting.
Take aim. Fire!
Why am I always the target!
After the action. Sadly not everyone survived.
Aagh! Soaked - as always.
