Welcome to 3Cs Chess Club ...
Founded 1978
As seen on BBC1's "The One Show"
3Cs Chess Club
St.Edward's RC Parish Hall
Spring Lane, Lees, Oldham, OL4 5AJ
Thursdays 7pm - 9pm
Click these links for 3Cs contact details ....
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The 3Cs club nights are every Thursday (7pm - 9pm)
3Cs 2 - 2025 SOUTH-EAST LANCASHIRE SUMMER LEAGUE - B DIVISION CHAMPIONS 3Cs Development 1 - Under 1300 Division Champions
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News (S-E Lancashire Summer League)
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Coaching (Quotes 1)
Puzzle Board (Daily Puzzle 1-5)
Welcome to 3Cs' website
Click on the relevant heading at the top of this website to view the main page of your required section. Alternatively just place your cursor over the heading to reveal a drop-down box giving further options and then click on the one you want.
3Cs, or to use its official name "The Children's Chess Club of Oldham", is dedicated to providing the opportunity for local youngsters to learn and play the game of chess.
The club is recognised as one of the most successful production lines of young talent throughout the country, with both the club itself and many of its individual members having gained major honours at local, regional, national and international level.
21 August 2025
3Cs Steve Rigby and Alan Burke were guests on Oldham Community Radio's "Oldham Today" programme discussing the history and success of the club.
The photos show Steve and Alan with presenters Dave Jones and Mike Gill.
The full programme can be heard via the following link, with the section involving Steve and Alan beginning at 58.33
Steve and Alan were also featured on a list of relevant people connected with the town which was issued to celebrate Oldham's 175th anniversary in 2024. More details are on our "External Awards" page in the "Honours" section of this website ...
3Cs are on the lookout for any club members who might be able to assist at either our club or match nights.
With the recent influx of junior players we ask if anyone (or a group) could help with the coaching of such players who are already able to play chess but just need some early guidance in the right direction. If so, the coaching would be for our newest players and just for about an hour on our Thursday club nights.
Furthermore, with all our Manchester League home matches now to take place in the upstairs hall at our HQ, (1st, 2nd, 3rd teams on Wednesday; 4th, 5th, 6th teams on Thursdays), we ask if anyone would be available to arrive at about 6.30pm on the relevant days to help take equipment upstairs and set up for the matches.
With regard to both of the above, we wouldn't expect a full season's commitment but maybe those interested could assist via a rota system. If you can help please let any club official know at one of our club nights.
3Cs' Forthcoming Matches
Manchester Chess Federation
Wednesday 24 September (7.30pm) Wahltuch Trophy (1st Round)
3Cs 3 v Chorlton 2
Wednesday 1 October (7.30pm)
A Division 3Cs 1 v Atherton
C Division 3Cs 3 v Altrincham 1
Photograph courtesy of Brendan O'Gorman
Click arrow to listen
BREAKING NEWS :
Selected details from Phil Adams's latest 3Cs' Newsletter (16 September) can be seen on our main "Coaching" page. The full content of the newsletter (available only to 3Cs' members) includes several training puzzles as well as up-to-date news of events both local and afar. If any current or former 3Cs' members do not receive the Newsletter but would wish to do so, please e-mail Phil at "phil1948a@hotmail.com"
3Cs 2 are champions of the South-East Lancashire Summer League's B Division after gaining a 3-3 draw at home to Altrincham and therefore remaining unbeaten during the season. With the match tied at 2-2, a win on time by Declan Johnston secured 3Cs the title after earlier successes by Ben Newton and Ved Boganadham.
Our Development second team drew 2-2 at home to Eccles Development 1 to finish third in the u-1300 division, which had already been won 3Cs Development 1. Yavuz Kocak and Kingston Au scored the 3Cs points,
Eccles have withdrawn from the Manchester League in which they had teams in A and F divisions. Atherton have therefore been promoted into A Division while 3Cs 1 - who had been drawn against Eccles 1 in the first round of the Reyner Shield - now have a bye into the semi-finals.
3Cs 1 lost 3.5 - 2.5 away to Swinton & Worsley 1 in A Division of the South-East Lancashire Summer League. Robert McLean and Kyle Pelling won their games for 3Cs while Tim Hilton drew,
Bolton, for the second time, failed to appear for their match against 3Cs Development 2 in the u-1300 division of the Summer League. The match has therefore been awarded to 3Cs with a 4-0 scoreline.
Our third team lost 3-1 away to Stockport in their final E Division match of the Summer League. 3Cs points came via draws by Jonsthan Miller and Suleiman Nisar
3Cs Development 1 have won the Summer League's u-1300 Championship with an unbeaten record after gaining a 4-0 away win against Bolton. However, while Jayden Cheung won his individual game, Bolton failed to provide three other opponents under the required rating and therefore those games were awarded to 3Cs.
2025 King's New Year's Honours Stephen Rigby British Empire Medal
MAYORAL VISIT TO 3Cs - Thursday 26 June 2025
3Cs were very honoured to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham to one of their weekly club nights, especially as the Mayor himself had asked to visit after being told of the club's success over many years and after which he then described 3Cs as one of Oldham's hidden gems.
Details of the visit are available via this link ...
Steve Rigby's presentation of the British Empire Medal which he was awarded in the 2025 King's New Years Honours.
Although still regularly attending 3Cs, Steve now lives in Powys, Wales and the presentation was made by the Lord Lieutenant of Powys, Mrs.Tia Catherine Jones as the King's representative.
Click this link for further information of Steve's award ...
31 July 2025
3Cs Grandmaster Stephen Gordon, currently living in Bali, took the opportunity to attend one of the club's weekly coaching sessions while back home to play in the 2025 British Championships. Having himself joined 3Cs when still at junior school, Stephen gave advice to many of the club's current young players.
In the British Championships, Stephen finished equal 7th (out of 100 entrants) on 6/9 and just one point behind the winner Mickey Adams who lifted the trophy for the ninth time.
3Cs ON TOUR
3Cs' father and son members Sean and Noah Hicks (left of photo) visited Catalunya in Spain where they spent a pleasant evening with members of the local Calafell chess club.
Please can all 3Cs members submit a report of any events entered or of any chess-related items you find, either locally or further afield and which can then be seen on this website's "3Cs On Tour page.
26 June 2025
As always it's good when a 3Cs player from the past makes a visit to the club, as it was when Tom Clements - a former England junior international as shown on the 3Cs Board of Honour - arrived and donated several of his chess books to the club as he is no longer living in the area.
Tom (right) is pictured with 3Cs' founder Steve Rigby.
2024 ECF "Club of the Year"
2024 saw 3Cs win the English Chess Federation's "Club of the Year" award for the third time - having also received the honour in 2006 and 2014 - while no other club throughout the country has won it more than once since it was first presented in 1984.
Click this link for details of all the 3Cs awards ...
15 July 2025
3Cs Andy Lewis has won two Bramley-Harker awards as the Manchester League's top player in both of last season's B and C divisions.
Another product of the club's junior coaching scheme, Andy is a former England junior international and becomes the second 3Cs player to win two MCF Player of the Year awards in the same season, following Adam Ashton who did so for A and B divisions in the 1999-2000 season.
3Cs were very prominent in the December 2023 issue of the English Chess Federation's monthly newsletter "Chess Moves", including articles about the formation and history of the club; Steve Rigby's "Points of Light" award and our International Master Andy Horton becoming the British blitz champion.
Click this link for further information ...
NATIONAL AWARD FOR 3Cs' FOUNDER
In 2023 3Cs' founder Steve Rigby was personally honoured by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who recommended him to receive a "Points of Light" award which is a National Honour bestowed upon individual volunteers whose efforts have made a difference to their community.
The Prime Minister's personal award is in recognition of the 45 years Steve has spent encouraging youngsters to play chess since forming the 3Cs chess club in 1978 and with Steve becoming the first person to receive the award for services to chess.
For more information, click on this link ...
6 chess puzzles - updated every day - plus 3 "Play the Computer" options are available via the drop-down box of our main "Puzzles" page.
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Images from 3Cs' club nights showing some of our junior members (above) and those with more experience (below).
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3Cs' very own Grandmaster STEPHEN GORDON who joined the club while still at primary school and has since progressed to become one of the World's elite group of players.
The photographs above show Stephen in action (left) during the 2019 British Championships and also in conversation with Victor Korchnoi, one of the greatest players of all time.
Despite his talent often being sought by various teams both home and abroad, including regular appearances in the lucrative German national chess Bundersliga, Stephen continues to play for 3Cs.
He has twice won the English Championship, in 2007 and 2012, as well as the 2019 British Rapidplay title while in 2005 he triumphed over more than 1,500 other competitors to win the UK Chess Challenge title.
Away from the board Stephen has also excelled with his ability in promoting the game of chess and for several years hosted "The Full English Breakfast", a chess podcast often highlighting the lighter side of the game. He is also regularly in demand to provide expert analysis of games played at the very top level.
3Cs Chess Club featured on the BBC1 primetime television programme "The One Show" on Friday 13 October 2023.
Photographs of the BBC filming at 3Cs HQ can be seen by clicking on this link ...
The BBC have kindly given permission for 3Cs to reproduce the broadcast on this website - the section involving 3Cs is therefore available for viewing by clicking the box below.
3Cs won the 2023 British Chess Educational Trust award for their outstanding achievement and encouragement of chess at junior level and is the most prestigious national honour specifically for the promotion of junior chess.
The club received an engraved chess board, boxed pieces and clock (shown below) while more details of the award can be seen by clicking this link ...
Photographs of all the chess world champions, both male and female, adorn the walls of our main coaching room at the 3Cs' headquarters. Therefore, while youngsters at 3Cs are coached how to play chess, the photographs assist in also teaching the history of the game..
The room also houses the club library as well as a projection screen, trophy cabinet and the 3Cs' Honours Boards.
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3Cs' founder Steve Rigby alongside one of the club's coaches, Crystal Ashton.
Although now living near the Welsh border, Steve regularly attends the club and is still actively involved in much of the behind the scenes organisation for 3Cs.
As well as her coaching duties, Crystal also organises the 3Cs' Junior 4NCL team and has also recently passed an arbiters' exam.
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Just a typical night at a local chess club ???
However, the photograph (left) is from a 3Cs' weekly club night and the "typical kind of members" include Grandmaster Stephen Gordon (seated) as well as International Master Andy Horton (second left) and Women's International Master and six times French women's champion Sophie Milliet (third left).
Also in the picture are Helal Ahmed (extreme left); Michael Tebelev (third right) and head coach Phil Adams (extreme right).
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Much of the 3Cs' success for several years is due to many of its juniors continuing to play with the club in their later years ... with this photo providing such an example.
From left to right, Dale James, Andy Lewis and Adam Ashton, all began playing chess for 3Cs while at junior school and are all still involved with the club.
Founded in 1978 to promote and develop chess in Oldham Primary Schools and the surrounding districts, 3Cs has grown since then into one of the largest and strongest junior chess club in the country. Any child is given a welcome, although most are recruited from the Oldham Primary Schools and join by invitation, while they are then encouraged to continue attending once they reach secondary-school age.
The club also has adult members of course who usually fall into one of three categories: ex-juniors who have since grown up; parents of juniors; player-coaches. However, any adults are also made welcome on condition that they actively support the aims and ethos of the club, whose main focus is the development and welfare of the children.
The overall achievements of the club have resulted in it receiving the English Chess Federation's "Club of the Year" award on three occasions - and being the only club throughout the country to gain the honour more than once - whilst in 2017 the club gained a place among the very best by qualifying to play in the European Club Cup, a feat they repeated twelve months later.
However, despite these successes locally, nationally and Internationally, both as a club and for many of its members individually, 3Cs' greatest satisfaction - and forever the main focus of the club - is still seeing local youngsters coming through the door on their weekly club nights (Thursdays 7pm - 9pm) to just enjoy learning and playing the game.