Welcome to the
Hull and East Riding
Chess Association (HERCA)
Your gateway to local chess… and beyond!
If you are looking to play chess in Hull and the East Riding, you’ve come to the right place, whether you are a new or experienced players, young or less young.
The Association brings together clubs in the area and would encourage everyone to join one. You’ll find a friendly welcome in them all. Go to the club directory here to find details of contacts, venues and meeting times.
HERCA runs leagues and knock-out competitions for club teams at all levels. It also organises tournaments and congresses. It enters HERCA teams into regional and national leagues. You can find details of all these in the Competitions section here which keeps members up to date with results and league tables. Clubs arrange their own internal opportunities for competitive chess but they are also keen to offer a social experience in a congenial atmosphere.
HERCA has a strong focus on junior chess through its Junior Academy. It supports juniors from primary school age onwards through coaching and through junior sections in established clubs and school clubs. There is a calendar of junior events throughout the year, including an August Summer School, a Schools League, a Yorkshire Junior League, Junior Tournaments and a Junior Congress.
The Association promotes chess in the community through an annual Play Chess Festival, putting on public-facing events in parks, squares, shopping centres, cafés, streets and quaysides. In 2022 alone, there were Chess Fests in Hull’s Princes Quay as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, in Beverley’s Flemingate and Hull’s Minster Square as part of the famous Freedom Festival.
HERCA is proud of its record in making Hull a national chess venue that has hosted the British Championships in 2018 and 2021, Grandmaster Norm events in 2019-2022, English Women’s Championships in 2019 and 2021. Its own Congress was ECF Congress of the Year in 2019.
How to contact us? The web addresses of all our officers can be found by clicking here If you are a new player please contact the General Secretary or the Junior Chess Secretary who will be able to assist you in finding out how to get help in playing chess and joining a club.
Click here for our calendar of events and (external) competition dates.