{"id":56107,"date":"2025-10-02T04:56:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T03:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/?p=56107"},"modified":"2026-01-14T23:39:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T23:39:48","slug":"a-champion-on-and-off-the-board-sarah-longson-s-chess-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/a-champion-on-and-off-the-board-sarah-longson-s-chess-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"A champion on and off the board: Sarah Longson\u2019s chess mission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How and when did you discover chess, and how did you decide that was the thing for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was seven years old. My brothers were at the school chess club, and I used to go to the park with my mum while they played. One day when mum went to pick them up, it was clear the teacher needed help, so she offered to assist \u2013 on the condition that I could join too! I was the youngest in the club, which meant I \u201cautomatically\u201d qualified for the U7 UK Chess Challenge Megafinal. I went on to win to Gigafinal \u2013 and from there my passion for chess just grew and grew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You first appeared on Blue Peter as a young chess prodigy. Looking back, what emotions come to mind when you think of that moment \u2013 and how did it shape your sense of possibility in life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was very shy, but I was completely in awe of my idol Garry Kasparov, who came to meet me on the show. We\u2019ve met again since at Chess Olympiads, and he still remembers me. It was such a proud moment and gave me the confidence to believe in myself and go after my goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve gone from child prodigy on Blue Peter to director of the UK Schools\u2019 Chess Challenge. When you look back at that journey, what feels like the biggest transformation in yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking on the UK Chess Challenge really transformed me. My confidence grew enormously \u2013 I learned so much and discovered that I had so much to give back to children who enjoy chess. I also shifted from being a chemistry and law graduate chasing a career I didn\u2019t love, to running a business I absolutely love.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sarah<\/a>
Sarah Longson. Photo: chess.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You\u2019ve dedicated recent years to building up the UK Chess Challenge. What drives you more at this stage?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m driven by watching children grow through the competition \u2013 not just in their chess, but in life skills, resilience, and friendships. I also want to create experiences they\u2019ll remember forever. Securing Blenheim Palace as the venue for our finals is something I\u2019m especially proud of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running such a large-scale event requires stamina and vision. What\u2019s been the most surprising challenge of leading the UK Chess Challenge, and how have you adapted?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of challenges \u2013 from rising venue hire costs to the difficulty of reaching children at school level. Schools operate differently now, and with social media changing how families spend their time, introducing new children to the competition has become harder. We\u2019ve also lost our long-time sponsor Delancey which has been a huge setback; I am adapting by trying to secure a new sponsor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some educators argue that chess builds \u201ctransferable intelligence.\u201d Do you see chess as a form of cognitive training, or something deeper, perhaps even moral?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do believe that chess is a tool for cognitive development as you exercise your brain and develop critical thinking skills. Personally it made me a lateral thinker and problem solver \u2013 these are skills that are becoming more and more essential in the modern days of phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a>
Photo by Michal Vrba \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The UK Chess Challenge is not just a tournament, it\u2019s an educational movement. What is your long-term ambition for it \u2013 do you see chess becoming a fixture of every British school calendar?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d love to see chess taught in every school and yes I can see it being on the national curriculum. The skills you learn from it are invaluable for navigating life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people now call for chess to be part of the national curriculum. From your perspective, what unique skills or habits does chess teach that other school subjects don\u2019t?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chess has taught me so much \u2013 from losing with dignity, to enjoying success, to navigating challenges calmly. My favourite thing about playing now is that phones aren\u2019t allowed \u2013 you get the rare joy of being completely focused for a few hours without distractions. Chess encourages independent thinking as there is no right or wrong way to play!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In your coaching work, you\u2019ve helped nurture the next generation of chess players. What qualities do you look for in a young player who might have the potential to reach international level?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concentration, memory, and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As co-manager of the ECF Academy, you\u2019ve seen England\u2019s most talented juniors up close. What gives you hope about the future of English chess?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have a lot of very talented juniors. Thanks to improved online platforms like lichess.org<\/a> and chess.com<\/a> \u2013 children can now accelerate their chess learning very quickly. When you combine that with inspirational role models, it gives me real hope for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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