7:50am Saturday 18th October 2008
By Josephine Woode
A chess team from Chiswick is bidding to book their place in the final of the World Mind Sports Games in Beijing.
Members of the West London Chess Club (WLCC) are pitting their wits against thousands of other challengers.
Nearly 4,000 competitors and officials from 143 countries and regions are taking part in the two-week event.
In a display of mental strength and intelligence, the players will be competing for 35 medals in the events including bridge, chess, draughts and Xiangqi or Chinese chess.
Meri Grigoryan-Lyell from the WLCC is part of a nine strong team who are representing England during the inaugural championship.
The members of the teams who are going for gold are Andrew Greet, Lawrence Cooper, Rafe Edward Martyn, Mark Lyell, Jovanka Houska,Hannah Joy Dale and captain Stewart Reuben.
Ms Grigoryan-Lyell who lives in Grove Park, said: “Jovanka Houska came sixth in the blitz and fourth in the rapid individuals. It is a really strong competition.
“Now we participate in the team section. We have to qualify for the semi-finals. The favourites are China and Russia.
“I wore a cheesy hat today and we managed to beat the USA women team today.”
The British player has been playing chess since her childhood in 1985 and now teaches chess in primary schools.
She added: “Chess seems to be neglected by the British media and most other countries regard it as a sport and get decent coverage.
“The chess world hopes that after this event, the Olympic committee will include chess in the Olympic Games in 2012.”
Ms Grigoryan-Lyell who is a member of the England Women Chess National Team will also represent England in the World Chess Team Olympiad.
The games take place in Dresden from November 12 until November 25.
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