Chess in Pembrokeshire was once a hugely popular participation sport, with strong clubs in Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Pembroke among others. Haverfordwest in particular produced several Welsh Junior Chess Champions over the years.

However, around five years ago the game went into decline, with almost all clubs closing their doors and leaving just one – Pembrokeshire Chess Club in Steynton, Milford Haven – to keep the flag flying.
That all changed in April 2025, when a decision was made to try and revitalise chess in the county. On 1st May 2025, Fishguard Chess Club opened its doors.

The response was remarkable. Membership grew so quickly that within six weeks the club had to move to a larger venue in Fishguard. It now boasts over 50 members, including 17 juniors, and it's not unusual for more than 25 players to attend club nights. From nothing, Fishguard has grown to become the largest chess club in Wales west of Llanelli.

Fishguard Chess Club is now competing in the Dyfed Chess League and remains, thus far, the only club to have taken points from the current champions, Cardigan Chess Club.

To help players improve, the club runs in-house competitions and has organised the First Fishguard Rapidplay Chess Tournament, taking place on Saturday 25th April. It will be the first non-school chess tournament in Pembrokeshire for six years – a significant step in revitalising the game locally.

Not content to rest on its laurels, Fishguard is also set to host the Pembrokeshire Junior Rapidplay Chess Championship on 15th August 2026 – another first for chess in the county.

The momentum hasn't stopped there. In October 2025, Haverfordwest Chess Club came into existence, enjoying similar popularity to Fishguard and also having to move to larger premises. It now has over 35 members, with new players joining every week. The club has already played its first competitive match against Fishguard and is hoping to arrange more fixtures soon.

The third new club to open was Narberth Chess Club, which only started on 5th February but has already attracted 27 members – a fantastic start.

Looking ahead, Tenby Chess Club is planned for May 2026, followed by Pembroke Chess Club in September 2026 and St Davids Chess Club at the turn of the year.

In just nine months, the three newest clubs in Pembrokeshire have attracted over 110 new club chess players, with 35 of those being juniors. It's clear there remains a real appetite for the game in the county.
Hopefully this is just the beginning of chess's re-emergence in Pembrokeshire, putting the game back where it deserves to be.

Anyone wanting further information on the new clubs, proposed clubs, or how to get involved with chess in Pembrokeshire can contact Kevin Heady at info@pembrokeshirechess.co.uk.

For more information, visit www.fishguardchess.co.uk, www.haverfordwestchess.co.uk or www.pembrokeshirechess.co.uk.

Images: Haverfordwest Chess Club, Fishguard Chess Club, Narberth Chess Club (Opening Night), Fishguard Chess Club Poster, Fishguard Rapid Play Tournament Poster, Narberth Chess Club Poster, Haverfordwest Chess Club poster

Photo Gallery (click to view in full)