Surrey Chess Archive
Surrey Rapid Chess & Surrey Chess history

About the Surrey Chess Archive

The Surrey Chess Archive is an independent historical record of Surrey chess competitions and clubs. Originally created to host the Richmond Rapidplay tournaments, the site gradually expanded into a broader archive covering league champions, cup winners, and selected material relating to Surrey chess and its neighbouring leagues.

Scope and approach

The archive focuses primarily on honours lists — league champions and knock-out cup winners — rather than complete match or board results. Where clubs have changed names, merged, or competed under different titles in different leagues, statistics may include recognised aliases in order to reflect historical continuity.

Joint titles are recorded as awarded, though they are excluded from consecutive streak calculations. Where appropriate, explanatory notes are provided to clarify editorial decisions.

The archivist

The archive is maintained by Paul Dupré, who has played league chess in Surrey and surrounding leagues for over forty years. During that time he has represented (in alphabetical order):

...and also

Although the final two were not conventional clubs, they remain part of the story. It may be that he has represented more Surrey-affiliated clubs than any other player during the modern league era — though that claim remains unverified.

In 2022 he won the Surrey Challenge Cup, adding a small personal footnote to a long involvement in county chess.

County involvement

In 1993 he captained the Surrey Under-180 team to victory in the SCCU knock-out competition under the old grading system. He subsequently ran the Surrey second team before taking over the Surrey first team from the late Fred Manning.

Over the years he has had three spells as Surrey first team captain, stepping in at various times when required.

Purpose of this website

Much of Surrey chess history exists only in printed bulletins, ageing newspapers, and personal recollection. The aim of this archive is to preserve key historical records in a structured and accessible form, while remaining transparent about how statistics are interpreted. Also, to show statistics and records that you wouldn't find anywhere else.

The archive is independent and unofficial. Corrections, additions and historical clarifications are always welcome. You can contact him (paul) at surreyrapidchess.org.uk by email at anytime day or night.