Next club night: Monday 7 September, 7.30pm — with the AGMMondays 7.30pm at Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club

UK chess statisticsKent

Chess in Kent

1,402 players held an ECF over-the-board rating with a Kent club in August 2026 — the 5th largest county association in England. Figures from the ECF rating-list dataset maintained by Tunbridge Wells Chess Club.

Rated players

1,402

August 2026

Growth since June 2022

+79%

Constant definition

Before the boom

554

July 2019 list (approximate — see methodology)

Active clubs

60

Clubs with at least one rated player

Rated players with Kent clubs, 1994–2026
Rated players with Kent clubs, 1994–2026. The same figures follow in the data table below the chart.05001,0001,50019982004201020162022New rating systemPost-covid rating purge1,402
View the figures as a table
DateRated players
July 1994519
July 1995541
July 1996587
July 1997575
July 1998599
July 1999546
July 2000507
July 2001497
July 2002471
July 2003436
July 2004410
July 2005419
July 2006394
July 2007397
July 2008393
July 2009389
July 2010382
July 2011396
January 2012398
July 2012405
January 2013402
July 2013382
January 2014394
July 2014380
January 2015449
July 2015463
January 2016477
July 2016484
January 2017497
July 2017500
January 2018532
July 2018534
January 2019545
July 2019554
January 2020561
July 2020898
August 2020898
September 2020898
October 2020898
November 2020898
December 2020898
January 2021898
February 2021898
March 2021898
April 2021898
May 2021900
June 2021900
July 2021904
August 2021905
September 2021927
October 2021966
November 2021984
December 20211,033
January 20221,039
February 20221,056
March 20221,080
April 20221,106
May 20221,115
June 2022784
July 2022776
August 2022774
September 2022769
October 2022775
November 2022820
December 2022828
January 2023828
February 2023822
March 2023838
April 2023827
May 2023840
June 2023880
July 2023905
August 2023916
September 2023928
October 2023940
November 2023986
December 20231,032
January 20241,050
February 20241,080
March 20241,095
April 20241,112
May 20241,128
June 20241,162
July 20241,185
August 20241,188
September 20241,190
October 20241,200
November 20241,234
December 20241,236
January 20251,243
February 20251,255
March 20251,289
April 20251,278
May 20251,289
June 20251,315
July 20251,331
August 20251,341
September 20251,346
October 20251,358
November 20251,387
December 20251,395
January 20261,391
February 20261,396
March 20261,399
April 20261,403
May 20261,415
June 20261,415
July 20261,406
August 20261,402

County attribution uses each player's latest-known club, so the early decades understate clubs that have since closed — recent years are exact, the far left of the chart is indicative. The two marked breaks are changes in the national list definition, not local events. Full caveats on the methodology.

Kent clubs fielding rated players
Kent clubs fielding rated players. The same figures follow in the data table below the chart.0204060801998200420102016202260
View the figures as a table
DateActive clubs
July 199450
July 199551
July 199654
July 199756
July 199864
July 199956
July 200051
July 200151
July 200246
July 200344
July 200442
July 200543
July 200643
July 200741
July 200839
July 200942
July 201042
July 201145
January 201246
July 201247
January 201347
July 201344
January 201444
July 201445
January 201548
July 201547
January 201647
July 201647
January 201748
July 201749
January 201850
July 201849
January 201950
July 201948
January 202050
July 202062
August 202062
September 202062
October 202062
November 202062
December 202062
January 202162
February 202162
March 202162
April 202162
May 202162
June 202162
July 202163
August 202163
September 202164
October 202164
November 202164
December 202165
January 202265
February 202265
March 202265
April 202265
May 202265
June 202259
July 202259
August 202259
September 202256
October 202255
November 202254
December 202253
January 202351
February 202349
March 202350
April 202350
May 202350
June 202351
July 202354
August 202354
September 202355
October 202356
November 202357
December 202359
January 202460
February 202461
March 202461
April 202461
May 202461
June 202461
July 202461
August 202461
September 202461
October 202461
November 202461
December 202460
January 202560
February 202560
March 202562
April 202562
May 202562
June 202562
July 202562
August 202562
September 202562
October 202562
November 202563
December 202563
January 202661
February 202662
March 202661
April 202661
May 202661
June 202661
July 202660
August 202660

Kent, club by club

Every Kent club with rated players on the current list, including school and junior organisations. Our own club is Tunbridge Wells — join us on a Monday evening.

ClubJul 2019Jun 2022August 2026
Kent Juniors4459181
Petts Wood & Orpington4563132
Lewisham376389
Beckenham & Bromley385684
Charlton253967
Medway152365
Maidstone313451
Bridge212149
Sandwich131748
Tunbridge Wells252341
Gravesend142239
Swale162232
Dartford & Swanley152131
Broadstairs202230
Psyon Chess Club (Chislehurst)111330
Dartford Juniors—130
Margate191829
Folkestone173128
Sidcup141924
Ramsgate91122
Rainham (Kent)131621
Snodland91421
Whitstable1121
Kent University2119
Weald of Kent101617
Sevenoaks School3516
Herne Bay4915
Tonbridge School41814
Dulwich College5113
Maidstone Knights1313
Folkestone Junior—212
Sheldwich Primary School1212
Eltham College5811
Sevenoaks61010
Simon Langton SB7157
Blackheath HS116
Maidstone GSB1146
The Malling School——6
Deal115
Dartford GSB——5
James Allens Girls School1165
Harry's CC114
Canterbury Junior——4
Harvey GS114
Judd GS654
Ashford333
Beckenham & Charlton213
Thamesmead—13
Dulwich Col Prep113
St Olaves GS223
Eynsford522
Sportsman (Kent)122
Tonbridge/Hadlow112
Sittingbourne262
Canterbury221
Rochester111
Bennett School——1
Kings School Canterbury661
Rosemead Prep School741
Skinners School151

← All counties and the national picture