What chess events and community activities does BCA organise?

Updated

The Braille Chess Association (BCA) runs and takes part in competitive chess events and community activities for visually impaired players and their supporters. Its website highlights a British Championship, a New Year Cup, a parliamentary chess match and appearances at chess festivals, alongside audio and Word-format learning notes for beginners. The association says it supports over 150 visually impaired players and learners, plus more than 70 members without a visual impairment who help in various ways.

Competitive events

The BCA site names several events and results:

  • BCA British Championship – the page announces a new BCA British Champion, indicating this is a recurring national title event within the association.
  • New Year Cup – Brandan Read is named as the winner of the inaugural New Year Cup, so this appears to be a newer addition to the BCA calendar.
  • Graham Lilley Award – listed for 2026. The site presents it as an award rather than a tournament, so it may recognise achievement or contribution rather than match results.

Because the source only lists these as headlines, treat them as starting points: check the BCA site for dates, formats, eligibility and entry details before planning to take part.

Community activities and outreach

Beyond formal competitions, the BCA takes chess into wider settings:

  • Parliamentary Chess Club – the page references “Taking on the Parliamentary Chess Club!”, suggesting a match or challenge involving BCA players and the parliamentary club.
  • Chess Fest – “BCA at Chess Fest!” indicates the association attends chess festivals, giving members a chance to play and raise awareness of visually impaired chess.

These activities serve two purposes: they give members more opportunities to play, and they put visually impaired chess in front of a broader public.

Learning resources tied to the community

The BCA pairs its events with beginner-friendly material:

  • Chess Notes for Beginners (audio) – a spoken introduction for new players.
  • Chess Notes for Beginners (Word file) – the same material in a text document.

For anyone new to the game, these are the logical first step before entering a BCA event. The site also points to a “How We Play” page and a short introductory video explaining how visually impaired people play chess.

How to get involved

The BCA describes itself as open to both visually impaired players and sighted supporters. If you want to take part:

  1. Read the “How We Play” page or watch the short video to understand adapted chess equipment and methods.
  2. Work through the beginner notes (audio or Word) if you are new to the game.
  3. Follow the event headlines on the BCA site for British Championship, New Year Cup and outreach dates.
  4. Contact the association to ask about membership and how sighted volunteers can assist.

One caveat: the source material is a homepage summary, so it does not give entry requirements, fees or schedules. Confirm those directly with the BCA before committing to an event.