Chess Grandmaster joins School anniversary celebrations

50th anniversary festival image

International chess Grandmaster, John Emms, will be helping the School of Computing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the University of Kent on Saturday 5 September. As well as giving talks about chess and computing, John will demonstrate his remarkable chess skills by playing blindfolded and by playing up to 15 people simultaneously.

John will be in room SW101 in the Cornwallis Building on the Canterbury campus from 10.00 to 16.30 and everyone is welcome to attend.  In addition posters in the corridors will celebrating key points of the School of Computing’s history over the past 50 years.

Throughout the day, SW102 will also be open for staff to chat to alumni and visitors. The School’s Makerspce, The Shed, will also be open with staff available to show alumni and visitors around the facilities including the 3D printers, milling machines and laser cutters as well as projects that the students have produced.

The 50th Festival will mark the end of Kent’s 50th anniversary year, and all alumni, former staff and friends of the University are invited to join us at the Canterbury campus for a weekend of festivities to bring our year-long celebrations to a close.

Programme for the day:

  • 10.30 – 11.00 short talk on chess and computers
  • 11.00 – 12.00 blindfold display (against 2 people)
  • 12.00 – 14.00 break
  • 14.00 – 14.30 repeat of short talk on chess and computers
  • 14.30 – 16.00 simultaneous display playing 15 people
  • 16.00 – 16.30 chatting to visitors