Playing Chess in Lille: Clubs and History
With L'Échiquier Du Nord, founded in 1846, Lille is home to what is by its own account the oldest chess club in France – today, as LUC EDN with more than 300 members, the leading address in the Hauts-de-France region. This guide collects what is actually accessible in today's club scene. Where something could not be verified, it is not listed here.
Chess clubs in Lille
The Fédération Française des Échecs (French Chess Federation) oversees the clubs in the region through its Comité du Nord. The following selection shows clubs whose game night is publicly listed. A dash means the club does not publish the time permanently, so it's worth checking the club's website.
| Club | District | Game night |
|---|---|---|
| LUC EDN (L'Échiquier Du Nord) | – | Tuesday & Friday 6:30–8:00 pm, Thursday 7:00–8:30 pm |
The complete list of all member clubs is kept by the Fédération Française des Échecs. Please check the club's website for current dates – game nights regularly shift during school holidays.
A note for a first visit: LUC EDN is based in the former Collège Camus on Rue du Mal Assis and, with more than 300 members, is the largest club in the Hauts-de-France region. On Friday evenings, additional blitz rounds round out the program, and internal tournaments take place on Saturdays.
Playing chess outdoors: chess tables and meeting spots
In Vieux-Lille, the Chessbar has established itself as one of the few dedicated chess bars in France: every table has a built-in chessboard, plus there are cocktails and regular tournaments for all playing strengths – from complete beginners to passionate club players. Beyond that, a municipal directory of public outdoor chess tables could not be confirmed for Lille.
Anyone wanting to play on the go is best served by a foldable travel set that fits in any bag and can be set up straight away, whether at the bar or at the clubhouse.
Tournaments and open events
Since 2010, LUC EDN has organized the LUCOPEN, an international tournament that has become a fixture in the northern French chess calendar. The Chessbar in Vieux-Lille adds its own regular tournaments in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, the Fédération Française des Échecs organizes the regional championships of the Nord, in which the Lille clubs take part with their teams.
Anyone entering a tournament for the first time should know beforehand what equipment is required. The dimensions are not a matter of taste but are regulated – you can read up on them in our article on official tournament chess standards.
Chess for children and teenagers
LUC EDN offers its own youth courses on Wednesdays and Saturdays, each from 2:00 to 3:30 pm, with an annual fee of 145 euros for under-16s and a 20 percent discount for students and additional family members. Registration is possible throughout the school year, either online or in person during the youth sessions.
Getting started at home takes very little at first: a board of sensible size and pieces that smaller hands can grip easily. Which square size goes with which king height is explained in our article on chessboard size.
Lille and chess history
In 1846, the club L'Échiquier Du Nord was founded in Lille – as far as is known today, the oldest chess club in France still in existence, with a history that reaches back long before most other major French clubs were founded. Almost 160 years later, in 2006, the club, rich in tradition, merged with the Lille Université Club to form today's LUC EDN, combining historical continuity with the infrastructure and reach of a university club.
In 2010, the newly formed club launched its own international tournament, the LUCOPEN, which has since brought players from France and abroad to Lille. With more than 300 members, LUC EDN has grown into the undisputed largest and most influential club in the entire Hauts-de-France region – growth that would hardly be conceivable without almost 180 years of club history behind it.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I play chess in Lille without a membership?
Most easily at the Chessbar in Vieux-Lille, where every table has a built-in chessboard, or through the open club evenings at LUC EDN.
Which Lille chess club is suitable for beginners?
LUC EDN offers its own youth courses on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a reduced annual fee. The Chessbar explicitly welcomes complete beginners as well.
Are there public outdoor chess tables in Lille?
A municipally documented setup could not be confirmed. The more reliable route is through the Chessbar or the open club evenings at LUC EDN.
How long has the oldest chess club in Lille existed?
L'Échiquier Du Nord was founded in 1846 and, as far as is known today, is the oldest chess club in France still in existence.
From 1846 to today: Lille chess tradition you can hold in your hands
Anyone who has played with borrowed equipment at a Lille club evening or at the Chessbar quickly notices the difference to a well-made set of their own. For a regular game night, our handcrafted wooden sets are a good fit – solid wood, visible grain, pieces with noticeable weight. If you would like to honor the almost 180-year history of L'Échiquier Du Nord, you will find boards with character and patina among our collector's pieces. And for a gift to a club member after a tournament win, it's worth looking at our engraved sets: a dedication in the wood outlasts any trophy. Schachatelier is a Berlin brand. Take a look around.
Read more about chess culture in Strasbourg and in the German capital in our articles Playing chess in Strasbourg and Chess and Berlin.
