History of the League
The London Chess League started in 1887 or 1888, and was a founder Member of the British Chess Federation. Over the years the League has offered a number of different competitions, and the below may well not be all of them!
We thank Bill Linton of Mushrooms Chess Club for his very considerable help in researching the information shown in the following tables. Current competitions are shown first, with defunct competitions beneath.
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS | YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1888-89 | Athenaeum | 1975-76 | Richmond |
| 1889-90 | North London | 1976-77 | Streatham & Brixton 1 |
| 1890-91 | Ludgate Circus | 1977-78 | Charlton |
| 1891-92 | Metropolitan | 1978-79 | Charlton |
| 1892-93 | Metropolitan | 1979-80 | Central YMCA |
| 1893-94 | Metropolitan | 1980-81 | Wood Green |
| 1894-95 | Metropolitan | 1981-82 | Streatham & Brixton 1 |
| 1895-96 | Metropolitan | 1982-83 | Hendon |
| 1896-97 | Ludgate Circus | 1983-84 | Wood Green |
| 1897-98 | Brixton | 1984-85 | Streatham & Brixton 1 |
| 1898-99 | North London | 1985-86 | Wood Green |
| 1899-00 | Metropolitan | 1986-87 | Wood Green |
| 1900-01 | Lud-Eagle | 1987-88 | Richmond |
| 1901-02 | Metropolitan | 1988-89 | Kings Head |
| 1902-03 | Lud-Eagle | 1989-90 | Kings Head |
| 1903-04 | Metropolitan | 1990-91 | Barbican |
| 1904-05 | Metropolitan | 1991-92 | Kings Head |
| 1905-06 | Hampstead | 1992-93 | Kings Head |
| 1906-07 | Metropolitan | 1993-94 | Wood Green |
| 1907-08 | Lud-Eagle | 1994-95 | Wood Green |
| 1908-09 | Lud-Eagle | 1995-96 | Charlton |
| 1909-10 | Hampstead | 1996-97 | Barbican |
| 1910-11 | Hampstead | 1997-98 | Hackney |
| 1911-12 | Hampstead | 1998-99 | Wood Green |
| 1912-13 | Hampstead | 1999-00 | Hackney |
| 1913-14 | Metropolitan | 2000-01 | Wood Green |
| 1914-15 | Metropolitan | 2001-02 | Cavendish |
| 1915-19 | No Competition | 2002-03 | Wood Green |
| 1919-20 | North London | 2003-04 | Wood Green |
| 1920-21 | Metropolitan | 2004-05 | Wood Green |
| 1921-22 | Brixton | 2005-06 | Wood Green |
| 1922-23 | Hampstead | 2006-07 | Wood Green |
| 1923-24 | Brixton | 2007-08 | Wood Green |
| 1924-25 | Hampstead | 2008-09 | Wood Green |
| 1925-26 | Hampstead | 2009-10 | Wood Green |
| 1926-27 | Hampstead | 2010-11 | Wood Green |
| 1927-28 | Lud-Eagle | 2011-12 | Wood Green |
| 1928-29 | Battersea | 2012-13 | Wood Green |
| 1929-30 | Lud-Eagle | 2013-14 | Wood Green |
| 1930-31 | Hampstead | 2014-15 | Wood Green |
| 1931-32 | Hampstead | 2015-16 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1932-33 | Brixton | 2016-17 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1933-34 | Hampstead | 2017-18 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1934-35 | Battersea | 2018-19 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1935-36 | Lewisham | 2019-21 | No Competition |
| 1936-37 | Lewisham | 2021-22 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1937-38 | Hampstead | 2022-23 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1938-39 | Battersea | 2023-24 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1939-45 | No Competition | 2024-25 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1945-46 | Croydon | 2025-26 | Wood Green 1 |
| 1946-47 | Clapham Common | ||
| 1947-48 | Clapham Common | ||
| 1948-49 | Hampstead | ||
| 1949-50 | Hampstead | ||
| 1950-51 | Hampstead | ||
| 1951-52 | Hampstead | ||
| 1952-53 | Ilford | ||
| 1953-54 | Hampstead | ||
| 1954-55 | Ilford | ||
| 1955-56 | West London | ||
| 1956-57 | Ilford | ||
| 1957-58 | Ilford | ||
| 1958-59 | Hampstead | ||
| 1959-60 | Hampstead | ||
| 1960-61 | Metropolitan | ||
| 1961-62 | Metropolitan | ||
| 1962-63 | Hampstead | ||
| 1963-64 | Hampstead | ||
| 1964-65 | Hampstead | ||
| 1965-66 | Athenaeum | ||
| 1966-67 | Islington & N London | ||
| 1967-68 | Islington & N London | ||
| 1968-69 | Islington & N London | ||
| 1969-70 | Cavendish | ||
| 1970-71 | London University | ||
| 1971-72 | Cavendish | ||
| 1972-73 | Athenaeum | ||
| 1973-74 | Cavendish | ||
| 1974-75 | Athenaeum | ||
| 1975-76 | Richmond |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS | YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933-34 | Claremont | 2010-11 | Cavendish 2 |
| 1934-35 | Claremont | 2011-12 | Wimbledon 1 |
| 1935-36 | Claremont | 2012-13 | Metropolitan 1 |
| 1938-45 | No Competition | 2013-14 | Streatham & Brixton 1 |
| 1948-49 | Ealing | 2014-15 | Battersea 1 |
| 1949-50 | Croydon | 2015-16 | Mushrooms 1 |
| 1950-51 | Harrow or Wimbledon | 2016-17 | Cavendish 2 |
| 1951-52 | Metropolitan 2 | 2017-18 | Drunken Knights 2 |
| 1952-53 | Harrow | 2018-19 | Imperial College London |
| 1953-54 | Ealing | 2019-21 | No Competition |
| 1955-56 | Twickenham | 2021-22 | Lewisham 3 (West), Mushrooms (East) |
| 1956-57 | Southgate | 2022-23 | East Ham 1 |
| 1958-59 | Battersea | 2023-24 | Kings Head 1 |
| 1959-60 | Athenaeum | 2024-25 | University College London A |
| 1960-61 | Finchley | 2025-26 | Kings Head 1 |
| 1961-62 | Cedars | ||
| 1962-63 | Islington & NL | ||
| 1963-64 | Streatham & Brixton | ||
| 1964-65 | Imperial College | ||
| 1965-66 | Lewisham | ||
| 1966-67 | Mitcham, Norbury & Thornton Heath | ||
| 1967-68 | Harrow | ||
| 1968-69 | West London | ||
| 1969-70 | Lewisham | ||
| 1970-71 | Athenaeum 2 | ||
| 1975-76 | Streatham & Brixton 1 | ||
| 1979-80 | Mushrooms 1 | ||
| 1981-82 | Mitcham | ||
| 1982-83 | Mushrooms | ||
| 1984-85 | Stock Exchange | ||
| 1986-87 | Stock Exchange | ||
| 1987-88 | Charlton | ||
| 1992-93 | Ilford | ||
| 1993-94 | Mushrooms | ||
| 1994-95 | Hackney | ||
| 1995-96 | Ilford | ||
| 1996-97 | Mushrooms | ||
| 1997-98 | Richmond | ||
| 1998-99 | Drunken Knights | ||
| 1999-00 | Mushrooms | ||
| 2000-01 | Lewisham | ||
| 2001-02 | Cavendish 2 | ||
| 2002-03 | Hackney 2 | ||
| 2003-04 | Metropolitan 1 | ||
| 2004-05 | Streatham & Brixton 1 | ||
| 2005-06 | Richmond & Twickenham 1 | ||
| 2006-07 | Kings Head 2 | ||
| 2007-08 | Richmond & Twickenham 1 | ||
| 2008-09 | Ilford | ||
| 2009-10 | Drunken Knights 2 |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS | YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933-34 | Lud-Eagle 2 | 2014-15 | Greater London 1 |
| 1934-35 | Leyton 2 | 2015-16 | Woodbridge 1 |
| 1935-36 | Clapham Common 2 | 2016-17 | East Ham 1 |
| 1938-39 | Harrow | 2017-18 | Hammersmith 1 |
| 1939-45 | No competition | 2018-19 | Beckenham & Charlton |
| 1948-49 | Lewisham | 2019-21 | No Competition |
| 1949-50 | Section A: Eastcote; Section B: Hendon | 2021-22 | DHSS 1 |
| 1951-52 | Section A: Southgate 2; Section B: Lensbury; Southgate 2 won play-off | 2022-23 | Albany 1 |
| 1952-53 | Section A: Lud-Eagle; Section B: Mitcham; Lud-Eagle won play-off | 2023-24 | University College London 1 |
| 1953-54 | Section A: Hampstead 3; Section B: Ilford 2; West Ham (2nd in A) won play-off | 2024-25 | Hammersmith 2 |
| 1955-56 | Polish YMCA | 2025-26 | Greater London 1 |
| 1956-57 | West London 2 | ||
| 1959-60 | Mitcham | ||
| 1960-61 | Cedars | ||
| 1961-62 | Imperial College | ||
| 1962-63 | Economicals | ||
| 1964-65 | Metropolitan 2 | ||
| 1965-66 | Hendon | ||
| 1966-67 | Athenaeum 2 | ||
| 1967-68 | Mushrooms | ||
| 1968-69 | Camden | ||
| 1969-70 | Orpington | ||
| 1970-71 | Athenaeum 3 | ||
| 1973-74 | Streatham & Brixton 1 | ||
| 1981-82 | Charlton 2 | ||
| 1982-83 | Hendon 2 | ||
| 1984-85 | Kings Head | ||
| 1986-87 | Hackney | ||
| 1992-93 | Barbican 2 | ||
| 1993-94 | Wimbledon 2 | ||
| 1994-95 | Gravesend | ||
| 1995-96 | Beckenham/Bromley | ||
| 1996-97 | Gravesend | ||
| 1997-98 | Intl Students | ||
| 1998-99 | Richmond 2 | ||
| 1999-00 | Woodbridge | ||
| 2000-01 | Hackney 2 | ||
| 2001-02 | Newham | ||
| 2002-03 | Woodbridge | ||
| 2003-04 | Dulwich Plough 1 | ||
| 2004-05 | Woodbridge | ||
| 2005-06 | Hammersmith 1 | ||
| 2006-07 | Metropolitan 2 | ||
| 2007-08 | Lewisham 1 | ||
| 2008-09 | Drunken Knights 2 | ||
| 2009-10 | GLCC 1 | ||
| 2010-11 | Streatham & Brixton 2 | ||
| 2011-12 | Greater London 1 | ||
| 2012-13 | Streatham & Brixton 2 | ||
| 2013-14 | Lewisham 1 |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 1955-56 | Athenaeum 2 |
| 1956-57 | Streatham & Brixton |
| 1960-61 | Imperial College |
| 1961-62 | Section A: Economicals; Section B: Harrow |
| 1962-63 | Section A: Athenaeum 2; Section B: Richmond & Twickenham 2 |
| 1964-65 | Hendon |
| 1965-66 | Muswell Hill |
| 1966-67 | Mushrooms |
| 1967-68 | Streatham & Brixton 2 |
| 1968-69 | Wimbledon 2 |
| 1969-70 | Metropolitan 2 |
| 1970-71 | East Ham |
| 1981-82 | YMCA 3 |
| 1982-83 | Muswell Hill |
| 1984-85 | Camden |
| 1986-87 | Richmond 2 |
| 1991-92 | Streatham & Brixton 2 |
| 1992-93 | Cavendish 2 |
| 1993-94 | Wood Green 2 |
| 1994-95 | Lewisham 2 |
| 1995-96 | Barbican 3 |
| 1996-97 | Kings Head 3 |
| 1997-98 | Ilford 2 |
| 1998-99 | Battersea 1 |
| 1999-00 | Athenaeum 2 |
| 2000-01 | Streatham 3 |
| 2001-02 | Metropolitan 3 |
| 2002-03 | Mushrooms 2 |
| 2003-04 | Wanstead & Woodford 2 |
| 2004-05 | West London |
| 2005-06 | Streatham & Brixton 2 |
| 2006-07 | Dulwich 2 |
| 2007-08 | Drunken Knights 2 |
| 2008-09 | London Deaf |
| 2009-10 | Drunken Knights 3 |
| 2010-11 | Albany |
| 2011-12 | Imperial College 1 |
| 2012-13 | Cavendish 3 |
| 2013-14 | Streatham & Brixton 3 |
| 2014-15 | Metropolitan 3 |
| 2015-16 | DHSS 1 |
| 2016-17 | Wanstead & Woodford 2 |
| 2017-18 | British Bangla Chess Association 1 |
| 2018-19 | Lewisham 2 |
| 2019-22 | No Competition |
| 2022-23 | King’s College London 1 |
| 2023-24 | Greater London 2 |
| 2024-25 | Battersea 2 |
| 2025-26 | Hammersmith Juniors |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 2023-24 | London Universities |
| 2024-25 | Hammersmith |
| 2025-26 | London Women Hou |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 2007-08 | Streatham & Brixton |
| 2008-09 | Hammersmith MA |
| 2009-10 | Hammersmith MA |
| 2010-11 | Metropolitan MA |
| 2011-12 | Hammersmith MA |
| 2012-13 | Battersea MA |
| 2013-14 | Battersea MA |
| 2014-15 | Hackney MA |
| 2015-16 | Hackney MA |
| 2016-17 | Streatham & Brixton MA |
| 2017-18 | Hackney A |
| 2018-19 | Greater London |
| 2019-21 | No Competition |
| 2021-22 | Mushrooms (West), Hackney 2 (East) |
| 2022-23 | Battersea Cats |
| 2023-24 | Battersea Eagles |
| 2024-25 | Imperial College MA |
| 2025-26 | Imperial College MA |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 | DHSS Intermediate |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 2011-12 | Hammersmith MB |
| 2012-13 | Hammersmith MB |
| 2013-14 | DHSS MA |
| 2014-15 | Battersea MB |
| 2015-16 | Hammersmith MB |
| 2016-17 | Battersea MB |
| 2017-18 | Morley College MI |
| 2018-19 | Battersea MB |
| 2019-21 | No Competition |
| 2021-22 | Battersea Power (West), Hammersmith Minor (East) |
| 2022-23 | Wanstead MI |
| 2023-24 | Metropolitan Gnomes |
| 2024-25 | DHSS MI |
| 2025-26 | Hammersmith Cadets |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS | YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929-30 | Brixton | 1985-86 | Kings Head |
| 1930-31 | Brixton | 1986-87 | Wood Green |
| 1931-32 | Brixton | 1987-88 | No Contest |
| 1932-33 | Lud Eagle | 1988-89 | Kings Head |
| 1933-34 | Battersea | 1989-90 | Charlton |
| 1934-35 | Lud Eagle | 1990-91 | Hackney |
| 1935-36 | Hampstead | 1991-92 | Wood Green |
| 1936-37 | Lud Eagle | 1992-93 | Barbican |
| 1937-38 | Hampstead | 1993-94 | Richmond |
| 1938-39 | Hampstead | 1994-95 | Richmond |
| 1939-46 | No competition | 1995-96 | Wood Green |
| 1946-47 | Hampstead | 1996-97 | Wood Green |
| 1947-48 | Hampstead | 1997-98 | Wood Green |
| 1948-49 | Clapham Common | 1998-99 | Wood Green |
| 1949-50 | Clapham Common | 1999-00 | Hackney |
| 1950-51 | Battersea | 2000-01 | Barbican |
| 1951-52 | Ilford | 2001-02 | Hackney |
| 1952-53 | Clapham Common | 2002-03 | Cavendish |
| 1953-54 | Ilford | 2003-04 | Richmond |
| 1954-55 | Athenaeum | 2004-05 | Athenaeum |
| 1955-56 | Ilford | 2005-06 | Mushrooms |
| 1956-57 | Ilford | 2006-07 | West London |
| 1957-58 | London University | 2007-08 | Drunken Knights |
| 1958-59 | Hampstead | 2008-09 | Richmond |
| 1959-60 | London University | 2009-10 | Cavendish |
| 1960-61 | Metropolitan | 2010-11 | Cavendish |
| 1961-62 | Hampstead | 2011-12 | Cavendish |
| 1962-63 | Insurance | 2012-13 | Cavendish |
| 1963-64 | Streatham & Brixton | 2013-14 | Richmond & Twickenham |
| 1964-65 | Athenaeum | 2014-15 | Drunken Knights |
| 1965-66 | Athenaeum | 2015-16 | Cavendish |
| 1966-67 | Islington | 2016-17 | Cavendish |
| 1967-68 | London University | 2017-18 | Cavendish |
| 1968-69 | Ilford | 2018-19 | Cavendish |
| 1969-70 | Athenaeum | 2019-22 | No Competition |
| 1970-71 | Mushrooms | 2022-23 | West London |
| 1971-72 | Mushrooms | 2023-24 | Richmond & Twickenham |
| 1972-73 | Islington | 2024-25 | West London |
| 1973-74 | Cavendish | 2025-26 | West London |
| 1974-75 | London Central YMCA | 2025-26 | West London |
| 1975-76 | Cavendish | ||
| 1976-77 | Mushrooms | ||
| 1977-78 | Islington | ||
| 1978-79 | Streatham & Brixton | ||
| 1979-80 | Islington | ||
| 1980-81 | Islington | ||
| 1981-82 | Streatham & Brixton | ||
| 1982-83 | London Central YMCA | ||
| 1983-84 | Kings Head | ||
| 1984-85 | Streatham & Brixton |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 1960-61 | Battersea |
| 1964-65 | Islington & NL 2 |
| 1965-66 | Mushrooms |
| 1966-67 | Willesden & Brent |
| 1967-68 | E1: Harrow 2; E2: Wanstead & Woodford |
| 1968-69 | E1: Hammersmith; E2: East Ham; |
| 1969-70 | Charlbury |
| 1970-71 | Mushrooms 2 |
| 1976-77 | Streatham & Brixton 2 |
| 1979-80 | Mushrooms 2 |
| 1981-82 | Woodbridge |
| 1982-83 | Kings Head |
| 1984-85 | Kings Head 2 |
| 1986-87 | Kings Head |
| 1992-93 | Beckenham/Bromley |
| 1993-94 | Kings Head 5 |
| 1994-95 | Intl Students |
| 1995-96 | Kings Head 4 |
| 1996-97 | Ilford 2 |
| 1997-98 | Wimbledon 3 |
| 1998-99 | London Deaf |
| 1999-00 | Streatham 3 |
| 2000-01 | Metropolitan 3 |
| 2001-02 | Mushrooms 2 |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 1969-70 | Romford |
| 1970-71 | Cavendish 2 |
| 1975-76 | Streatham & Brixton 2 |
| 1981-82 | Kings Head |
| 1982-83 | Hamspstead 3 |
| 1984-85 | Wood Green 2 |
| 1986-87 | Stock Exchange 2 |
| 1992-93 | Streatham 3 |
| 1993-94 | West London |
| 1994-95 | Barbican 4/BBC |
| 1995-96 | Ilford 2 |
| 1996-97 | Beckenham/Bromley 2 |
| 1997-98 | Ilford 3 |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 1981-82 | Intl Students |
| 1982-83 | Wood Green 2 |
| 1984-85 | Kings Head 3 |
| 1986-87 | Hackney 2 |
| 1992-93 | Hampstead 3 |
| 1994-95 | Metropolitan 4 |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONS |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 | Insurance |
| 1992-93 | KIngs Head |
| 1993-94 | Mushrooms |
| 1994-95 | Mushrooms |
| 1995-96 | Ilford |
| 1996-97 | Mushrooms |
| 1997-98 | Hackney |
| 1998-99 | Cavendish |
| 1999-00 | Insurance |
| 2000-01 | Mushrooms |
| 2001-02 | Mushrooms |
| 2003-04 | Insurance |
| 2006-07 | Phoenix |
| 2007-08 | Streatham |
| 2008-09 | Mushrooms |
| 2009-10 | Mushrooms |
| 2010-11 | Hackney |
| 2011-12 | Richmond & Twickenham |
| 2012-13 | Athenaeum |
| 2013-14 | Mushrooms |
| 2014-15 | Mushrooms |
| 2015-16 | Battersea |
| 2016-17 | Wimbledon |
| 2017-18 | Athenaeum |
