INTERNATIONAL Chess Day is coming up, so to celebrate we’ve dug out some black and white chess-themed images from our archives.

The event, on Saturday July 20, sees countries across the globe coming together to celebrate the game.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Concentration - chess matches at the Civic Centre, in Southend in 1980

Braintree and Witham Times:

Tactical - John Greer at the Southend Junior Chess Congress in 1980

Braintree and Witham Times:

In concentration - a competition in the Civic Centre in April 1980

Our photos show chess tournaments taking place across Southend in the 1980s and 1990s.

We’re confident to say that none of the matches pictured here lasted as long as a record-breaking game which took place in Belgrade in 1989 which trundled on for a massive 20 hours and 15 minutes – and ended up in a draw.

Meanwhile, if you fancy taking up the game why not think about joining the Southend Chess Club?

The club has a large membership base and welcomes players of all standards.

Visit southendchessclub.co.uk to find out more.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Taking a break - a player poses in with a slightly bigger chess board than usual