From Café Lalubie to Échiquier du Nord
The club traces its origin to the Cercle des Échecs de Lille founded in 1846. Its earliest meetings took place at Café Lalubie on place du Théâtre, beginning an urban story later associated with bistros and Lille's local taverns, the estaminets.
At the end of the nineteenth century, the circle adopted the name Échiquier du Nord. That historical name remains the core of its present public identity, now paired with Lille Université Club.
From estaminets to Lille Université Club
A 2009 federation profile described an organization long hosted in the back rooms of bistros and estaminets, almost always without premises of its own. Closer ties to Lille Université Club then gave it access to university rooms.
Échiquier du Nord joined Lille Université Club in 2006. The university label does not restrict it to students: the host institution presents the chess section as open to children and adults at every playing level.
Teaching as an organizing choice
In the same 2009 profile, then president Serge Weill said the club preferred to invest in training rather than pay players. The official site now highlights courses for different ages and levels, alongside free play, blitz evenings and internal tournaments.
The City of Lille also cites the club's participation in Lille Neige as an example of introducing chess to the public.
The LUCOPEN as a shared stage
The first LUCOPEN was created in 2010. Federation records list a 13th edition in 2025 and a 14th in 2026, both played over nine rounds.
The club describes the event as a classical tournament where beginners and grandmasters share the field. That design gives its historic identity a contemporary expression, one built around contact between playing levels rather than an event reserved for an elite.
Sources
- 1.Lille Université Club Échiquier du Nord, Lille Université Club Échiquier du Nord
- 2.Qui sommes-nous ?, Lille Université Club Échiquier du Nord
- 3.Echecs, Lille Université Club
- 4.Lille Université Club Echiquier du Nord, Fédération Française des Échecs
- 5.Échec & Mat no 97, Un doyen sans domicile fixe, Fédération Française des Échecs
Show 3 more sources
- 6.13e Tournoi international du Lille Université Club Echiquier du Nord, Fédération Française des Échecs
- 7.14e Open du Lille Université Club Echiquier du Nord, Fédération Française des Échecs
- 8.Echecs, Ville de Lille
This profile summarizes publicly accessible sources. Organizations, links and locations can change. MindZug does not guarantee current availability.