Tennis Meets Chess: Andy Murray Makes Ceremonial First Move at London Chess Classic
London, November 30, 2025 – Sir Andy Murray brought his competitive spirit from tennis to chess on Sunday, making the ceremonial first move (1.e4) for tournament leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov at the London Chess Classic in Emirates Stadium.
Photo: London Chess Classic
The retired British tennis star, a known chess fan, happily admits he’s no grandmaster at home. “My five-year-old son Teddy is obsessed with chess now,” Murray recently told the BBC. “It’s pretty humbling to lose while he’s asking me to wipe his bum mid-game.”
At the event, Murray was cheered on by the crowd and commentators. A longtime admirer of England’s top player David Howell, Murray even reached out to him after seeing him on TV.
As for the tournament, the Uzbek phenom seems to have caught fire, as he is currently rocketing ahead of the rest of the field with 5.5/6 points, earning a redemption arc for himself after a recent setback at the FIDE World Cup in Goa, India. Current standings of the London Chess Classic are as follows:
