Jesus said
"The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath"
Mark 2 v 27
Hannah's Testimony
‘Oh, Hannah, there’s a tournament on next weekend, can you play?—Oh yeah, sorry I forgot you don’t play on a Sunday!’
I have lost count of the number of times I have heard those words. The problem of Sunday sport has been a recurring problem for me as a chess player and, as with any kind of sport or activity, many of the top competitions take place on a Sunday.
My chess journey began at the age of five when I watched a friend of mine appear on Blue Peter for chess. I remember turning to my Dad and saying, ‘Daddy, when I grow up I want to be a chess champion just like her!’ My Dad raised both eyebrows, then pulled a grin. ‘Very well,’ he replied, ‘if you promise to play me a game of chess every single day!’ I nodded straightaway. ‘But…for the next year!’ he added. At this point my concentration span was about minus one and my parents often joked that I had trouble sitting still for five seconds, let alone the time it took to play a whole game of chess! Nonetheless, I truly believe that, even at this stage when I wasn’t converted, the Lord was working out his purposes in my life and, to my Dad’s astonishment, I was enabled to hold him to his word. So, for the next year I played one, sometimes two games of chess each day. Within a year I had won my first major tournament, and within two years I was being considered for the English Junior chess team.
Hannah's Conversion
My Christian life began just one year later, at the age of six. It was at a children’s Holiday Bible Club, while I was on holiday in Charmouth that my heart was first opened to the message of the gospel. A leader asked for anyone who wanted to trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour to go to the front and take a copy of John’s Gospel. I did so without hesitation. My brother’s first words to my parents that evening were, ‘You’re never gonna guess what Hannah’s gone and done? She’s gone and become a Christian!’ At this time, my brother did not show any interest in the gospel. It was then that I felt sure something had changed in my own heart. While I was reading the Gospel, I came across a verse which left me stunned. From John chapter 14, I read these words: ‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’ These words struck me like nothing I’d ever read before. The thought of dying, although far off in my mind, was a thought that scared me greatly. These words, implying that the King of kings, the One I had asked into my life, had actually prepared a place for me personally, were, to me, overwhelming. Owing to my young age, I was asked to wait a few years before being baptised to make certain that I was sure of my faith. At the age of eight I went through the waters of baptism. Having Christ in my life is the greatest thing conceivable. Since my conversion, I have made it my aim that in everything I do in life I should do it to the glory of God and to the fullest of my ability—and this obviously applies greatly to my chess playing.
My love for chess has led me to play regularly and at a high level of competitiveness. However, chess as a Christian does not come without its difficulties. I was once told bluntly by a leading chess player and coach that if I wasn’t prepared to play on Sundays I ‘might as well give up now’. They often say that when people put you down, it gives you all the more determination to prove them wrong. A good friend also quoted to me the Bible passage, ‘Those who honour me, I will honour.’ I have since trusted that, in whatever the situation, if I have faith in Christ’s word, he will strengthen and provide for me. It is with God’s sovereign help that I have been able to overcome many trials, especially in my chess playing. 
The UK Chess Challenge
The first major conflict with the Lord’s Day was a competition known as the UK Chess Challenge. This is the largest chess tournament for children in the world, where about 80,000 children compete to work their way through to the Finals. Each year I had participated at a local level, but, although qualifying for the National Finals, I had never had the opportunity to play in them, since they were always held on a Sunday. However, answer to prayer came when I was ten years old and the large number of competitors meant the age sections had to be held over two separate days; my section was on a Saturday! For the first time ever, I was able to compete in the National Finals. Unexpectedly, I went on to win the National Finals and qualify for the Finals! I have nothing to say other than this: God is a God who does answer prayer!
God is faithful
Likewise, at the age of fourteen, I entered the British Under-14 Championships. Unfortunately, the first round fell on a Sunday. Although I was ready to default my first round game, my Dad urged me, after praying, simply to inquire into the possibilities of playing my round on a different day. To my surprise, both the arbiter of the tournament and my opponent fully agreed to allow me to play my game on the Saturday, the day before the actual Tournament started. I subsequently went on to win the title as ‘Best U14 Girl in Britain’.
To anyone struggling with this kind of issue, I urge you first of all to pray. Pray in faith, trusting Christ to intervene, whatever the situation may be. And secondly, fight with determination, which the Lord himself will give, and remember that ‘Nothing is impossible with God!’
Since then, I have known God’s help and blessing both in my chess playing and in my day-to-day life as a Christian.
The Lord’s help in my chess playing has given me the opportunity to represent my country, and to continue playing at a competitive level. Chess has given me the opportunity to strive for excellence, doing so that the glory of my God might be displayed. It has also given me opportunities for witness which I would not otherwise have had.
I am currently in my final year of sixth form studying with the intent to go on to university. I am yet unsure of my subject choice at university and my career path, but I trust that the Lord has plans for my future and I fully lean on him for guidance in these decisions.