When the history of chess in the digital age is written, one name will inevitably stand out as a quiet yet powerful force who reshaped the way the game is documented and studied: Mark Crowther. For over three decades, he has been at the centre of global chess culture, providing a consistent, reliable, and freely accessible chronicle of the game through The Week in Chess (TWIC). While many grandmasters earn their place in the spotlight across tournament halls, Crowther’s contribution has been more understated, yet equally vital. His labour of love has become the gold standard for chess archives, research, and preparation, ensuring that millions of players, from beginners to world champions, have access to the latest games.
The Origins of a Chess Archivist
Mark Crowther was born in Bradford, Northern England. His professional training and career began in information science and librarianship, which might not sound glamorous to outsiders, but in many ways prepared him for the monumental task he would later embrace. With an instinct for organisation, accuracy, and detail, he developed a strong capacity for managing information on a large scale. This proved invaluable when he turned his attention to chess.
In the early 1990s, the internet was still in its infancy, and very few people saw its potential as a space for sports and cultural documentation. Chess magazines were printed monthly, and results from international tournaments often arrived weeks after the games were played. This time gap meant that by the time readers received their updates, the landscape of competition had already changed. Crowther recognised this gap and resolved to address it using the tools of the new digital world.
On 17 September 1994, he released the very first issue of The Week in Chess on a Usenet newsgroup called rec.games.chess. At the time, it consisted of a small collection of games he manually entered from various sources. Unbeknown to him, this was the beginning of what would become the most influential and enduring chess publication in the modern era.
The Week in Chess: A Weekly Chronicle
The genius of TWIC lay in its regularity and reliability. Crowther committed himself to producing a weekly update of chess games from tournaments around the world, collated into the Portable Game Notation (PGN) format. This meant that players, researchers, journalists, and fans could download a single file each week and gain access to hundreds of games, often within days of their being played.
Over time, TWIC grew in both size and reputation. As more tournaments began sending him results directly, his weekly collection expanded to include some of the most important games in contemporary chess. What once had been a personal project soon became a central hub of chess culture, recognised by federations, organisers, and professional players alike.
By October 2024, TWIC had reached its 30th anniversary, boasting an astonishing 1,559 issues and more than four million games. To achieve this, Crowther worked tirelessly, often dedicating two long days each week—sometimes 12 to 14 hours each day—to gathering, cleaning, formatting, and publishing the data. It is a level of dedication rarely seen in voluntary projects, and it has earned him both admiration and gratitude across the chess world.
The Impact on Professional Chess
For professional players, the existence of TWIC has been a revolution. Before TWIC, grandmasters had to rely on slow postal services, expensive magazines, or sporadic databases to study their rivals’ games. With Crowther’s work, they could instantly prepare for opponents by reviewing their most recent games.
Viswanathan Anand, former world champion and one of the greatest players in history, openly acknowledged his reliance on TWIC. He described it as an indispensable tool that had become part of his routine preparation for over two decades. Peter Leko, another top-level grandmaster, also emphasised how valuable the archive had been throughout his career. For these players, and many others, TWIC became a silent training partner.
Even more importantly, TWIC has democratised chess preparation. Young players with little financial backing have had the same access to high-quality data as elite professionals. Crowther himself has expressed pride in this fact, noting that free access allows any aspiring player to study the world’s best without financial barriers.
A Philosophy of Free Access
Unlike many platforms that eventually lock content behind paywalls, TWIC has always remained free. Crowther never intended his project to become a business empire. Instead, it has been sustained through a combination of advertising and donations. This decision was not only practical but philosophical. He believes strongly that chess should remain open to all, and that access to games—the very foundation of learning and improvement—should never be restricted by money.
This ethos has resonated deeply with the chess community. In an age where almost every form of media is monetised, TWIC stands as a rare example of generosity and consistency. Crowther has given his time, knowledge, and expertise not for personal gain but for the enrichment of the entire chess world.
Challenges and Resilience
Of course, sustaining such a demanding project for thirty years has not been without challenges. There have been times when the workload threatened to overwhelm him. Typing and formatting thousands of games each week is no easy task, and it requires an extraordinary degree of concentration and perseverance.
Crowther has admitted that there were moments when he considered stepping away, yet each time he returned, motivated by the value his work provided. The sheer weight of gratitude from players and fans, as well as the recognition from within the professional community, has kept him going. His own words capture the quiet persistence of his journey: “You do it one week at a time, and then 30 years go by.”
Recognition from the Chess World
Although Crowther has never sought fame, his contribution has not gone unnoticed. Chess writers, historians, and grandmasters have praised his dedication. Peter Heine Nielsen, coach to Magnus Carlsen, has argued that FIDE, the world chess federation, should formally recognise Crowther’s work as one of the most significant contributions to the game in modern times.
For many, TWIC is not merely a resource but a historical archive, preserving the evolution of chess in the 21st century. Without it, thousands of games would likely have been lost or scattered across obscure publications. With it, researchers and enthusiasts can trace the careers of players, the development of openings, and the flow of competitive chess with unprecedented clarity.
Personal Style and Working Habits
Crowther’s approach to his work reflects both his background in information science and his personal commitment to precision. He ensures that names are standardised, FIDE identification numbers are included, and data is consistent. This attention to detail might seem minor, but it is what makes TWIC uniquely valuable as a research tool.
Every issue reflects the labour of one man, often working into the early hours of the morning. There is something almost monastic in his commitment: a solitary devotion to order, accuracy, and service to the game he loves.
The Legacy of TWIC
As digital technology continues to evolve, some may wonder whether TWIC remains relevant. After all, online chess platforms now broadcast games live, and massive databases exist with millions of games. Yet TWIC’s role is unique. It is not simply about volume but about trustworthiness, curation, and continuity.
For thirty years, players have known that each Monday they could turn to TWIC and find a reliable, well-structured record of the previous week in chess. That reliability is its true strength. In an age of constant change, TWIC has been a beacon of stability.
Its legacy is not only in the millions of games preserved but also in the habits it has fostered. Generations of players have grown up downloading TWIC each week, studying the latest novelties in openings, and tracking the rise of new talents. In this sense, Crowther has shaped not just the record of chess but the rhythm of the game itself.
Looking Ahead
As TWIC moves into its fourth decade, questions naturally arise about its future. Crowther has shown remarkable endurance, but it is impossible for one man to continue indefinitely at such an intense pace. The chess world will eventually need to consider how to preserve and continue his work. Whether through institutional support, community collaboration, or official recognition, it is clear that TWIC deserves to endure beyond its founder.
For now, however, Crowther shows no signs of slowing down. His passion for the game and his pride in the resource he has built continue to drive him forward. Each week, he sits down once more to compile the next issue, ensuring that players everywhere have the chance to learn, study, and be inspired.
Conclusion
Mark Crowther is not a household name outside the world of chess, but within it, his impact is immense. By founding and maintaining The Week in Chess, he has provided the most comprehensive, reliable, and accessible record of modern chess history. His work has empowered grandmasters, nurtured young talents, and enriched fans worldwide.
In many ways, he embodies the spirit of chess itself: patient, meticulous, and enduring. While others battle over the board, Crowther has quietly ensured that their struggles and triumphs are not forgotten. His story is a reminder that true greatness does not always lie in victories, but sometimes in service—service to knowledge, to culture, and to the shared love of a timeless game.
