Chandler’s Ford’s Iwan Cave became Hampshire’s youngest ever chess champion as he won the Silver Rook in the Hampshire Chess Association Congress (tournament) at Fareham in November.

Malcolm Clarke reports, with further reporting from Graham Stuart, and photos from Keven Lamb.

Iwan Cave Hampshire Champion

Iwan Cave a 15-year student from Romsey school has become the youngest ever winner of the Hampshire Individual chess championship, a prestigious tournament that has been running since 1930.

See Graham Stuart’s Hampshire Chess History website list of all the HCA Individual Championship winners: HCA Champions

He won the tournament as a result of being the top placed Hampshire player and he played in six rounds over the weekend of 4th-6th November all of 4 hours duration in which he won 3, drew 2 and lost 1 in a good quality field, having the week prior to the event attended a whole week of school, and on the Tuesday evening won his individual game on top board in helping his club record a 4-1 victory.

Romsey school is not a school where chess is a major extra-curricular activity and there has not been a chess club in the town since the 1970’s.  However, Iwan’s game has come on leaps and bounds since joining Chandlers Ford chess club, where he started winning prizes in junior tournaments.  Last season he competed in senior competition for the first time and his made rapid progress during that time culminating in his most recent and most meritorious success.

His parents also deserve credit for transporting him to and from chess events.

– Malcolm Clarke

Iwan Cave and the Silver Rook: photos

Further Success for Iwan

Iwan was one of 12 young players who qualified for the Under 18 Terafinal . This year it was held at Blenheim Palace on 15th and 16th October. 60 players across five age categories took part (12 in the U18).

Iwan won the U18 Hampshire Junior Open Congress 27th November with an awesome 6 out of 6. The rapid-play tournament had 27 entries in the U18. It included some of the top Portsmouth and Dorset Juniors as well.

2022 a good year for Hampshire Junior Chess

It has been a good year for Hampshire Junior Chess with Harry Grieve from the North of the county becoming at 21 the youngest ever British champion.  Harry a few years ago regularly played and assisted with the megafinal of the Delancey UK Chess Challenge which was often held in Winchester and where his mother Amy coordinated the event.

Season’s greetings from Chandler’s Ford Chess Club. Merry Christmas everyone!

The Book Prize Tournament 2022-2023 Round 3. The results so far, and the player pairings for Round 3.

Book Prize Tournament 2022-2023 Round 3 pairings:

Premier Section

• Iwan Cave v Pablo Vidal
• Keith Gregory v Rob Sims
• Cary Xie v Graham Stuart
• Peter Przybycin v Sam Murphy
• Sam Murphy v Graham Stuart (still to play from round 2)

Major Section

• Andrew Mills v Patrick Pavey
• Nobby George v John Pellegrini
• John Kooner v Richard Meredith
• Keven Lamb v Peter Eales
• John Kooner v Nobby George (still to play from round 2)

Minor Section

• Alan Weaver v John Davis
• Steve Dunleavy v Daniel Phillips
• Ian Parker v Steve Saunders
• Lee Mundy v Rob Strachan
• Rose Saunders v Geoff Parish
• John Davis v Daniel Phillips (still to play from round 1)

All the above games should be played by 1^st February 2023, please. This is double the normal duration to allow for the festive season, and to help players with outstanding games to catch up.

Results so far:

Premier section

Round 1:

• Iwan Cave 1 Sam Murphy 0
• Rob Sims 0 Graham Stuart 1
• Cary Xie ½ Peter Przybycin ½
• Pablo Vidal 0 Keith Gregory 1

Round 2:

• Rob Sims 0 Iwan Cave 1
• Cary Xie 0 Keith Gregory 1
• Peter Przybycin ½ Pablo Vidal ½

Major section

Round 1:

• John Kooner 0 Keven Lamb 1
• Andrew Mills ½ Peter Eales ½
• Patrick Pavey 0 Nobby George 1
• John Pellegrini 0 Richard Meredith 1

Round 2:

• John Pellegrini 0 Andrew Mills 1
• Peter Eales 1 Richard Meredith 0
• Keven Lamb 1 Patrick Pavey 0

Minor section

Round 1:

• Alan Weaver 0 Rose Saunders 1
• Lee Mundy 1 Ian Parker 0
• Rob Strachan 1 Geoff Parish 0
• Steve Dunleavy 0 Steve Saunders 1

Round 2:

• Steve Dunleavy ½ Alan Weaver ½
• Geoff Parish 1 Ian Parker 0
• Lee Mundy 1 John Davis 0
• Daniel Phillips 0 Rose Saunders 1
• Steve Saunders 0 Rob Strachan 1

All the best,

Peter Przybycin.

Rules Summary

The first named player has the white pieces.

Rate of play is 90 minutes each, for the whole game.

Games will be played over-the-board at chess club, or at the home of the player with the white pieces. Score sheets and clocks must be used.

Both players should inform me of each game’s result via email.