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
Iwan Cave with his Prizes 
Iwan Cave delighted with Silver Rook trophy 
Iwan Cave is presented with Hampshire Champion Prize, the Silver Rook Iwan Cave is presented with Hampshire Champion Prize, the Silver Rook 
Iwan Cave is presented with Hampshire Champion Prize, the Silver Rook 
Iwan Cave is presented with 2nd place Prize in the Open 
Iwan Cave is presented with 2nd place Prize in the Open 
Iwan Cave is presented with 2nd place Prize in the Open
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.