Miscellaneous News 2016-17

Daniel & Thomas Finn, Matt Forster and Oli Howell all travelled to Gibraltar for the annual Junior International. Matt was travelling with family while the others were all part of a NCJS delegation.

This is an excellent trip combining high quality chess with beaches, dolphins and apes.

All aquitted themselves very well – Matt & Thomas scoring 4/6; Oli 3½ and Daniel 3. Oli had a particularly good round 1, winning with black against the top seed gaining rating points.

24th-26th July – Glorney International, Cardiff

This team event that has been running continuously since 1949. It has a long and varied history and is currently run as four competitions: the Glorney, Gilbert (formerly known as the Faber), Robinson and Stokes Cups. This year, Wales were hosting (in Cardiff) with England facing opposition from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France.

Sussex was well represented with 6 Sussex players selected to the teams.

Glorney Cup (U18s, 5 boards)	Callum Brewer, Matthew Forster, Dominic Miller	Runners Up
Gilbert Cup (U18 Girls, 3 boards)	Cassie Graham (board prize)	3rd place
Robinson Cup (U14s, 6 boards)	Oli Howell, Calum Salmons	4th place
Stokes Cup (U12s, 6 boards)		Champions

3rd June – SE England vs Wales, Chepstow

9 Sussex players were selected to represent SE England vs Wales in Chepstow: Arjun, Elizabeth & Timmy in the U11 Team, and Alec, Amardip (board 1), Daniel, Edward, Calum, and Polina in the U14 team.

The U11s lost narrowly 11½ – 12½ while the U14s won convincingly 22 – 4

3rd-5th April – IAPS Tournament, Aldro School Godalming

Congratulations to Batuhan Kaya – winner of the IAPS tournament held at Aldro School

18th – 19th February – Wilts & West of England Championships, Swindon

The West of England Championships is one of the major events on the junior circuit with sections for all age groups and standards from a one-day intermediate (U120) to the Major which offers a place in the British Championships. It is very well run and well attended with players from all over the UK.

Highlights:

Major (U18): Amardip Ahluwalia 1st with 4½/5, qualifying for the British Championships; Oli Howell West of England U16 Champion 2½/5; Thomas Finn 2½/5

U14: Daniel Finn 3/5, Alex Miller & Michael Banks 2½

U12: Arjun Kolani and Oliver Manchester 4/6, Jonathan Britnell, Callum Vyse & Leo Yu 3½, Polina 3

U12 Challengers: Thomas Martin 3½/6

U10: Theo Lawson 4/6 (controllers’ prize); Lauren Manchester, Sophie Rees & Jacob Wynn 3/6

U9: Timmy Hedger 1st with 6/6; Elena Currah & Adam Faulkner 3/6

U8: Sophia Blin 4/6, Amelie Rees & Toby Ralph 3/6

Saturday Intermediate Rapidplay: Matthew Finn 4/6

Sunday Intermediate Rapidplay: Matthew Finn 3rd with 4/6

28th/29th January – South of England Championships, Yateley

A large contingent of Sussex players made the trip to Yateley for the South of England Championships; always a popular stop over on the junior circuit.

With events for all ages plus ‘closed’ events for those already in, or part qualified for, the NCJS England squad there is something for everyone.

Highlights:

U7 – Amelie Rees 4th= with 4/8

U8 – Amelie Rees 4/6; Sophia Blin & Arun Gibbons 3/6

U9 – Timmy Hedger 1st= with 5½/6; Elena Currah (Top Girl), Adam Faulkner and Theo Lawson 4/6

U10 – Ben Crosby 4th with 4½/6; Sophie Rees Top Girl with 3/6

U11 – Arjun Kolani 3½/5 (half norm); Oliver Faulkner, Callum Vyse & Leo Yu 3/5 (2nd U11 half norms for Arjun and Callum who will now join Elizabeth and Leo at the NCJS trial in April)

U13 – Michael Banks 3/5; Thomas Manchester 2½/5

U15 – Paul Northcott 1st= with 4/5; Alex Miller & Lilya Stewart (Top Girl) 2½/5

“Closed Events” – only for NCJS members or those with 1 half norm:

U12 – Jonathan Britnell & Polina Shchepinova 2½/5 – and a 2nd half norm for Polina so she now joins the NCJS

U14 – Batuhan Kaya & Calum Salmons 2nd= with 3½/5; Amardip Ahluwalia 3/5; Edward Gray 2½/5

U16 – Matthew Forster 4th= with 3½/5; Thomas Finn & Lucy Bennet-Stevens 2½/5

21st January – EPSCA Rapidplay, Liverpool

The NCJS pre-trial qualification circuit reaches Liverpool. Well done to Elizabeth Finn who scored 4/6, thus securing her second half-norm and invitation to the NCJS trial in April.

28th December – 5th January – Hastings International Chess Congress

This long standing and prestigious chess festival offers a range of events and is usually well supported by Sussex players. Highlights so far…

Masters Tournament 28th December – 5th January

Dominic Miller & Oli Howell – both 4½/9

Ollie Willson & Matt Forster – both 4/9

Weekend Tournament Major 30th December – 1st January

Amardip Ahluwalia 3½/5 – grading prize

Lucy Bennet-Stevens 3/5 with good grading performance

Christmas Tournament A 28th – 30th December

Calum Salmons 2nd= with 3½/5 and a very good performance to grading

Christmas Tournament D 28th – 30th December

Jonathan Britnell 3rd= with 3/5

Pairs Evening Tournament

SJC did very well at the fun Pairs tournament held at the White Rock hotel. Excellent team names from our father-and-son duos Mike & Matt Forster (‘FanTASM – Teenage Angst & Senior Moments’) and Chris & Oli Howell (‘Not Quite James and David’) with both ending up in the prizes too.

28th – 30th December – London Junior Chess Championships U8/U12

U8 – Adam Faulkner 2nd= with 6/7

U12 Major – Arjun Kolani 5½/9 (half norm)

U16 – Thomas Finn 4/6 just outside the prizes

Other 50%+ scores from Amelie Rees (U8s), Arjun Kolani, Oliver Manchester, Polina Shchepinova (U12 Major)

17th – 18th December – London Junior Chess Championships U10/U14

As always, Sussex was well represented at the first weekend of the prestigious London Junior Chess Championships which saw action for the U10s and U14s.

Headline results:

U14 Major – Calum Salmons 2nd with 4½/6 (SCCU U14 Champion)
U14 Major – Edward Gray 3rd= with 4/6, gaining 2nd NCJS half-norm and therefore qualification to the squad

U14 Minor – Xavier Laurillard 1st with 6/6
U14 Minor – Bridie O’Leary Top Girl 3½/6

U10 Major – Arjun Kolani 1st= with 6/7

U10 Minor – Abhi Jadav 2nd= with 6/7
U10 Minor – Sophie Rees 2nd= and Top Girl with 6/7

Other 50%+ scores from Batuhan Kaya and Oliver Manchester in the U14 Major, Solomon Mitchell and Ben Crosby in the U10 Major, and Maya McMahon, James Robertson and Jacob Wynn in the U10 Minor.

Well done to all who took part in this traditionally high standard event.

15th – 16th October – English Closed Championships, Nottingham

Congratulations to Leo Yu, Elizabeth Finn and Callum Vyse who all gained their first half-norms for the NCJS trial at the English Closed Championships in Nottingham.

Leo was 3rd= (4 out of 5), and Callum 4th = (3½/5)

8th October – Coulsdon LJCC Qualifier

It’s the LJCC qualification season – Sussex had a successful day today at Coulsdon where Elizabeth Finn won the U12 section with 5½ securing qualification to the U12 Major; Oliver Faulkner scored 4 earning him a place in the U12 Minor, and Adam Faulkner runner up in the U10 section with 4½ qualifying for the U10 Major.

18th September – Fleet LJCC Qualifier

Congratulations to Callum Vyse who attended the Fleet LJCC qualifier where he came 2nd in the U12, scoring 4½, and qualifying for the LJCC U12 Major

10th September – The Silver Plate South

Some of our players qualified for the Silver Plate competition (organised by the UK Chess Academy) by scoring 3½ or more at the UKCC Gigafinal in July – congratulations to Maya McMahon who won the U10 Girls section with an unbeaten 5/5

2nd-3rd Sept – NCJS Trip to Flanders

Amardip Ahluwalia, Jonathan Britnell, Giovanni Currah, Alec Hedger, Xavier Laurillard, and Oliver Manchester all travelled to Flanders to represent the NCJS in their annual fixture. The team won, and Amardip scooped the top scorer prize.

3rd Sept – Godalming Chess Club Junior Open

Well done to Batuhan who won the Godalming Open U13 section with 5/5