U18 joint winners Max and Nina facing off in the last round
Blogger Huzaifa Baig
Players in competition in the Tournament Hall
Photos by Melinda Wilde of the 6th Brentwood U18 Championships »
The tournament was very well organised and the organisers worked very hard. All the children played with good sportsmanship. Even though I didn’t win a medal, I felt very proud of my performance and watching the award ceremony inspired me to play more chess so maybe one day I too can win a medal or a trophy.
Report by James Bourne (U11)
The Brentwood Junior Chess Championship was one of the biggest over the board tournaments in Essex for 2 years and was a captivating refresher in terms of competitive chess for those who have only started their journey in chess and those who have been playing for years. A large number of participants meant a wider skill range, meaning people of all abilities in chess could have enjoyable and challenging games in the tournament. My experience in the tournament was thrilling, as the environment of being surrounded by people who have the same passion as you is great. Also, the tournament is an amazing experience as much could be learned and improved on from the games played in the tournament.
Upon arrival at the tournament hall, you were greeted by the smiling and enthusiastic faces of the organisers of the event (many thanks to Robin Slade, Richard Pert, Michael Catabay, EJCA staff, those who monitored the results, and the suprise visit from Dave Hawkins, sorry if anyone was missed). The tournament itself had 6 rounds and all 6 of them were quite intense across all the sections and the results needed to score a spot on the podium was around 5/6 for all sections – quite a challenging competition which adds all to the enjoyment. The prizes were really well designed and prestigious, and prizegiving was quite ceremonial as those who recieved a prize were cheered on by the audience with an uproar of claps.
Also, the refreshments served at the tournament lived up to their name as ‘refreshing’ and helped me refuel for the upcoming rounds. With my personal score of 4/6 in the U18 Open I feel quite accomplished (but much can be improved on). I enjoyed the tournament to my heart’s content, I’m sure many others share mutual feelings.
Lastly, many congratulations to the winners of each section in the tournament, the competition was fierce and relentless, yet fun at the same time.
Report by Huzaifa Baig (U18 Open)