Matching the number of squares on the chess board, a fitting 64 junior chess players – 13 from our Bournemouth junior chess club (over 20% of entrants) – from across Dorset turned out on Sunday 26th February to play in the Dorset Junior Chess Championships. It had been 3 years since the last Dorset Junior Chess Championships in 2020. Some juniors had moved on from chess and some were playing again, a little taller than before. Plus, a new group of youngsters had also arrived on the scene.
Players were divided into two sections by age groups, with the U8 to U11 players in the one section and U12 to U18 in the other. Across each of the age groups there was a wide range of experience and abilities, with potential champions from year 7 all the way through to year 12. All played 7 rounds with a 20:20 minute time control, although several were finished before their time was up.
Just look at those winners, – Rafan, Leo, Zander and Nathaniel – with Harry, Nicholas, Joey, Marcel, Finn, Shourya, Woody, Fabrizio and Yash all close behind, all members of our Saturday Chess Club, we must be doing something right. Congratulations to all you guys. Ellis Fretwell is a member of the Poole Chess Club – worth a mention!
