Awards

PLAYER OF THE YEAR | CLUB/SMALL CLUB OF THE YEAR | CONGRESS OF THE YEAR | BOOK OF THE YEAR | WEBSITE OF THE YEAR | MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR | GRAND PRIX | BCET

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS FOR SERVICES TO CHESS

2023 – Bob Jones; Rupert Jones; Alex McFarlane; Peter Purland; Kevin Staveley

Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECF-Awards-2023.pdf

2022 – Jimmy Adams; Richard Freeman; Colin Green; Ray Pomeroy; Mick Riding

Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ECFAwards2022.pdf

2021 – Joe Conlon, Andy Howie

Citations for the 2021 Awards are here

2020 – Graham Bromley, Ian George, Peter Hornsby, Harry Lamb, Nigel Towers, Alex Holowczak

Citations for the 2020 Awards are here

2019 – Vassos Georgiou, Robin Kneebone, George Spalding, John D. Wheeler, Mike Wiltshire

Vassos Georgiou
After 30 years of service, Vassos Georgiou is finally stepping down as President of Gerrards Cross Chess Club. Through his passion, dedication and leadership the club is now one of the largest in Buckinghamshire. Over the past 36 years Vassos has coached and inspired hundreds of children and adult players at the club and working with local schools.

Robin Kneebone
The current healthy state of Cornish chess is in no small regard the legacy of Robin Kneebone. His strong organising ability has served the Cornwall CA well for 30 years as County Secretary, President and Secretary for Junior Chess. He has captained a number of club teams, currently three at the Carrick Club and organised a variety of events from the Annual Congress to many junior events. He has also represented the county on the BCF/ECF council.

George Spalding
Until the end of last season George had been both the League and Minutes secretary of the Oxfordshire Chess Association for more than 15 years, responsible for the day-to-day running of local chess in the county. For part of this time he was also OCA Press Officer. He has also been the linchpin at his own club, Wantage, for more than 20 years, helping with its vibrant junior section.

John D. Wheeler
The current President of the NCA, John has taken an active part in Northumberland chess for 40 years. In that time he has been Chairman, County Secretary, Championship Organiser, Team Captain, NCCU and ECF delegate and most noticeably Bulletin editor. In 1987 he took over the Bulletin, which he produced regularly five times a year for 30 years. He continues to contribute to the magazine under its new editor. He has written several books on the history of Chess in Northumberland.

Mike Wiltshire
Mike is Secretary/Treasurer of Dartford Chess Club. He helps organise and run the Kent County teams and fixtures. He is a tremendous promoter of the game and has taught children at school level. He is a member of the Chess Collectors Society and has met and forged friendships with chess lovers throughout the world. Now in his early 70s he has been associated with chess for many years.

2018 – Phil Adams, Mike Denison, Stephen Greep, Howard Grist, Ken Neat

Phil Adams from the Three Cs Club in Oldham Phil himself a very strong player, and is the head coach at the Club where he has worked with the youngsters for nearly 40 years. The result? 3Cs is recognised as one of the strongest junior clubs in the country and has produced many outstanding players.

Mike Denison from Wakefield Mike, now approaching his 81st birthday, has been a stalwart of Yorkshire Chess for many years. For the past 50 years, ‘Mr D, the Chess Master’, as he is known to his pupils, has coached chess at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, one of West Yorkshire’s leading chess schools.

Stephen Greep in his capacity as General Secretary of the Hull & District Chess Association has done a huge amount over the years to popularise and develop chess in the Hull area. The 2020 British Championships at Hull were greatly enhanced by the support given by Stephen and his Hull & District Chess Association colleagues in organising a wide range of social events and facilitating the smooth running of the congress. Had it not been for the hard work and enthusiasm of Stephen and his team none of this would have happened; it is safe to say that these events formed one of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging social programmes ever seen at the British Championships. Stephen’s enthusiasm and business background have recently been recognised in his appointment as a trustee of the Chess Trust

Howard Grist from Southend Howard recently retired from the grading committee after two decades of crucial support for the grading system. Grading is a valued service to ECF members and has been delivered in an efficient manner for many years now. This is due to the largely-unrecognised services of many volunteers. Howard has been at the pinnacle of this team and fully deserves this award, not only for the long period of service but in particular for the high technical standard of the work he delivered.

Dr Ken Neat from Durham has, for more than 40 years, provided an invaluable service for English chess with his superb, professional work in translating and editing great works of chess literature from Russian into English. This includes several classics by Bronstein, Kasparov, Polugaevsky, Averbakh, Dvoretsky and Korchnoi, to name but a few. At the same time, he has served chess in the NE in many capacities for County Durham and the Durham City Club.

2017 – Bryan Bainbridge, Malcolm Pein, Steve Rumsby

Bryan Bainbridge from Bishop Auckland is the current President of the NCCU and has represented County Durham on the ECF council.  He has served the DCCA in almost every office at one time or another over the past 50 years – in particular, running the Durham County League and website for much of that time.

Malcolm Pein’s contribution to English Chess is well known.  He is CEO of Chess in Schools and Communities, has been largely involved in the organisation of the London Chess Classic and is currently the ECF’s Delegate to FIDE and International Director.  On top of all that he is also an IM, writes the ‘Daily Telegraph’ Chess Column, and edits Chess Magazine.

Steve Rumsby wins his award for much the same reasons as Bryan’s above.  He has been Chairman of the Banbury Chess Club for the past 30 years always playing a full part in the club and captaining one of its teams.  He is both league fixtures secretary and webmaster for the Leamington Chess League and currently captains the successful Oxfordshire U150 side.

2016 – R Victor Cross; Paul Durrant

R Victor Cross’s contribution to the development of junior chess has been immense. This is particularly true in the Devon area and the English Primary Schools Association. He has been one of the accompanying adults for junior trips abroad for many years. He was also a stalwart of the control team at the British Championships for some time.

Paul Durrant is Chairman of Surbiton Chess Club which is very active. He is often referred to as ‘Mr Surbiton’. He is also a member of The Thames Valley League Committee.

2015 – Ray Edwards, Julian Farrand, Keith Richardson, David Sedgwick, Carl Portman, Con Power

Ray, Julian and Keith are the trustees of the Permanent Invested Fund. They have done sterling work in this field over the years.

Ray has previously been International Director of the BCF. He was also an important figure in the development of the British Chess Magazine when the BCF bought the company. This enabled the federation to keep the magazine alive and to generate enough income to pay off the loan. Eventually it was sold at a profit.

Julian is best known as the first-ever English ombudsman (in insurance). He is the husband of law lord Baroness Hale. I (SR) first met him at about the age of 12 year old when playing for my school. He is about four years older. Both Ray and Julian are members of the Book of the Year Committee and have been reviewing books for this purpose for many years. Both are quite strong chess players, indeed playing for England in the same team in the European 60+ Team Championship in Vienna 11-20 July 2015. Keith was to have been a member of the same team, but his wife’s ill-health forced him to withdraw.

Keith is a correspondence chess grandmaster.

David Sedgwick started out as a player. He became interested in playing internationally and then branched out into being an arbiter. He is an ECF Senior Arbiter and an International Arbiter, our only Category A one who is currently active. When they started official FIDE lecturers for the FIDE Arbiter title, he and Stewart Reuben were one of only two instances of there being two lecturers from the same Federation. He is the ECF Manager of Arbiters (International). He has been BCF International Director and the ECF representative on the Sport and Recreation Alliance. He is currently a member of the Hastings International Congress Committee and the Friends of Chess Committee, and has a long record of service at club (Insurance Chess Club and Mushrooms Chess Club), County (Surrey CCA) and Union (SCCU) level.

Carl Portman is the ECF Manager of Prison Chess. Until he was appointed in 2014 there was little activity in this field. Chess clubs have now been established in three prisons. He has established a column in ‘Inside Time’ a national prison magazine. He has contacted all the governors in England. He is an ECF accredited coach. He is also a chess journalist writing for the Combined Services Chess Association. He also has a regular column, ‘Never Mind the Grandmasters…’ in Chess Magazine.

2014 Lara AL Barnes, Roger J Edwards, John A Philpott, Peter JB Wilson [citation]

2013 Michael Basman, Trevor Brugger, Ken Dickson

2012 Ihor Lewyk, Tony Paish [details]

2011 Mike Colebrook, Mike Truran, Kevin Thurlow, Syd Cassidy, Dave Thomas [details and citations]

2010 Julie Johnson

2009  Ian Pheby, Stephen Rigby, Nigel Dennis, David Anderton (Special Award)

2008 Cynthia Gurney, University Centre Hastings, Bruce Holland, Alex Niedzwiedzki, David Ingram Dickson

2007 Paul Littlewood, Robert Milner, Michael James O’Hara (posthumously), Ivor Smith, Maurice Thevenin, David Welch

2006 Dr Jill Barber, Zoe Ryle, Paul Habershon

2005 Paul R Bielby, Robert Howard Jones, John M Robinson, Stephen Robert Boniface (1951 – 2005)

2004 Mike Bolan, Joseph French, Paul Watson

2003 Richard Furness, Bernard Neil Beasley, Roland Smith, Dennis Hemsley

2002 Jack Beard, Peter Burnett, Chris Murray

2001 C Michael Bent, John Lawson

2000 Harold Sims, John Littlewood

1999 – John Leake, Albert Phillpott, The Times; 1998 – David Smith, EB (Dick) Chapman; 1997 – Keith Brown, Fred Manning, Roger Simpson; 1996 – Robert G Blake, Richard James, Stan Lovell; 1995 – George Goodwin, John Roycroft, Con Power; 1994 – Richard Haddrell, Les Roberts, Rodney James; 1993 – George Kendall, Alan J Douglas; 1992 – K Graham Humphreys, Roy Woodcock, Oakham School; 1991 – Bernard Cafferty, Eric E Croker, J Glynne Jones; 1990 – Mitchell Taylor, George M A Smith OBE, Alec Boswell; 1989 – David J Blackman, Richard E Boxall, Gerry F Walsh; 1988 – Peter C Gibbs, Peter E Morrish, Ronald O Powis; 1987 – Charles W Warburton, John J Lauder, The BBC; 1986 – David H Butler, Bill Turner, Robert G Wade; 1985 – Ken J Bloodworth, Owen Dixson, Tom W Sweby; 1984 – W Ritson Morry, Mr Ron & Mrs Rowena Bruce, George D Self; 1983 – John Beach, BP Reilly, Baruch H Wood


CONTRIBUTION to ACCESSIBLE CHESS

2021 – The UK Braille Chess Association
Citations for the 2021 Awards are here


PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 – no contest
2016 – Anum Sheikh
2015 – Jonathan Hawkins
2014 – Keith Arkell
2013 – Michael Adams
2012 – Gawain Jones
2011 – Luke McShane
2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 – David Howell
2006 – Jovanka Houska
2005 – Michael Adams
2004, 2003 – Luke McShane
2002, 2001, 2000 – Michael Adams

1999 – Michael Adams; 1998 – Michael Adams; 1997 – Luke McShane; 1996 – Michael Adams; 1995 – Michael Adams; 1994 – Michael Adams; 1993 – Michael Adams; 1992 – Nigel Short; 1991 – Nigel Short; 1990 – Michael Adams; 1989 – Jon Speelman; 1988 – Nigel Short; 1987 – Jon Speelman; 1986 – Nigel Short; 1985 – John Nunn; 1984 – Murray Chandler


CONTRIBUTION to ONLINE CHESS

2021 Oliver Brennan
Citations for the 2021 Awards are here

2020 – Aloysius Lip [Scorch Chess] and 4NCL Online & Junior 4NCL Online
Citations for the 2020 Awards are here


CONTRIBUTION to COMMUNITY CHESS

2023 Greenwich Peninsula Chess Club
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECF-Awards-2023.pdf

2022 John White and Christopher Skulte; Warwick University Chess Club
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ECFAwards2022.pdf


CONTRIBUTION to JUNIOR CHESS

2023 Chris Lewis
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECF-Awards-2023.pdf

2022 Dale James
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ECFAwards2022.pdf

2021 Uxbridge Junior Chess Club
Citations for the 2021 Awards are here


CONTRIBUTION to WOMEN’S CHESS

2023 Caroline Robson
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECF-Awards-2023.pdf

2022 Lorin D’Costa
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ECFAwards2022.pdf

2021 Lawrence Cooper
Citations for the 2021 Awards are here


CLUB / SMALL CLUB OF THE YEAR

Club of the Year 2023 – Leeds Junior Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2023 – Ringwood Chess Club
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECF-Awards-2023.pdf

Club of the Year 2022 – Gosforth Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2022 – Holmfirth Chess Club

Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ECFAwards2022.pdf

Club of the Year 2021Camberley Chess Club
Citations for the 2020 Awards are here

Club of the Year 2020 – Oxford University Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2020 – Bude Chess Club
Citations for the 2020 Awards are here

Club of the Year 2019 – Warwick Chess [citation]
Small Club of the Year 2019 – Seaton Chess Club, Devon [citation]

Club of the Year 2018 – Broadland Chess Club [citation]
Small Club of the Year 2018 – Manchester Social Chess Club

Club of the Year 2017 – Halesowen Chess Club
We had six nominations for this award though two were for purely junior clubs. All were given serious consideration, though it was suggested to the two junior clubs that they might do better to apply through their unions for a BCET Schools Award. All the nominations were of a very high standard, but a clear majority of the Committee came out in favour of Halesowen Chess Club.
Small Club of the Year 2017 – Maldon Chess Club, Essex
Three small clubs were nominated. The outstanding winners were Maldon Chess Club. The awards committee were impressed that such a small club (only 10 regular members) was not merely able to field three teams in the North Essex League but also able to win it!

Club of the Year 2016 – Hackney Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2016 – Ulverston Chess Club

Club of the Year 2015 – Chester Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2015 – Little Heath and Brookmans Park Chess Club

Club of the Year 2014 – 3Cs Chess Club [citation]
Small Club of the Year 2014 – Penrith Chess Club

Club of the Year 2013 – no award presented
Small Club of the Year 2013 – no award presented

Club of the Year 2012 – Witney Chess Club [details]
Small Club of the Year 2012 – Trowbridge Chess Club [details]

Club of the Year 2011 – Harrow Chess Club [details]
Small Club of the Year 2011 – Sedgemoor Chess Club [submission]

Club of the Year 2010 – Horsham Chess Club [citation]
Small Club of the Year 2010
– St. Helens Chess Club [citation]

Club of the Year 2009 – St Albans Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2009 – St Helens Chess Club

Club of the Year 2008 – Mushrooms Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2008 – Snodland Chess Club

Club of the Year 2007 – West Nottingham Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2007 – Snodland Chess Club

Club of the Year 2006 – 3C’s (Children’s Chess Club, Oldham)
Small Club of the Year 2006 – Salisbury Chess Club

Club of the Year 2005 – Heywood Chess Club

Club of the Year 2004 – Alwoodley Chess Club from Leeds and Norwich Junior Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2004 – Brown Jack Chess Club from Swindon

Club of the Year 2003 – Kenilworth Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2003 – Stapleford Chess Club

Club of the Year 2002 – Checkmate Junior Chess Club
Small Club of the Year 2002 – Royston Chess Club

Prior to 2002 (Club of the Year) 2001 – Wallasey Chess Club; 2000 – Cowley; 1999 – no award; 1998 – no award; 1997 – Coulsdon & Purley; 1996 – Guildford; 1995 – Hull; 1994 – Barbican and Wanstead & Woodford; 1993 – no award; 1992 – Basingstoke; 1991 – no award; 1990 – no award; 1989 – King’s Head; 1988 – Stowmarket; 1987 – Crowborough Albany; 1986 – Rose Forgrove; 1985 – Killingworth; 1984 – Grantham


CONGRESS OF THE YEAR

Congress of the Year 2023 – University of Warwick
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECF-Awards-2023.pdf

Congress of the Year 2022 – Durham
Citations – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ECFAwards2022.pdf

Congress of the Year 2021 – Cheney Rapidplay
Citations for the 2020 Awards are here

Congress of the Year 2020Hull 4NCL International Congress
Citations for the 2020 Awards are here

Congress of the Year 2019 – no nominations

Congress of the Year 2018 – Thanet Chess Congress [citation]

Congress of the Year 2017 – Calderdale Chess Congress
Only two congresses were nominated this year. The Calderdale Congress wins the award this time. The Organiser, Noel Boustred, had discovered a niche market for a different sort of congress. He noticed that in most of the big congresses the strong Open Sections with big prizes are financed by the entry fees for the Minor Sections. As well as Calderdale he runs annual tournaments at Whitby and Harrogate. These events, run on a shoestring, don’t have Open sections and big prizes, but are cheap, cheerful events for players with maximum grade of 170 and with the modest minor players mainly in mind. That he has been able to keep these congresses going for so many years shows that he is meeting a popular demand.

Congress of the Year 2016 – St Albans
This weekend congress attracts about 220 players each year. The venue is pleasant and in a good location. It is very friendly and has an excellent bookstall and analysis room

Congress of the Year 2015 – South Lakes Chess Congress
Approximately 180 people play in five sections, each with £500 prize money. There never seem to be any arguments. However, the crowning glory is the ballroom at the Cumbria Grand Hotel – there are glorious views from the playing area.

Congress of the Year 2014 – Heywood Chess Congress

Congress of the Year 2013 – no award presented

Congress of the Year 2012 – Bournemouth Grand Chess Congress
A new event for 2012 was the Bournemouth Grand Chess Congress held 20 -22 April. We were impressed by the number of entrants to a new Congress and to the facilities provided plus the level of administration involved which included a website with live updates. We also received several very positive unsolicited endorsements of the Congress and are pleased to make this award.

Congress of the Year 2011 – 2nd London Chess Classic
This year we have selected the 2nd London Chess Classic held in December 2010 for the award. Held at Olympia and the brainchild of Malcolm Pein, this event’s line up included some of the world’s best Grandmasters, as well as the World Champion, Viswanathan Anand. Probably the best event in Britain in 2010 – this was a well deserved award

Congress of the Year 2010 – e2e4
e2e4 has fast obtained a reputation as being the best tournaments in the country. Why? Well maybe it’s because in the last 12 months e2e4 chess has:- • had 49,949 website hits • had 654 players enter an e2e4 tournament, including 12 GM’s, 10 IM’s and 13 FM’s • submitted 3586 ‘half’ games of chess for grading • Paid out over £10,000 in prize money • helped 85 players get their first FIDE rating or part rating • facilitated three players to score IM norms But it’s more than that. e2e4 give amateur chess players professional standard playing conditions. Every game is played on a separate table, with a minimum of 5m² room for each game within the playing area (see attached photos for typical layout). And, uniquely for an English weekend event, players can stay onsite in a 3/4 star hotel for little more than the cost of a local B&B. We don’t expect anyone to take just our word for it. This is what some players have said to us when they’ve emailed us after one of our events in the last 12 months :-

Impeccably organised and run with attention to every detail, the whole circuit of ‘e2e4 Chess’ tournaments really are unsurpassed for both amateurs and professionals alike. Win or lose, I always come away from these events not only having enjoyed myself socially but also with the feeling that chess playing has been treated with the respect that it deserves. – GM Keith Arkell, 27 June 2010

Increasingly other congresses pale into insignificance when compared with the ones e2e4 organise. – SH, 26 February 2010

I just wanted to express my thanks and appreciation for all your hard work in organising and running such an enjoyable tournament at the weekend. I’m reluctant these days to spend what little free time I have freezing to death in draughty church halls that smell of mildew, so it was a great pleasure to be able to play chess in such comfortable surroundings. I had a great time and very much hope to take part in more of your events in the future. – NS, 21 September 2009

Just a short line to say how much I enjoyed the Uxbridge congress at the weekend. This was my first event for around 28 years and I am sure I will make every effort to enter another one of your events. – JM, 21 September 2009

Many thanks to you and the organisers for putting on such a well run event. It was my first congress and a truly great and memorable experience. The venue and facilities were superb. – AW, 21 September 2009

This was the first time I had played Uxbridge, but its the best weekend tournament I’ve played in. I’m going to play every congress you run from now on! – AS, 20 September 2009

Congress of the Year 2009 – no award presented

Congress of the Year 2008 – South Lakes Congress
The 12th South Lakes Chess Congress (SLC) took place at the Grand Hotel in Grange-over-Sands on the weekend of 6-8th June 2008. The congress is an annual event and the 9th time it has been held in the Ballroom at the Grand Hotel. 189 Chess players from all over the country played in the five round Swiss, making it the best attended event ever. 70 players attended in 1997 when the SLC was first held and its popularity has grown every single year. The setting of the Grand, in Grange, overlooking Morecambe Bay with acres of grounds and woodland, plus the fine summer weather are making it a Mecca for chess players and is growing in popularity, with many players bringing their families to enjoy the weekend. Players as far a field as Guernsey and the Orkneys attended this year. Given the demand, if players who had originally entered had not withdrawn (due to other commitments) we would have reached over 200 players


BOOK OF THE YEAR

Book of the Year 2023click here

Book of the Year 2022click here

Book of the Year 2021click here

Book of the Year 2020 – click here

Book of the Year 2019 – Game Changer by GM Matthew Sadler and WIM Natasha Regan – New in Chess paperback pp 415 £19.95

The two energetic authors complement each other very well (they won the BOY 2016 with Chess for Life) and in this new book have explored in detail the new software AlphaZero (AZ), which is making such an impact on the chess world. The origins of AZ are remarkable – the moves of chess were fed into a powerful computer which then played millions of games against itself in the process learning the intricacies of the game, and eventually it became stronger than any other player, human or computer in the world.

The wider implications of this development in the field of artificial intelligence are considered by Garry Kasparov and Demis Hassabis, the inspiration behind AZ. Can AZ’s playing and learning be used for other, wider applications? Hassabis certainly thinks so.

The authors had the opportunity to understand the chess approach of AZ and explore how it played in a series of games against Stockfish, one of the best human designed computer chess-playing programs. AZ won convincingly. Sadler looked at AZ’s games and found a unique style of play with many distinctive features, for example, piece activity, the initiative even at the cost of material and going after the enemy king, are just a few. Not unlike the young Tal perhaps, but more soundly based.

Chess players will find a splendid collection of games with many comparing AZ with players and games of the past. Very readable, there is nothing in the book that cannot be understood or enjoyed. The book is beautifully presented by New in Chess and is excellent value.

The ultimate accolade came from Carlsen who said that AZ had influenced his approach to chess. Game Changer may also influence yours.

— Ray Edwards, Julian Farrand, Sean Marsh, 1st October 2019

Book of the Year 2018 – Under the Surface by Jan Markos – Quality Chess pp285 Hardback £23.99

The author, GM Jan Markos, is a distinguished Slovakian academic working in the field of critical decision making and brings to his chess book the influence of his background. This is shown in the chapter titles of Part 1 – About the Laws of the Chess Board: Three Faces of a Piece; Hierarchy on the Board; Infection; Policemen of the Chess Board. Under the Surface is not a traditional chess text book, but rather a travelogue covering a wide variety of chess subjects, with insightful references and analogies to life away from the chess board. One example – the famous Mischel marshmallow experiment with children (read the book to find out what it was) is shown  to be applicable to chess playing!

Markos is also a GM, so the chess examples from his own and contemporary master play are serious and relevant to the narration. ‘The Secret Life of Rooks’ is an exemplary explanation of their characteristics and the best way to use them. Chapter 10 features ‘Anatoly Karpov’s Billiard Balls’, where Markos is stimulated to find a feature of bishop play not previously mentioned in text books.

Apart from chess positions and playing, other subjects are covered including ‘Quality and Style’ and ‘Searching for Beauty’, the latter discussing a survey he undertook on a Czech chess web site.

One of the most interesting sections is Part 6 ‘About Computers’. A chapter shows computer limitations, another shows how computers can create original strategies, a third the potentially misleading effects of computer-based statistics. An extremely stimulating chapter is titled ‘The Magician from Brno’, who turns out to be the world No.1 in the International Correspondence Chess Federation. And how does he win correspondence games when all players use powerful computers? By using human judgement and intuition in conjunction with his computers – an encouraging conclusion!

Quality Chess deserve recognition for persuading Markos to write ‘Under the Surface’, and producing the resulting book to a very high standard. All in all an original, fascinating and very worthy winner of the 2018 Book of the Year.

— Ray Edwards, Julian Farrand & Sean Marsh, 8th October 2018

Book of the Year 2017 – Timman’s Titans by Jan Timman – New in Chess pp 332 £23.95

The author, GM Jan Markos, is a distinguished Slovakian academic working in the field of critical decision making and brings to his chess book the influence of his background. This is shown in the chapter titles of Part 1 – About the Laws of the Chess Board: Three Faces of a Piece; Hierarchy on the Board; Infection; Policemen of the Chess Board. Under the Surface is not a traditional chess text book, but rather a travelogue covering a wide variety of chess subjects, with insightful references and analogies to life away from the chess board. One example – the famous Mischel marshmallow experiment with children (read the book to find out what it was) is shown  to be applicable to chess playing!

Markos is also a GM, so the chess examples from his own and contemporary master play are serious and relevant to the narration. ‘The Secret Life of Rooks’ is an exemplary explanation of their characteristics and the best way to use them. Chapter 10 features ‘Anatoly Karpov’s Billiard Balls’, where Markos is stimulated to find a feature of bishop play not previously mentioned in text books.

Apart from chess positions and playing, other subjects are covered including ‘Quality and Style’ and ‘Searching for Beauty’, the latter discussing a survey he undertook on a Czech chess web site.

One of the most interesting sections is Part 6 ‘About Computers’. A chapter shows computer limitations, another shows how computers can create original strategies, a third the potentially misleading effects of computer-based statistics. An extremely stimulating chapter is titled ‘The Magician from Brno’, who turns out to be the world No.1 in the International Correspondence Chess Federation. And how does he win correspondence games when all players use powerful computers? By using human judgement and intuition in conjunction with his computers – an encouraging conclusion!

Quality Chess deserve recognition for persuading Markos to write ‘Under the Surface’, and producing the resulting book to a very high standard. All in all an original, fascinating and very worthy winner of the 2018 Book of the Year.

— Ray Edwards, Julian Farrand & Sean Marsh, 8th October 2018

The judges unanimously agreed on a chess book which covers nearly every aspect of chess:  history, character, ambition, styles of play, technical aspects, a rare chess set, wives and even dreams!

Timman was a world-class player for over 30 years, contesting a FIDE World Title match with Karpov in 1993. He has also established an excellent reputation as a chess writer and composer of end game studies. Timman has been contemplating a book on the World Champions for some years.  He finally decided to write about the World Champions he had known personally from Euwe to Kasparov, (other than Alekhine). This span would enable him to write about a pleasant era “that would take him back to those romantic times when chess wasn’t yet dominated by the computer”.

The technical aspects of the style of each of the champions is examined in detail. Two examples:  First “Alekhine was able, like no other player, to play on both wings.”; secondly Timman emphasises that Smyslov’s attacking inclinations are a neglected feature of his style.  Timman played all the champions many times (other than Alekhine, Botvinnik and Fischer) and includes many games he played against the others, both wins and losses, plus interesting fragments from those games, all of which illustrate the champions’ play, as well as Timman’s. He played Karpov no less than 91! times. The selection shows how much effort was required to beat Karpov.

What lifts this book is Timman’s affectionate, intimate descriptions of the personalities of the world champions. The book must be read to obtain the full flavour of Timman’s writing. It is by no means all reverential.  Timman can  be sharp (Fischer’s later life, Kasparov’s chess politics); but also compassionate, despairing of Tal’s bohemian life style.

In summary, Timman’s Titans is the most informative, interesting and revealing book on the world champions covered, both as people and chess players. A disparate group of men whose only common characteristic was their chess genius (even that was not identical, they all played in different ways), matched only by their love of the game. Timman shows himself as a great player, only just short of world champion class, but equally in love with chess as the subjects of this book.

— Ray Edwards Julian Farrand Sean Marsh – 25th September 2017

Book of the Year 2016 – Chess for Life by Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan – Gambit

This year the judges had to make a choice from four books of high quality in the Short List, but each with widely different subject matter, which made the final choice difficult. The overall high standard is a tribute to the contemporary level of chess publishing. The winner this year is an original book on a subject with wider human interest than just chess playing – the evolution of an ability (chess playing) over a human life time.

The subtitle describes the book: “Understanding how chess skills develop and change with the passage of time.” The authors became interested in this subject when WIM Regan, who found it difficult to maintain her level of play alongside a busy professional life and family, asked GM Sadler how he had managed to maintain his high level of play after a ten year break from the game. They discovered that how chess players adapt their game over time is a rich and complex subject. Hence this book.

They interviewed a wide range of players of both sexes, from top professionals (Nunn, Speelman) to amateurs (Chapman, Lauterbach), though not always on a consistent basis. They also considered the careers of other players from Capablanca to Gaprindashvili. The outcome was a range of insights, experiences and lessons of great value to all chess players, particularly those coming back to the game after a gap and amateurs who love the game and wish to maintain a consistent level of play in the time they have available.

At times Sadler indulges in subjects which caught his interest, absorbing in themselves, but perhaps not strictly relevant to the theme of the book, for example Capablanca’s style; Arkell’s masterly rook and pawn endings (a mini textbook in itself). If world champions are to be included, then surely Lasker and Smyslov who played at a high level later in life would be a better choice than Capablanca who died relatively young. But there is much fascinating material directly related to the subject. Perhaps the most rewarding is the investigation which shows that an appropriate choice of openings is shown to be critical in maintaining playing strength over time.

The two authors have combined well. GM Sadler an established author, (he won the Book of the Year award in 2000), provided most of the chess analysis. Regan, an actuary by profession, provided the statistical analysis which underpins the book.

Sadler and Regan have between them written an important and original book which is a worthy winner from this year’s Short List of books of high quality.

— Ray Edwards, Julian Farrand, Sean Marsh – 7th October 2016

Book of the Year 2015 – Positional Decision Making in Chess by Boris Gelfand – Quality Chess

The judges this year had considerable difficulty in making their choice between three volumes. Liquidation on the Chess Board by Joel Benjamin, New in Chess, is a very entertaining book despite a technical title. The lively writing and application to practical chess playing made this an above average book. Gary Kasparov Part 111 : 1993- 2005 by Gary Kasparov, Everyman, is the last book of Kasparov’s best games and brings to an end a long sequence which raised the standards of chess writing (infused with Kasparov’s unique authority and insights into chess) to new levels. As books from Kasparov’s series have previously won the Book of the Year award, it seemed more appropriate to recognise Kasparov’s achievement with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Which brings us to the Book of the Year which is:

This book was written in a collaborative process by Gelfand, a world class player for the last 20 years, working with GM Jacob Aagaard, an award winning chess author. The idea was that Aagaard would “ask the right questions and obtain insights from Gelfand”. What was obvious to Gelfand “might not be apparent to many others”. The combination has worked very well. The result is a fascinating insight into how the chess mind of a great player works, in this volume, of positional games. Much of Gelfand’s approach is intuitive and instinctive rather than hard calculation, though there is some of that too. He relies on maintaining his position and preventing opponent’s counter play. To some extent the book’s title is misleading as the content is less about decisions in particular positions than the overall approach, which Gelfand first learned as a boy from the games of Akiba Rubinstein a legendary player in the first 30 years of the last century. The first chapter is titled “Playing in the style of Akiba Rubinstein”. Many of Rubinstein’s games are given and it is fascinating reading Gelfand’s contemporary comments on play at that time.

Gelfand comes over as modest but confident in his abilities, with tremendous ability, experience and knowledge. But despite all this, even he sometimes finds chess a difficult game, which gives comfort to us all.

Ray Edwards, Julian Farrand, Sean Marsh – 4th October 2015

Book of the Year 2014 – Mikhail Botvinnik The Life and Games of a World Chess Champion by Andy Soltis – McFarland £29.99

There are many chess biographies which concentrate on the games and chess personality of a player, but very few which focus on the player’s life and the historical circumstances in which he or she played. This year’s winner is a notable addition to this rare genre and features one of the most influential players of all time.

Andrew Soltis in his preface states his ambition in his book …

“Botvinnik was a mystery to many of his contemporaries. This book is an attempt to explain him in the context of today”.

Botvinnik’s achievements are too well known to be recounted here, perhaps best summed up by his later informal title of “The Patriach”(of Russian chess).

As Soltis points out Botvinnik lived and prospered in the most difficult circumstances imaginable. He survived the Russian civil war, collectivization and famine, the Terror and second world war (in which many of his friends and contacts were executed or killed), Stalin and the cold war, the malaise of the 1960s and 1970s and the collapse of communism and the Soviet Union. How did he achieve so much?

Soltis provides several reasons. First Botvinnik was an excellent politician (not a common characteristic amongst chess players). Soltis provides much detail on the intrigues which he survived and sometimes started. Botvinnik created much resentment and jealousy from some of his colleagues but he always won through in the end. Secondly Botvinnik’s huge public reputation arising from his victories in the late 1930s and 1940s culminating in winning the World Championship in 1948 always counted in his favour.

Self confident, tough, suspicious, uncompromising, dogmatic and not least incredibly hard working, Botvinnik often came over as a ruthless, self-obsessed loner. But Botvinnik had major interests outside chess, notably in the field of electrical engineering which he pursued with the same degree of determination as in chess to the extent of abandoning the game for several years. He was very happily married to Gayane Davidovna, a Kirov ballerina; he enjoyed the theatre and the arts – and football. Loyal to his friends, he was ready to use his influence to help colleagues in need.

Soltis rightly gives less attention to the games as they have been extensively analysed elsewhere not least by Botvinnik himself, which enables him to explore the many aspects – environment, opponents, contributions to chess theory – of his enigmatic subject.

Soltis has written a fascinating and readable biography of a very great chess player who was also a complex man of many contradictions.

– Ray Edwards Julian Farrand 1 September 2014

Book of the Year 2013

The winning book this year combines three subjects (autobiography, lessons and best games) into one volume which together tell the story of the early years of the strongest woman player in chess history.

Judit Polgar ‘How I beat Fischer’s record’ is the main title, but the cover also features ‘Judit Polgar Teaches Chess 1’ and this reflects how the book is constructed. The period covered is from Judit’s first chess lessons to the age of 15 years,4 months and 28 days when she broke Fischer’s record of the youngest ever grandmaster. Using her training notes from the early days to the grandmaster, the first 12 chapters cover her learning curve (chapter 1, Tricks; chapter 12, Attacking without Queens). She then moves onto Decisive Games; Memorable Games; and finally Amsterdam 1989 OHRA Tournament Diary, where she more than holds her own in a strong grandmaster tournament.

The examples are well chosen and written from Polgar’s experiences over the board. Her tactical and attacking abilities were apparent at an early age as well as her confidence and determination. But what stands out is the enthusiasm, enjoyment and youthful exuberance of the young teenage girl, which makes the book a joy to read.

Polgar’s upbringing was of course unusual with exceptional focus on chess with 2 elder sisters who both became grandmasters. The amount of chess work that she and her sisters went through at an early age was immense; but it seems to have been a happy childhood, with none of the difficulties one often sees with prodigies.

Lastly, a tribute should be paid to the publishers, Quality Chess. The hardback book is well laid out and beautifully produced. Numerous photographs of the Polgar family, places visited, chess players and people met on the way flesh out the story. At £19.95 for 383 pages the book is also good value.

All in all, this is an exceptional insight into the early years of one of the most remarkable personalities in the chess world today. The next two volumes of the trilogy are eagerly awaited.

– Ray Edwards | Julian Farrand | David Friedgood | 4th October 2013

Book of the Year 2012

The choice for 2012 is one of the most original chess books the judges have seen for a number of years. Move First Think Later by Willy Hendriks (published by New in Chess, £18.99) manages to be both serious and highly entertaining at the same time.

The subtitle gives an indication of Hendriks subject matter –“Sense and Nonsense in Improving your Chess”. The author is an IM and for 25 years a professional chess trainer. He graduated from university with a degree in Philosophy and is very well read in modern developments in neural research, learning theory and associated subjects. Hendriks believes these disciplines now have much to teach us about chess teaching and playing.

As a result he is interested in questions such as, for example, why are all chess players are not grandmasters? Is there a methodology for how strong moves can be found? Or, what is the role of planning? Above all Hendriks offers a substantive criticism of much of traditional chess training and literature, in particular statements such as “Against a wing attack, counter in the centre” which can be misleading generalisations. The judges are well aware that not all readers will readily accept that all his ideas are entirely valid, nor all his propositions sound, but considered that the arguments in the book will stimulate a lively debate on how chess is taught and played.

The book consists of 27 creative and thought provoking short essays on a wide variety of related chess subjects. Each chapter is illustrated by challenging chess exercise positions (certainly not of the routine White to play and win type) which serve to illuminate the text.

All the above describes the book, but does not give an adequate impression of its originality or especially of the stimulation which it provides the reader. Hendriks is also an entertaining writer with wit and a sense of humour, often against himself, which makes the book a pleasure to read.

All these qualities combine to make, Move First, Think Later a worthy Book of the Year 2012 winner.

– Ray Edwards, Julian Farrand, David Friedgood, 4th October 2012

Book of the Year 2011

The judges unanimously decided that John Nunn’s two volume work, ‘Nunn’s Chess Endings Volumes 1 and 2’ (Gambit, £17.99 each) was a worthy winner …

Follow this link to visit the London Chess Centre and buy this award-winning book. See for yourself what all the fuss is about … and if you do, the ECF receives a small commission to help further the cause of English chess!

The question may be asked whether another lengthy work on the endgame is required (670 pages in all). In fact the author asks this question himself. Nunn’s answer is that he is approaching endgames from a different angle than normal manuals. First of all he is focusing on endgames requiring precise analysis, rather than the strategic endgames of players such as Karpov and Smyslov. He concentrates exclusively on end games from practical play; in other words the real life situations that so often cause difficulties for the player over the board. As always with Nunn his exemplary use of the computer ensures that the analysis is faultless.

This is not inconsiderable, but of itself not sufficient to win the award. Where the book excels is the combination of analysis with excellent and clear narrative which enables the reader to understand the lessons from the well chosen examples. Here Nunn’s experience as a world class player and his established writing skills come into play. He is careful to illuminate the difference between computer analysis and the human approach over the board. As a result the instructional value is considerable. To take but one example only, Nunn gives interesting game positions where the maxim “the outside pawn always wins king and pawn endings”, would appear applicable. He then demonstrates the circumstances in which it may not apply.

Another major feature is the correction of previous published analysis. This shows what a difficult and complex game chess is and how even strong grandmasters can reach incorrect conclusions both over the board and in published analysis. Nunn has undertaken a considerable amount of work in writing these two volumes. The result is not just an excellent text book, but one which expands our knowledge of chess endgames.

We should point out that a basic knowledge of end game theory is necessary to get the best out of these two volumes. Lastly, though the books may appear somewhat daunting, there is much pleasure to be had in working through fascinating positions (some of which match endgame studies with their aesthetic appeal) with John Nunn as your erudite guide.

– R B Edwards, J Farrand, D Friedgood — 3rd October 2011

Book of the Year 2010

The judges this year were faced with a particularly difficult choice as all the four books listed had considerable, but differing merits. The choice finally fell on a two volume work which had taken the author no less than eight years to write.

The book is ‘Attacking Chess Volumes 1 and 2′ by Jacob Aagaard, published by Quality Chess at £23.99 each. These constitute a substantial work totalling 720 pages in all, excellently laid out and printed. The volumes are written in a lively manner, which keeps the reader entertained as well as interested.

The genesis of the book is found in the introduction to Volume 1. Aagaard felt that the role of intuition had been undervalued in chess writing. Good players not only calculate but also have a feeling for what might be possible in a given position, which can be described as intuition. Aagaard also felt that there was a shortage of good books on attacking play – by which he means attacking the King. There are many excellent titles on combinations, but Aagaard is looking for the conditions when an attack may be possible (King in the middle is an obvious example) and how that attack may be prepared and prosecuted. In other words Aagaard is trying to develop the reader’s attacking intuition.

Volume 2 is, in the words of the author, “what to do when the attack is up and running”. Whilst doing this, Aagaard introduces new concepts and ideas into the text. To help in this process he gives preview diagrams of the positions to be discussed, which the reader is invited to consider before reading on, a valuable learning tool.

The author has obtained the games and positions for both volumes from a wide range of contemporary sources, many of which were new to the judges. It is also clear that throughout Aagaard has provided fresh commentary and analysis. The reader can simply enjoy the many fascinating positions or study in depth, but either way there are many hours of pleasure to be found in these two books.

Aagaard has written a significant and original treatise on the fine art of attacking play and is a worthy winner of the Book of the Year 2010.

– R B Edwards J Farrand D Friedgood – 27th September 2010

Book of the Year 2009 Excellent though the other books on the shortlist were, the judges had no difficulty in selecting the winner this year …

Kasparov vs Karpov 1975-85 Garry Kasparov (Everyman) pp424 £30 This volume is the second in the series Kasparov is writing on the development of chess since the 1970s. The first, Revolution in the 70s (Everyman) concentrated on developments in opening theory during that time. The second and third volumes will concentrate on Kasparov’s 5(!) epic matches with Karpov for the world title. The volume under consideration covers the first two, the first of which involved no fewer than 48 games and was unfinished, the second a mere 24,which finally established Kasparov as world champion. Kasparov has written earlier in the 1980s about some of these matches. But here, he writes in the preface “I now see many situations more deeply, through the prism of my life experience…….My commentaries have become more frank, and far more accurate. But the evaluation of individual moves will take into account the psychology of the struggle!” All this is reflected in the book, plus lengthy descriptions of the background to the matches and in particular Kasparov’s views of the controversial first match termination. The book can be read on several levels – as a dramatic story, or as providing insights into opening theory, or as great games enhanced by deep analytical annotations. Kasparov succeeds triumphantly in illuminating every aspect of this historic struggle. He is establishing as formidable a reputation as an author, as he did as a player. Finally, Everyman have produced the book to the same high standards they have used throughout the series

– R B Edwards, J Farrand, D Friedgood – 9th October 2009

Book of the Year 2008

The judges this year had no difficulty choosing a book which gives a remarkable inside view of match play chess at the highest level … From London to Elista Evgeny Bareev and Ilya Levitov New in Chess pp398 £21.95! This volume, which is in three parts, covers in sequence the three world title matches Kramnik has played. The first part “Overthrow of a Colossus” was his defeat of Kasparov in London 2000; the second “Photo finish in Brissago” was the 2004 drawn match against Leko where Kramnik held onto his title by winning the last game. Lastly, “Big Brother in Elista” refers to the controversy- ridden match with Topalov in 2006 which Kramnik won on the tie break. Grandmaster Bareev was one of Kramnik’s seconds for the first two matches and a closely involved spectator in the match with Topalov. Levitov is a journalist and an enthusiastic amateur chess player. There are also contributions from Smyslov, and two of Kramnik’s other seconds Lautier and Svidler. The basis of the book is a dialogue between Levitov and Bareev. Levitov, a spectator and outsider to the professional chess world, seeks to understand the complex inner workings of world championship chess matches. Bareev as the professional insider explains what is going on. Bareev also annotates all the games in depth concentrating on the critical moments of play in the openings and the interface between the contestants. Well written and translated the quality of the book resides in the open and frank way Bareev answers the questions. Amongst the many subjects discussed (and we can only list a few here) are stress, opening preparation, team working, relations with Kramnik, the opponents, fatigue and exhaustion of players and seconds. But above all the narrative captures very well the psychological issues behind the drama of the matches. When will Kasparov’s fight back take place? How to keep an ailing Kramnik going when behind in his match with Leko? And last but not least can Kramnik keep his composure after being defaulted a game against Topalov? London to Elista gives a unique insight into world championship chess. Without doubt this is one of the most original and interesting books to have won the Book of the Year award

– Ray Edwards | Julian Farrand | David Friedgood 1st October 2008

Previous BOTY winners 2002 Fundamental Chess Endings by Karsten Muller and Frank Lamprecht Gambit £19.99; 2003 My Great Predecessors Part 1 Garry Kasparov Everyman £25.00; 2004 Pal Benko My Life, Games and Compositions GM Pal Benko and IM Jeremy Silman Siles Press £31.50; 2005 My Great Predecessors Part 4 Garry Kasparov Everyman £25.00; 2006 Van Perlo’s Endgame Tactics New in Chess £18.95; 2007 San Luis 2005 Alik Gershon and Igor Nor Quality Chess £19.99


WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

2019 – Battersea Chess Club

2018 – Broadstairs Chess Club

2017 – Downend & Fishponds Chess Club, Bristol
The Downend and Fishponds Chess Club (D&F) website has existed in its current format for four years, the new layout having been devised by Michael Meadows, when he moved to the club from Bristol University.  A previous website had existed from around 2005 to 2008 but had lapsed, although its interesting content can still be accessed via a link. The website aims to be a comprehensive but user-friendly source of information and comment on all aspects of D&F and related activity.  In addition to details of contacts and links to other websites, the main features are – news, team results, player performance, games, local events, junior activities, 4NCL, photo gallery, lists of club and player achievements, club history since its formation in 1949 While the website strives to be accurate and up to date, it also has a great sense of fun to celebrate the game and the club’s successes (and failures). See the winning website at — http://www.downendchess.com

2016 – South Hams of Devon
This has a great deal of accessible information on it. Particularly pleasing is the facilities for members to enter their games on the site – www.southhamschessclub.com

2015 – Yorkshire Chesswww.yorkshirechess.org
It provides details accounts of all local chess, but unusually it also provides material that is of interest outside the UK. e.g. The Fantasy Chess Olympiad. It has a growing chess forum and a number of magazine type articles are included.

2014 – Chess Devon – http://www.chessdevon.co.uk/

2013 no award presented

2012 Once again this was a very popular category and the standard was again high. We selected the St Albans Chess Club website at http://www.stalbanschessclub.org.uk/ – the webmaster is Phil McConnell

2011 Once again we received several nominations and we were impressed with the high standard of the entries. The Award Committee were agreed that the award should go to the Witney Chess Club site http://www.witneychess.co.uk/ – the webmaster is Steve Connor and he has agreed that the award should be made to the Club

2010 Once again we received several nominations and all of a high standard. The standard and quality of the websites improves each year making the committees job in selecting one a difficult one as we do not wish to disappoint the other excellent websites that make our shortlist. The one that impressed us this year is http://www.kingstonchess.org.uk/, the website of Kingston Chess Club. It was the general feel of the website providing information as well as comment and news in an entertaining way. The webmaster is John Foley

2009 The award goes north this year to the hardworking Anthony Ibbotson and his simple and straightforward website at http://www.leedschessclub.org – nice one, Anthony!

2008 This award again attracted considerable interest and the standard of the websites improves each year. This year we chose www.chessdevon.co.uk, the Chess Devon website. The webmaster is Bill Frost

2007 Once again this award attracted considerable interest and we received nominations of some excellent websites. The quality of all the websites was good making the Awards Committees job a difficult one in picking a winner. Our selection for 2007 is http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com (edited by Tom Chivers) due to its unique features and good links

2006 Once again this attracted a lot of interest. The standard has improved and this made our decision difficult but we selected www.penrithchess.org.uk, partly due to its overall coverage but also down to its excellent links page

2005 Once again a very popular award category with several nominations. The committee selected the 4NCL website, www.4ncl.co.uk, whose webmaster is Peter Sowray. The site has wealth of information regarding the 4NCL but with much more for those just browsing

2004 Again we had a large number of entries for this award. The judges were impressed with several, including last year’s winner, essexchess.org.uk, but selected www.clevelandchess.co.uk. The webmasters are Steve Henderson and Dave Richards

2003 The winner of the Website of the Year award for 2003 (and the first winner of this new award) is essexchess.org.uk – congratulations to Ian Hunnable, the site’s webmaster


MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

2019 – Northumberland Chess Bulletin
The Northumberland Chess Bulletin was nominated this year. It has 100 regular subscribers plus casual sales. Sufficient copies of recent issues were received from new editor to send some to all members of the Awards Committee and produced such comments as ‘a very good magazine’, ‘impressive’ and ‘I enjoyed reading it’. We recommend that it receive the award.
2018 – no contest
2017 – The Gazette, the magazine of the Braille Chess Association

This award was reinstated this year to accommodate a request that we give the award to the Braille Chess Association Gazette. The magazine, a quarterly, for members of the BCA, is available in normal print, large print, Braille, as an email attachment and in audio. We are pleased to make this award.
2016 … discontinued
2015 – British Chess Magazine – the longest-running chess magazine, now edited by James Pratt
2014 – Chess Magazine 2010/11/12/13 – no nominations were received for these years
2009 – Once again the estimable and consistent En Passant, the magazine for Norfolk County Chess Association, has won the award. Congratulations in no short order to the editor, John Charman
2008 – We again had some excellent submissions and selected Correspondence Chess, the magazine of the British Correspondence Chess Association. The editor is Neil Limbert
2007 – From some excellent submissions we selected En Passant, the magazine for Norfolk County Chess Association. The editor is John Charman and he has a dedicated backroom team of Gloria, his wife, and SIM Mike Read. This is the second year that En Passant has won this award
2006 – Out of four very good publications we selected The Problemist, the magazine of the British Chess Problem Society. The editor of The Problemist is John Rice
2005 – Another popular category and the award goes to the Northumberland Chess Association Bulletin, which is edited by John Wheeler. Whilst the magazine covers chess within the Northumberland area, it does so in an illuminating style with commentary, games and discussion
2004 – In this the second year of this award we had an increased entry. The judges were impressed with the variety of material in the magazine and with the quality of the desk top publishing. The winner of the award is En Passant, the magazine for Norfolk County Chess Association and the editor is John Charman. Of the other magazines the Judges commended The Middle Game, the magazine of MCCU
2003 – The award was given to The Chequered Board, the magazine of Cowley Chess Club. The editor is Ray Starkie


ECF / BCF GRAND PRIX

2005/2006 – The winners of the 2005/6 Grand Prix are as follows …

Grand Prix Winner – Andrew Greet £2000
2nd – Mark Hebden £800
3rd – Danny Gormally £400
Female Prix – Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant £200
Senior Prix – Richard Desmedt £200
Junior Prix – Ankush Khandelwal £200
Disabled Prix – Jack Rudd £200
Under 175 Prix – Donny Muter £200
Under 150 Prix – Russell Goodfellow £200
Under 125 Prix – Colin Eckloff £200
Under 100 Prix – Michael Barker £200

The following players receive £50 discount in any event in the 2006 British Championship Sheila Dines, Akash Jain, Helge Hjort, Dean Hartley, Malcolm Armstrong, Robert Clegg, David Curtis and Ian Strickland. The final tables incorporates results from the Smith and Williamson British Championships, the South Wales International, the National Junior Squad Young Masters plus weekend events in Wales and Chester. Despite strong late showings from both Mark Hebden and Danny Gormally, Andrew Greet could not be overhauled in the Grand Prix. In the Female Prix both Selina Khoo and Dinah Norman reached maximum points but it was Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant whose outstanding performance in the Smith and Williamson British Championships enabled her to finish a clear first. In the Junior Prix, a host of players reached the maximum score mark following the Junior events in the Smith and Williamson British Championships – however Ankush Khandelwal increased his total with an outstanding first place in the Young Masters Tournament and thus maintained his lead over his rivals. In the Disabled Prix, Jack Rudd overhauled Dean Hartley at the top by increasing his %score at the South Wales International. As suggested previously although the minor places changed there were no late challenges to the winners of any of the Graded Prix sections. Finally to the Senior Prix where both Harry Lamb and Ray Gamble reached the maximum courtesy of fine results at Chester but they were still well behind runaway winner Richard Desmedt

2004/2005 – The final tables are now, at last, confirmed. The delay was due firstly to domestic reasons and secondly to chasing up four events. This in practice elevated Mark Hebden to second place behind long time leader Andrew Greet in the Grand Prix but had little or no effect elsewhere. The winners are as follows –
Grand Prix – Andrew Greet
Female Prix – Sheila Dines
Senior Prix – Barry Sandercock
Junior Prix – Sheila Dines
Disabled Prix – Jack Rudd
Under 175 Prix – Michael Kobylka
Under 150 Prix – Jinwoo Song
Under 125 Prix – Phil Bull
Under 100 Prix – John Constable

2004 – Grandmaster Mark Hebden of Leicester won 1st prize of £2,000 in the 2004 British Chess Federation Grand Prix. This is the 5th time that Mark has won the Grand Prix- his last victory came in 2000. Mark scored a total of 183 points out of a maximum of 200. He wins the £2000 first prize. Jonathan Rowson who won both the Scottish and British Championships was second and won £800 with International Master Colin Crouch in 3rd place. Two of England’s most promising juniors confirmed their positions with wins at the Smith & Williamson British Championships at Scarborough. Ankush Khandelwal (Nottingham) won the Junior Prix after he scored 7/7 in the British Under 13 Championship whilst Sheila Dines (Croydon) became the Female Prix winner after her victory in the British Under 11 Championship. The new Graded Prix sections were shared between London and Yorkshire. Capital city players Brendan O’Gorman and Jinwoo Song won the Under 175 and Under 150 sections respectively whilst Richards Desmedt of Wombwell (Sheffield) and Steve Webster (York) were the winners of the Under 125 and Under 100 sections. Dean Hartley of Chesterfield won the Disabled Prix for a 2nd successive year whilst Clive Pemberton of Birmingham became Senior Grand Prix Champion. All the above players won £200 each

2002/2003 – PETER WELLS WINS THE 2003 BCF GRAND PRIX December 17 – Peter Wells has won the BCF Grand Prix and its £5,000 top award after a great finishing spurt. The Abingdon and former Portsmouth GM needed maximums on the final two weekends at the Hertfordshire and London Opens. He scored 4.5/5 at both, and got half point bonuses at each because he met strong 210+ fields. It proved just enough to overhaul the longtime leader IM Danny Gormally by 0.14 of a Grand Prix point. Two months before the end, Wells looked out of it as he had no maximums while his rivals all had several. But then he won the British Rapidplay, narrowly missed a maximum at Scarborough and made his remarkable sprint, defeating Grand Prix rival GM Mark Hebden in the final round in London

2001/2002 – ARKELL WINS THIRD GRAND PRIX GM Keith Arkell has won the £5,000 Terence Chapman Group Grand Prix, the year-long UK congress league in which some 10,000 chessplayers take part. GM Mark Hebden was runner-up and IM Danny Gormally third. Arkell took a clear lead in the first half of the year, but Hebden fought back with maximum points at Leek and Newcastle. The decider came in the British Rapidplay at Bradford where Arkell edged forward again, and Hebden’s subsequent victory at Nuneaton could not bridge the gap. Arkell’s previous wins were in 1988 and 1996, and he has been runner-up on numerous occasions. His experience of the congress circuit coupled with regular internet blitz games proved decisive. The all-time Grand Prix list is now Hebden 5 wins, Adams and Miles 4, Arkell and Hodgson 3, Nunn, Plaskett and Rumens 2

2000/2001 – HODGSON WINS THIRD GRAND PRIX GM Julian Hodgson has won the £5,000 Terence Chapman Group Grand Prix, the year-long UK congress league in which some 10,000 chessplayers take part. GM Keith Arkell was runner-up and IM Danny Gormally third. Hodgson and Arkell battled right through the year in a tight contest where both won tournaments all over Britain, but Hodgson gained the advantage in August with a strong show in the Smith & Williamson British Championship followed by 100% scores in opens at Thanet and Hereford. Arkell fought back at Newcastle where he beat his rival in scoring 5/5, but the Worcester GM needed to win all six games in the final Grand Prix event, the London Open, in mid-December. His hopes ended when he conceded a round two draw to 193-graded Mark Lyell (who next round drew with 109-graded Selina Khoo). Hodgson’s previous Grand Prix wins were in 1990 and 1999 and he was runner-up last year. His 1 d4 and 2 Bg5 Tromp Opening has proved a formidable weapon on the weekend circuit, comparable with the Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian which was so effective for Dave Rumens and Mark Hebden in the 1970s and 1980s. The all-time Grand Prix list is now Hebden 5 wins, Adams and Miles 4, Hodgson 3, Arkell, Nunn, Plaskett and Rumens 2


BRITISH CHESS EDUCATIONAL TRUST

With funds provided by the generosity of the late Sir George Thomas (now administered by the British Chess Educational Trust) the English Chess Federation annually awards shields to schools, and junior chess clubs, which have shown outstanding achievements or enthusiasm in chess. Commencing 1982 inscribed chess boards have been substituted for shields. Recommendations for awards should be forwarded (via the appropriate Union if in England, or via the national organisations for Scotland or Wales) to: John Wickham, 55 Shakespeare Way, Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6SL Email: j.r.wickham@btinternet.com by 31st March

Citations
2012 | 2013 | 2014 – 1 | 2 | 3 | 2015 | 2015 II | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 – 1 | 2
2021 – 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2022 – 1 | 2 | 2023

The following schools hold shields or boards (the latest recipients are shown in bold type)

School / Club Year School / Club Year
Manchester Girls 1911 Wellesley Park Primary School Wellington 1996
Manchester Grammar 1911 Temple Sutton Primary School 1997
London Secondary School League 1913 Hampton School Middlesex 1998
Fettes College Edinburgh 1914 Godalming 1999
Rugby 1914 Immanuel & St. Andrew CE Primary 1999
St. Alban’s 1915 Liverpool College 1999
Leeds Grammar 1916 Maidstone Boys Grammar School 1999
Wyggeston Grammar 1917 Scotby School Cumbria 1999
University College School London 1918 Uppingham School Rutland 1999
Altrincham Grammar 1921 Whale Hill Primary School Cleveland 1999
Malvern College 1922 Red Rose Primary Durham 2000
Cheltenham College (Special) 1923 Northfold County Primary Lancashire 2001
Westminster London 1923 Dawpool Primary Merseyside 2002
Shawlands Academy 1924 Magdalen College 2002
Cardiff High 1925 Leedon Lower School Bedfordshire 2003
Taunton’s Southampton  1926 NJCA Northumberland 2003
Queen Elizabeth Grammar Blackburn 1927 Alcuin School Leeds 2004
Worcester College for the Blind 1928 Leedon Lower School Bedfordshire 2004
Chatham House Ramsgate (Special) 1929 Monmouth School 2004
Christ’s Hospital Horsham 1932 Woodbridge School  Suffolk 2004
Birkenhead Institute 1933 Beaver Road Primary School 2005
King Edward’s High Birmingham 1934 Grappenhall Junior Chess Club 2005
City of London 1935 Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School 2005
Reading 1936 Exeter Junior School 2006
Darlington Grammar 1937 Millfield School 2006
Wednesbury High 1938 Ormesby School 2006
Whitgift Croydon 1946 Belah Primary School 2007
St. Illtyd’s College Cardiff 1948 Lawn Primary School 2007
Varndean Brighton 1948 Norwich High School for Girls 2007
William Ellis London 1948 Norwich School 2007
Wolverhampton Grammar 1948 Southend High School for Boys 2007
Worcester Royal Grammar 1948 Knights United Club Lancashire 2008
Bolton Grammar 1949 Queen Elizabeth’s Barnet 2008
Coopers Co’s Bow E3 1949 Hamilton School High Wycombe 2009
Salop Junior C.A. 1949 Ladymount Primary School 2009
Wellington 1949 Homefield School 2010
Acklam Hall Grammar 1950 St. Teresa’s RC Primary School 2010
Birmingham & District Junior League 1950 Wilson’s School 2011
Oxfordshire Junior Chess League 1950 Audley Junior School 2012
Tiffins Kingston 1950 Broadclyst Community Primary School 2012
Luton Grammar 1951 Cambridge Junior Chess & Go Club 2012
County Intermed Port Talbot 1951 Sussex Junior Chess 2012
East Moor Leeds 1951 Barnet Knights 2013
Leicestershire Junior Chess League 1951 Bury Knights Junior Chess Club 2013
Gosforth Grammar 1952 Ravenscroft Primary School 2013
Queen Elizabeth’s Barnet 1952 St. Pauls Church in Wales Primary School 2013
Truro 1953 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 2013
Calday Grange Grammar 1954 Barham Primary 2014
Coleridge Boys Cambridge 1954 City of Peterborough Academy Special School 2014
Ellis School Leicester 1954 Newcastle Preparatory School Jesmond 2014
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School 1954 St Edwards Church of England Academy 2014
King Edward VI Southampton 1955 Uckfield Community Technical College 2014
King William’s College Isle of Man 1955 Witney Chess Club Junior Section 2014
Staffordshire CCA (Junior Section) 1955 Deptford Park Primary School 2015
Heversham 1956 Emersons Green Primary School 2015
Anfield Junior Boys Liverpool 1957 King’s School Grantham 2015
Bassaleg Grammar 1957 Marion Richardson Primary School 2015
Kingston Grammar 1957 Radstock Primary School 2015
Lincoln City 1957 The East Mitcham Schools Cluster 2016
Bede College Grammar Sunderland 1958 Heathside Preparatory School 2016
Pontypridd Grammar 1958 John Clare School Helpston 2016
Challney Boys’ Luton 1959 St. John’s First School Frome 2016
Lockleaze County 1959 St. Michaels CE Combined School 2016
Mexborough Grammar 1959 Sheringham Primary School 2016
Minet Junior Mixed Hayes 1960 Crownfield Primary School 2017
Royal Grammar Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1960 Merchant Taylor’s Senior Girls School Crosby 2017
St. Boniface’s College Plymouth 1960 The Royal Latin School 2017
Bemrose Grammar Derby 1962 Forest Hall Junior Chess Club 2018
Newport Grammar 1962 Goldstone Primary School Hove 2018
Nottingham High 1962 King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford 2018
Dale Boys’ Leicester 1963 Twickenham Preparatory School 2018
St. John’s College Southsea 1963 Ackworth School Pontefract 2019
Weston-super-Mare Grammar 1963 Bristol Grammar 2019
Colf’s Grammar London 1964 Coventry Chess Academy 2019
Magdalen College 1964 East Sheen Primary School 2019
Hove County Grammar 1965 St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Oxford 2019
Kendal 1965 Winslow CE Combined School 2019
Bristol & District Junior C.A. 1966 Kings College Wimbledon Junior School 2020
Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar 1966 Long Marton Community School 2020
Dulwich College 1966 Hampton Hill Junior School 2020
Musters Road County Secondary 1966 Laxton Junior School 2020
Plymouth College 1966 Oundle School 2020
Cowbridge Grammar 1967 Woodbridge School 2020
Norwich & Norfolk Schools Chess Association 1967 Newton Longville C of E Primary School 2020
Itchen College 1968 Hallfield School Edgbaston 2020
Tyldesley Lancs 1968 Stroud High School 2021
Croesyceilog Grammar 1969 Petts Wood & Orpington Chess Club 2021
Huddersfield New College 1972 Watford Junior Chess Club 2021
St. Joseph’s RC Comprehensive Swindon 1972 Handsworth Primary School London 2021
Bolton 1973 Bourne Grammar School 2022
Bristol Grammar 1973 RGS Guildford 2022
Ilford County High 1973    
Glyn Grammar Ewell 1974 Aldro Preparatory School Not known
St. Mary’s College Middlesborough 1974 Austin Friars Cumbria Not known
Kitwood Girls Boston 1975 St. James’s R.C. School Salford Not known
Liverpool Blue Coat 1975    
Royal Grammar High Wycombe 1975 3Cs Chess Club 2023
Southern Grammar Portsmouth 1975 Bishop Douglass School 2023
King’s School Chester 1976 Westminster Under School 2023
Hylton Red House Sunderland 1977 Lenzie Chess Academy 2023
Sacred Heart Primary Birmingham 1977 St Mary’s Catholic School 2023
Bedfordshire Middle Schools Chess League 1978 Warwick Junior School 2023
Wenlock Primary Manchester 1978 Charlton Junior Chess Club 2023
Chatsworth Junior Mixed Liverpool 1979 North Liverpool Academy 2023
De La Salle College Ashton-under-Lyne 1979    
George Farmer Holbeach 1979    
Newbury Park Primary 1979    
St. Paul’s 1979    
Coloma Convent Girls’ Croydon 1980    
Prior Pursglove College Guisborough 1980    
John Ball Primary London 1981    
Netherton County Primary Wakefield 1981    
Great Sankey County Primary 1982    
Olveston Primary Bristol 1982    
St. Olave’s Orpington 1982    
Westergate Chichester 1982    
Barnard Grove Grammar Hartlepool 1983    
King Charles Junior Falmouth 1983    
Royal Grammar Guildford 1983    
St. Michaels R.C. Secondary Stevenage 1983    
Adamsrill Junior Sydenham 1984    
Carr Hill Primary Gateshead 1984    
Bishop Vaughan School Morriston Swansea 1985    
Paston School North Walsham 1985    
Yarlside County Primary School Barrow-in-Furness 1985    
Bedford Modern School 1986    
Rooksbury Park Girls Primary School 1986    
King’s School Peterborough 1987    
Marlwood School Bristol 1987    
Ipswich Primary Schools Chess League 1988    
Richmond Junior Chess League 1988    
Wey Valley Junior Chess League 1988    
King David Junior School Manchester 1990    
Marston Middle School Oxfordshire 1990    
Truro 1990    
Booker Avenue Primary School Liverpool 1991    
Glyncoed Primary School Cardiff 1991    
Greatham Primary School Cleveland 1991    
Kent Primary Chess Association 1991    
Oxford High School For Girls 1991    
Torquay Boys’ Grammar School 1992    
Monmouth School 1993    
Michael Sobell Sinai School Harrow 1993    
Washington School Tyne & Wear 1993    
Whyteleafe School Surrey 1993    
Exmouth & District Primary Schools Chess League 1994    
Cockington Primary School Devon 1995    
Southridge First Northumbria 1995    
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Yorkshire 1996