Suffolk Chess

The British Chess Championships were held this year in Bournemouth, between 23 July and 6 August.   Several local players entered in various sections, with mixed success.

Top of the pile was former Woodbridge School pupil Justin Tan (pictured left), seeded 11th, finishing equal 3rd in the Championship behind the eventual winner, Michael Adams and the runner-up, David Howell, respectively the first and second seeds.   19-year old Justin achieved his second GM norm and should see a substantial rise in his Elo rating, currently at 2435.

Two Bury St Edmunds club members entered the Major Open.   John Peters came equal 4th on 6½/11, with a +70 rating performance.   Jon Collins scored 4½ points.

The seven-round Seniors Over 50 section was won by Manningtree's Andy Lewis, unbeaten on 6½ points.   Andy was top seed, but nevertheless his performance was exceptional.

Other scores were:

Seniors Over 65:    John Feavyour (Saxmundham & Bury St Edmunds)   3/7
Seniors Over 65 u150:    Vivian Woodward (Sudbury)   2½/5
Under 180:    John Peters   3½/5;   Jon Collins 3/5
Week 1 AM Open:    Rob Sanders (Sudbury)   2/5
Week 2 AM Open:    Jon Collins   3/5
Rapidplay Open:    John Peters and Jon Collins both scored 4½/11
Blitz:    Justin Tan   8/11 (5th=)
Under 9:    Rowan Kent (Woodbridge School)   3½/6
Under 8:    Rowan Kent   3/6

Rowan was the only Suffolk junior to participate, but at just seven years old, he has a bright future ahead of him.

Back in 1988, Tim Kiddell was one of Suffolk's most promising junior players.   After leaving school, he continued to play some chess.   But according to the grading database, he last played competitively in 2008.

Around that time, he started working at No.10 Downing Street for the then PM, Gordon Brown as his speechwriter.   He continued to work there for David Cameron and when he left office recently, Tim was awarded a CBE in the Prime Minister's resignation honours list.   Read all about it here.

This was Tim 28 years ago, in August 1988, aged eight, pictured in the East Anglian Daily Times: