Suffolk Chess

'The Mating Game' by Jovanka Houska & James Essinger - A new romance novel from the British Women's Chess Champion.

Meet Ivana (‘call me Vanny’) Jones, a sexy, beautiful, warm-hearted professional chess-player.   She has a problem: she’s only attracted to guys who can beat her… so what’s she to do when a chess amateur, the Russian billionaire Boris Bogolyubov, proposes marriage?

Not only that, but as Vanny tries to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a chess grandmaster, she develops a crush on Norwegian sex-god Sven while also falling for a stunning and adoring Frenchwoman.   Meanwhile, Vanny’s hoping a revolutionary new drug treatment will save her best friend Charlotte’s life.

Set in London, Monaco, Budapest, Helsinki, Odessa, New York… and Leicester, this sparkily written, passionate, emotional and entertaining novel will rock your boat, even if you’ve never shouted ‘Checkmate!’

About the Authors

Jovanka Houska is the current British Women’s Chess Champion, an international chess master and one of the world’s leading women chess-players.   She has won many international tournaments and is a prolific author of books about chess.   She also loves travelling to remote islands, yoga, gardening, and enjoys many of the things Vanny likes.

James Essinger is a club-strength chess-player and a writer.   Ada’s Algorithm, his biography of computer pioneer Ada Lovelace, has been published in the UK and the US and in a Spanish edition, and is to be filmed.   He’s never lost at chess to Jovanka, but only because he’s too scared to play her.

The book can be pre-ordered here, at a cost of £14.99.

Three Suffolk-based players travelled to Surrey this weekend for the e2e4 Gatwick International.   Unfortunately, none of them fared particularly well!

Alan Merry and Adam Taylor played in the top section, where entrants were competing for GM and IM norms.   Alan scored 4 and Adam 2 in this nine-round event.   The 20-strong field included six GMs and four IMs.

Meanwhile in one of the Challengers sections, David Spence finished third on 5½ points.   He was unbeaten over the eight games that he played, although all his opponents were lower-rated than him.

Bury St Edmunds' Mark Le-Vine (right) is travelling to Germany today to play in the Bad Wiessee tournament.   He is one of only two entrants from England.

There are 476 entrants in this single section, nine round tournament, which begins tomorrow, Saturday.   Mark doesn't have an Elo rating yet, so he will probably be placed near the bottom of the list when the pairings are announced.

You can follow his progress on the tournament website.

After a month or so since the season started, there's no clear leader in any of the three divisions of the Suffolk League.

In Division 1, all seven teams are within two points of each other - see here for the latest table.   Two teams, Manningtree A and Ipswich A, have 100% records, but their wins have all been by narrow margins.

In Division 2, Felixstowe A have won all their three matches, but have played one more match than their nearest rivals, Bury St Edmunds A.   The latest league table is here.

There are eight teams in Division 3, and they have all played three matches, so it's easier to see who's doing well.   As can be seen here, there is just half a point between the top two teams, Manningtree B and Saxmundham B.

Individually, the leading players in each division are:
Division 1   -   Kevin Greenacre (Ipswich B)   -   2/3
Division 2   -   Phil Hopkins and John McAllister (both Felixstowe A   -   3/3
Division 3   -   Mike Usher (Saxmundham B)   -   3/3

You may recall reading here about Mike Basman's bankrupty woes and the possible demise of the UK Chess Challenge.   Well, today, Sarah Longson (née Hegarty) - see photo right - has announced the following:

"Over the summer I was saddened to hear that the future of the UK Schools Chess Challenge, the world's largest chess competition, was in doubt.   The UK Schools Chess Challenge is very close to my heart.   Indeed, way back in 1996 it was the first major tournament that I won.   This opened some incredible doors, playing chess on Blue Peter and meeting the world champion, Garry Kasparov.   I subsequently went on to win the UK Schools chess challenge eight times.   My early involvement in schools chess was certainly the catalyst to going on and winning the British Ladies title 2013 and representing the English ladies team at the world chess Olympiads.   Today I am a lawyer.   However, since last year I have been 'full time' on chess teaching and playing in various competitions home and abroad.

I am delighted that my bid to take over the UK Schools Chess Challenge has been accepted.   I am supported by my husband Alex Longson, a strong chess player and also a chartered accountant.   We hope our professional backgrounds will add credence as the competition enters a new phase.   I hope the UK Schools Chess Challenge continues to inspire and opens up new horizons.   I also hope it continues to vaunt the belief that 'mental challenge and competition' is the 'equal of the sports field'.   We met with Mike Basman and Pat Armstrong last weekend to discuss plans and they are happy to work with us to make this tournament a success."

It's certainly good news that the event will be continuing, and it seems that Mike Basman will still be involved, although probably in the 'back room'.

I recently received a link to a short YouTube film about children playing chess.   Shots of the children are interspersed with other sports, presumably in an attempt to show that playing chess is a 'normal' activity.

Not sure if it really works, but I guess it's better than nothing.

The 34th Bury St Edmunds Congress ended this evening, with prizes to the value of £2,280 being paid out to 27 winners.  The entry of 151 players enjoyed some excellent chess in the splendid surroundings of the Apex.

Congress Secretary Steve Lovell is to be congratulated on the smooth running of the event; an enormous amount of preparation is needed to ensure that all goes well on the day.   Steve was ably assisted by John Wickham, Congress Director for the event, who made all the announcements and acted as chief arbiter.   Others involved included Paul Kemp, League Treasurer, as well as several members of the local chess club, who arrived early on Saturday morning to set up the auditorium.

The full results, as well as the prizes paid out, can be viewed on the Congress website.   The results were posted on the website at the end of each round, as well as the pairings for the following rounds.

The only person to score a maximum 5/5 was top seed in the Open, GM Matthew Sadler, pictured right receiving his winner's cheque for £350.

After three rounds of the Bury St Edmunds Congress, there is just one person in each section on maximum three points.   They are:

In the Open, top seed GM Matthew Sadler
Major - Simon Morris (Hertford)
Intermediate - Gert de Block (Cambridge)
Minor - Scott Shelley (Chelmsford)

The photo above shows Adam Taylor (Manningtree) on top board against Matthew Sadler in Round 3.

The Open is extremely strong, with 12 players graded 200 or higher.   There are eight players on 2½ points, including Suffolk players Alan Merry, Dagne Ciuksyte, Graham Moore and Ed Player.

Sunday's Round 4 sees the two top seeds in the Open playing each other, with second seed and former Suffolk junior IM Richard Pert having the black pieces.

In the five weeks since holding an Open Evening in mid-September, the weekly attendance at the Bury Knights Junior Chess Club has averaged 40.   A new Division 4 has been formed from the more promising youngsters who joined the Club recently, and after half-term, a new Division 5 will be created.

A lot of effort has been put in to helping the 'novices' to learn the basics, so that they are able to play a proper game of chess.   In addition to regular adult helpers Ed Player and Adam Leigh, former club members Daniel Garcia-Leon, Alba Saenz de Villaverde and her brother Mario, have all assisted.

With four classrooms in use, it's a busy (and at times noisy) environment.   But the children, who age from 4 to 13, all seem to be enjoying themselves.

All of the top group (Division 1) are playing regularly in the adult leagues, and scoring well.   10-year old Adam John managed a draw against Adam Harvey on Thursday, whilst 11-year old Jaden Jermy recently drew with Kevin Greenacre.

Any Suffolk chess player is welcome to come along on a Friday evening to join in with the fun, and perhaps share their expertise with the more promising juniors.

Congratulations to the St Albans Congress, which has been awarded ECF Congress of the Year.   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.

The next Congress is over the weekend of 1/2 April 2017.

See here for the other annual ECF awards.

The next 'local' tournament, after the Bury St Edmunds Congress this coming weekend, is the Herts Annual Congress, 12-13 November at the County Hall, Hertford.