Over the weekend of 15th and 16th of August Michael Hayward and Bill Tracey took part in the Hastings u2000 tournament.
Michael started the event ranked 19th of the 27 participants and Bill started ranked 21st.
Michael had a very solid competition finishing in joint 10th place with 2.5 from a possible 5 points and only losing one game. Bill also had a good competition finishing in joint 7th with 3 points and no losses.
TIME HANDICAP – FRI 14 AUG
Above results from Michael Hayward – with thanks.
Once again, this club event has been won by Luke Chapman – congratulations! On the most severe time allocation he won all 4 games. Here he is pictured holding the larger and historic club Handicap trophy, plus the Time Handicap award.
Luke celebrated recently his winning the joint 2026 championship at Hastings Chess Club, an amazing accomplishment, not forgetting his debut earlier this month at the British Championship ( which may be featured in a future news post, should Luke choose to give feedback).
Joint runners- up on 2.5/4 were Bill Tracey and Oliver Kuzmanoski pictured below holding their respective Time Handicap awards.
Join us for our next events – reminders are below :
GRAND PRIX 6 – FRI 28 AUG
AND LUKE CHAPMAN WILL KICK OFF THE AUTUMN FOR CLUB MEMBERS WITH A..
SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION – 4 SEP
INTERSPERSED WITH OUR…
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – FRI 11 SEP
FOLLOWED BY. OUR FINAL RAPIDPLAY FOR CLUB MEMBERS…
GRAND PRIX 7- FRI 18 SEP
AND AN OPEN INVITATION TO ANY PLAYERS AGED 18+ GUESTS, as well as MEMBERS, VISITORS TO :
BEXHILL OPEN 18+ RAPIDPLAY – Fri 25 SEP
PLUS :
ANNUAL MATCH v HASTINGS AND ST LEONARDS
ON 2 OCT , HOSTED AT ST MARKS COMMUNITY CENTRE LITTLE COMMON
Thus we advance into the 2026-27 Sussex League season, with a great foundation of keen players and some experts!
.…AND OUR FLAGSHIP
BEXHILL OPEN RAPID TOURNAMENT
– 28 NOV at St Marks Community Centre- See EVENTS PAGE FOR DETAILS + ENTRY REQUIREMENTS.
PS If anyone would like to benefit from a decorative chess set and board – FREE, kindly donated by John Kimber, please enquire at the club – picture below.
Grand Prix 5 – Friday 7 August 2026
Another strongly contested tournament ( results thanks once again to Michael Hayward)
An excellent achievement as outright winner – congratulations to James Lumsden on 3.5/4, closely pursued by both Howard Tebbs and Andrew Fleming- both unbeaten. on 3/4 Fine performances also by Bill Tracey, Jonathan Mfula and Michael Hayward on 2.5/4.
DON’T FORGET TO JOIN US ON FRIDAY 14 AUGUST FOR OUR TIME HANDICAP EVENT.
CLUB RAPID CHAMPIONSHIP
Tournament played on Friday 31 July – Results thanks to Michael Hayward
In joint first place congratulations to Mark Rich and Oliver Kuzmanoski – 2026 club champions on 4/5
And well done for joint 3rd place to James Lumsden and Andrew Fleming on 3.5/5
AND A REMINDER TO ALL CLUB MEMBERS (NON-MEMBERS PLEASE SKIP BELOW TO OUR !8+ OPEN TOURNAMENT FOR CASH PRIZES!) – MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE YOUR DIARIES AND JOIN US FOR A SUMMER BONANZA OF RAPIDPLAY :
GRAND PRIX 5 – FRI 7 AUG
THEN SPEEDPLAY…
TIME HANDICAP – FRI 14 AUG
AND EVEN MORE RAPIDPLAY FOR CLUB MEMBERS ….
GRAND PRIX 6 – FRI 28 AUG
AND LUKE CHAPMAN WILL KICK OFF THE AUTUMN FOR CLUB MEMBERS WITH A..
SIMULTANEOUS EXHIBITION – 4 SEP
INTERSPERSED WITH OUR…
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – FRI 11 SEP
FOLLOWED BY. OUR FINAL RAPIDPLAY FOR CLUB MEMBERS…
GRAND PRIX 7- FRI 18 SEP
AND AN OPEN INVITATION TO ANY PLAYERS AGED 18+ MEMBERS and NON-MEMBERS TO :
BEXHILL OPEN 18+ RAPIDPLAY – Fri 25 SEP
ENTRY FEE for the above is £10 cash on the night . ( members and non-members alike) CASH PRIZES! Non-members should contact our chairman Bill Tracey before the event, indicating intention to play. Please e-mail:
w.tracey@sky.com
Friday 17 July
Results table from Michael Hayward – with thanks:
Congratulations to Howard and James on terrific scores in a very strong field.
ENTRIES NOW OPEN – PLEASE GO TO ‘OUR EVENTS’ ‘ PAGE on the PAGES MENU FOR FULL TOURNAMENT DETAILS, ENTRY INFORMATION, AND REQUIREMENTS, FACILITIES ETC
AND BEXHILL CLUB MEMBERS – GET SOME PRACTICE IN AT OUR UPCOMING CLUB RAPID CHAMPIONSHIP THIS FRIDAY 31 JULY !
CHESS 960 THIS FRIDAY 10 JULY
Here is Chairman Bill Tracey’s update on Chess 960 and other summer events. Check our calendar if in doubt. :
” On Friday 10 July the club will be holding,for the 1st time, a 960 event.
There will be four rounds with a time control of 15 minutes plus 5 second increments.
In 960 chess the pawns start in their normal position but the major pieces will be in different positions.
Each round will have a different arrangement.
There maybe as few as 2 pieces off there normal starting position or there could be several.
There are no prizes for this event.
Looking a bit further ahead, on Friday 25th of September we will be hosting a rapid event open to not just our members but to players from outside the club.
There will be 6 rounds of 10 minutes with no increments.
Entry will cost £10 payable on the night in cash.
There will be cash prizes for 1st,2nd and 3rd as well as trophies/ medals for the top three.In addition there will be at least two cash prizes for rating performances.
As this is a rated open event all entrants will need to ECF members of at least gold level.
If you would like to enter please let me ( Bill) know.
Our AGM will be held at the club on Friday 11th September at 7.30. Please try to attend to support the club on this important evening. There will be time for social chess.
Finally on Friday 2nd October we will be hosting Hastings in our annual match.
This will be a long play event and open to all our members.
Please let me (Bill) know if you would like to play.
Bill’s email is : w.tracey@sky.com
5th Sussex University Tournament
Message from Paul Batchelor :
An upcoming event!
Dear all,
As President of the Sussex Association, it is my pleasure to publicise local chess events. The Sussex University Chess Festival is one such event. All standards may participate in the various categories for competitive play. Please, could you circulate news of this event to players and fellow club members alike. I can only hope this event gets the support it richly deserves. Please, see below for details
Friday 19 June saw 18 players battle for the Annual Blitz Tournament title
The outright winner was Luke Chapman on 4.5/5- pictured below receiving the trophy from Chairman Bill Tracey.
..And watch out for further successes in a decisive year for our talented star player, not only at our club, but also in the Hastings Club championship, and the forthcoming British Championship ! at the University of Warwick in July where he has been selected for the top section. A further article on this site will have more of the story in advance of the British.
Meanwhile, runners up, after a post- tournament correction of one result for Oliver Kuzmanoski , were Mark Rich and Oliver on 4/5
Her is Mark collecting his award.
In joint 3rd place were Jonathan Mfuso (his first and undoubtedly not his last award at the club) :
and Howard Tebbs, pictured below – each on 3.5/5.
Michael Hayward , once again providing an excellent service as tournament controller ( thank you Michael!) , also managed an excellent score of 3/5 alongside Andrew Fleming. Steve Blewitt and Lee Stewartson – also impressing on his recent emergence in club competitions.
Bill Luxton and Alan Ticehurst achieved a solid 2.5 /5 .Harry Morter made 2/5 as did Lawry Rhodes..
Jon James finished on 1.5.
Bill Tracey ( after generously correcting his result with Oliver) finished on 1/5 , alongside Mick Sullivan.
Tony Nash and young Kit Brampton ( on his very first club meeting, bravely playing 4 of the rounds) did not manage a point in this very strong field, but they both fought hard throughout and played good chess.
DON’T FORGET IT IS :
Grand Prix 3 this Friday 26 June
