As we head into our summer break, we are delighted to look back on a fantastic 2025/2026 chess season at the Tunbridge Wells Chess Club. It has been a year defined by strong competition, new faces, and an impressive level of engagement across all our tournaments.
Club Championship Results
The highlight of our competitive calendar, the Club Championship, concluded on June 22nd. We are thrilled to announce that Robert Jacobs has retained the title, putting in a truly dominant performance by winning all seven of his matches.
A well-deserved second place goes to David Fryer, who finished with an impressive 6 out of 7. The competition for third place was incredibly tight, with four members sharing the podium—Jerry Anstead, Andrew Rimmer, Hugh Tassell, and Matt Smith—all finishing with 4 out of 7.
A huge thank you to Jerry Anstead for organizing and running this year’s championship so efficiently, ensuring that play was consistent throughout the season.A Busy and Successful Year
Beyond the Club Championship, it has been an active and rewarding year for the club:
- Tournament Success: In June, we were proud to host the Psyon Chess FIDE Congress at our home club, which provided an exciting opportunity to watch high-level competition.
- Junior Development: Our Junior Rapid Championship in May was a great success, showcasing the talent of our younger members.
- National Achievement: We were incredibly proud to see Samyak Chadha play a key role in the Kent team that won the under-9s section at the Inter-County National Finals.
- Club Friendlies: While our friendly against Crowborough Chess Club didn’t result in a win for us, it was a spirited match and a great experience for all involved.
Looking ahead, the club is now on its summer break, with our final club night held on July 13th. We will be resuming our regular Monday night meetings at the Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club on the first Monday of September.
Whether you are a long-time member or someone who joined us for the first time this year, thank you for making this season so memorable. We look forward to seeing everyone again in September for another exciting year of chess!