BASINGSTOKE player Bernard Cooke was the winner of the recent Hampshire under-18 section at the Winchester Chess Congress.

Cooke attends Queen Mary’s College, having previously been a pupil at Cliddesden Primary School and also Aldworth School.

The teenager is already one of the club’s strongest players and has produced some impressive results in the highly competitive Berkshire and Border Leagues.

In Southampton League Division Four, Basingstoke A continued their promotion push with a 4-0 win at Eastleigh Rail, thanks to wins from Frank Bonsey, Ken Wyld, Alan Willis and David Graham.

Basingstoke Chess Club meet every Wednesday at the Bridge and Chess Club, Maydene, Sherborne Road, on the corner with Richmond Road.