THE Basingstoke Chess Club season draws to a close with a number of the club competitions starting to be decided.

The Basingstoke Individual Chess Championship for the Joe French Cup has been won by Ivan Stipcevic. In the final played white against Liam Blanc, who played an unorthodox Pirc Defence.

This is the second time in three years that Stipcevic has been champion.

In the Henshaw Tournament for the lower grade players Mo Negargar won his group and will await to see who he plays in the final.

The second group requires a play-off between Philip Ware and Almeo Bontigao who tied on points.

Whatever happens there will be a new winner of this competition now in its fourth year.

There is a very close finish in the Basingstoke Chess League with one match remaining. Central and Basing lead with 24 points ahead of last years champions Kempshott who have 20 points.

Basingstoke have reached the final of the Berkshire League Plate competition.

This was achieved with a 5½-½ win at Bracknell.

The Basingstoke points came from wins by Steven Jones, Blanc, Ewart Smith, Barry Kocan and Ware plus a draw from John Shaddick.

The final is away to Reading in late June.

The Basingstoke Junior Chess Club will be well represented in the forthcoming Delancey Giga-Finals.

No fewer than five of the clubs players have qualified following the Mega-finals at Alresford and Newbury.

Daniel Yu won the Hampshire Mega-final for the fourth year in a row against a strong field.

He will be joined by Yasmin Phillips, Bryan Vaz, Ted Mayne and Edison Brown.

Basingstoke Chess Club meet at Maydene in Sherborne Road every Wednesday.

New and old members are always welcome.