BASINGSTOKE Chess Club continue to benefit from a grant given recently by the Four Lanes Trust.

The Trust’s award has enabled the club to purchase two additional demonstration boards in addition to a new projector.

This allows the Junior Club members to learn from the Chess for Kids on line program.

The Club has had a busy first half of the season including two events at the Discovery Centre.

The first coincided with the World Chess Championships and many small chess events were held with a good attendance present.

A problem solving competition proved popular as did the lightning chess competitions.

The joint winners of the main prize were Philip Ware and Mike Singleton with Adam Matthews picking up the plate prize.

The second was a simultaneous exhibition held by one of the clubs top players Liam Blanc.

All 24 boards were snapped up and a great mornings chess was had by all.

Ed Howard-Jones won the main prize with a win and Jay Negargar took the junior prize after being the last Junior to be checkmated.

In all Liam Blanc recorded a good score with 20 wins and just one loss. Three players managed draws. Philip Ware, Shwetal Bhatt and Adam Matthews.

In the various leagues the club is having a good season. The Berkshire League team recorded a draw with Maidenhead A following a late evening win by Blanc. The three Borders League teams are all currently in second place in their respective leagues.

The Southampton League Division Two side remain in second place also after a 4½ to ½ win over Winchester A. The points came from wins by Steven Jones, Mike Singleton, Ivan Stipcevic and Raja PrntaKota with Blanc securing the draw.

The Club's Juniors continue to do well. Edison Brown continues to excel at various under-eight events.

Negargar entered a strong Berkshire Juniors competition and scored six out of six to win the event.

Top Junior player Daniel Yu has been selected for the England squad and will travel out to Poland in February for a nations competition.

It is with sadness that the club announces that long time club stalwart Roy Ashmore recently passed away at the age of 82 following a lengthy illness.

New members are always welcome and can contact secretary David Graham on 07971 808721 or email davidgrahambcs@yahoo.co.uk The club has a website which offers more information basingstokechessclub.co.uk