Blogs

Tweets

We now have a Twitter account for events news and discussion and coach travel updates.

News and discussion: http://twitter.com/devonjunchess

We used to echo Tweets here, but like everything else on Twitter these days, it doesn't work properly any more

Two puzzles in one

At Exeter Junior Chess Club, Dr Dave dug out one of his favourite puzzles, which is actually two puzzles in one:

English Schools Qualification Nov 2025

The English Schools' Qualifier took place at Stover.l on Wednesday 19th November 2025.

2 teams from Stover, 2 from Colyton and 3 from TBGS.

Colyton A came out on top.

4 teams qualified for the next round, Colyton A and teams A,B and C from TBGS.

Which chess player has taken part in the most World Championship events?

I think a natural question is, who has taken part in the most World Championship matches, but sometimes the World Championship event is a tournament...

So here is a table based on a Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Chess_Championships:

(Player names are given with their national affiliation)

DJCA AGM 2025

DEVON JUNIOR CHESS ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

15th July 2025 Bovey Tracey (1 year after 2024 meeting)

Attendees: D. Regis, T. Onions, V. Cross, J.C. Bacon, N. Butland

Apologies: A. Ashenhurst, S. Keay

Minutes (not confirmed)

Note that most of the discussions revolved around the schedule for the coming year – and due to Steve Keay’s absence, finances weren’t discussed.

1. Chair’s report

Last year's events:

Meanwhile, way down South...

Results from the 6th Simon Bartlett Memorial Congress, Torquay 2025:

Minor: Our top U14 and U18 players showed well: Shreyas Pasupulety 4/5 (1st); Ben Darlington & Daniel Smith 3½/5 (tied for 2nd-4th with another player). Jack Amos from our U11 squad also played -- hope you enjoyed it!

Inter: Suhayl Abdalla 3½/5 (tie for 2nd-3rd); Mac Holland 3/5; Varnika Neralla 2/5

Major: Jack Wills 3/5

...while Ananya Nerella with awesome poise jumped into the deep end of the Open!

Devon juniors' success at LJCC centenary

The London Junior Chess Championships were founded 100 years ago, and in their centenary event Devon juniors had some notable success.

Congratulations to Swetha Narayanan who scored a very creditable 5/7 in the huge U8 section, winning a prize.

And very well done to Pengxiao Zhu, who as an U13 player won the U16 trophy on tie-break with 5/6 and no losses, beating a 2100-rated player in the last round.

Devon Juniors in the mix

Some excellent performances from Devon Juniors in the 56th Torbay Congress (Hope I haven't missed anyone!):

Open section: Caleb Caleshu 3½/5 and shared 3rd place, half a point behind the winner

Major: Jack Wills 2½/5

Intermediate: Mac Holland 4/5 shared 2nd place on tie-break; Suhayl Abdalla 3½/5; Jamie Glasson 2½/5; Shreyas Pasupalety 2/5

Foundation: Ronit Randhawa 4/5 3rd place on tie-break; Joe Forty 3½/5 5th; Rhys Hammond 1½/5

Ex-juniors Nathan Mills and Ben Sturt also featured in the lists

Draft local chess calendar (adult)

Juniors welcome at all events

DCCA TOURNAMENT CALENDAR FOR 2024-25 (DRAFT)

Trophies

We thought we'd do the trophies differently this year. We'll offer prizes for 1st/2nd/3rd as before (and maybe 4th) but we won't share places, and instead use tie-breaks. This will mean the prize-giving should follow much more quickly after the last game is played (because Mr Onions won't have to sort how many trophies get which labels), but it does mean we will be awarding fewer prizes.

(We'll still be doing girls' prizes if we have more than one girl enter a section and where they meet a minimum score.)

Pages

Chess Tips

MIDDLEGAME TIPS:

* Take nothing for granted. Don't fret needlessly - analyse and find out if there is a win for your opponent. I often say, "Oh, Black's only going to threaten mate", by which I mean, the best they can achieve is a one move threat that can be easily contained. When they make that threat, you do need to react, but don't worry needlessly; carry on with your own plans. There are some "clockwork" attacks (like the h-file assault against the fianchettoed King, or the King's Indian Attack) that will eventually produce checkmate if left alone, but usually the best recipe is to counterattack, even if you do have to stop from time to time to counter a mating threat.

Devon Junior Chess Association (DJCA)

Supporting junior chess in the county

Devon Junior Chess