The 30th Crowborough Chess Congress was held at the Crowborough Community Centre on Saturday.
The Congress includes the main rapidplay tournament as well as the Sussex Junior Chess Crowborough Grand Prix.
48 players competed in the senior tournament while 94 played in the junior event, making a record 142 competitors in total, with representatives from five international chess federations: England, Canada, Romania, Lithuania and Mongolia. Thankfully because of the good weather competitors were able to get some fresh air outside between matches.
The senior tournament was characterised by a changing leadership race. First of all ex-Crowborough player George Salimbeni raced into a perfect 4/4 start but then crashed in round 5 to Tumen Buyandalai who was playing his first ever Crowborough tournament. This left Tumen in the sole lead with 4½/5 with 6 players in the chasing pack on 4/5.
In a tense and exciting last round Ian Snape demonstrated his prowess at rapidplay with a fine victory over Tumen showing why he has his name on the Joe Berberich Cup so many times.
Other final round games saw Matthew Payne beat George Salimbeni while Dominic Lawson, Peter Kemp and Matthew Forster all drew their final games.
So 1st Place was shared by Ian Snape and Matthew Payne on 5/6. Joint 3rd were Tumen Buyandalai, Dominic Lawson, Peter Kemp & Matthew Forster on 4½/6.
Congratulations to Thomas Martin who won the Crowborough Town Council Cup for the best performance by a Crowborough junior.
More photos and the full results can be found on the Crowborough Chess Club website while the junior results and prizes are on the Sussex Junior Chess website.
