Club news

Six-round Swiss tournament

Graham Morris 7 November 2026
A cartoon of a chess tournament for children: two children face each other across a board with a chess clock reading 5:00 on both sides, more children play at tables behind them, and a banner over them reads “5 minute on the clock chess tournament for children”.

Our first one-day tournament of the season got off to a cracking start, attracting a healthy turnout of 22 players, all ready to do battle across the 64 squares.

The main room during the tournament, with juniors at two long tables of green and white boards and chess clocks running: at the nearest table a player leans on one hand over a game, further along another turns to the camera and waves both hands, and adults are among the games by the window.
Clocks running in the main room.
A wide view along the main room, with juniors playing at three tables of green and white boards, an adult standing to watch a game, another playing at the next table, and more adults sitting along the far wall.
Five minutes each, and every board in use.
The glossy black table in the second room, with two games side by side and chess clocks beside the boards: two juniors think over the nearer game while the two behind them look up at the camera.
More games in the second room.

The competition followed a six-round Swiss format, with each player having just five minutes on the clock. In other words, not much time for deep philosophical thought, lengthy calculations or for me popping out for a cup of tea!

What followed was two hours of frantic activity, with pieces flying, clocks ticking and brains working overtime. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, as players fought hard for every point, that being 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

Eventually, the dust settled and the results were in. As is so often the case, the cream rose to the top, with the leading players showing that a cool head and a quick hand can make all the difference.

In first place with 11 points out of 12 was Jonah, second with 10 from 12 was Kieran and third came Oscar T with 9 points. Medals of Gold, Silver and Bronze were duly placed around the necks of these three winners.

The medal winners stand side by side against a wall hung with framed old pictures, each wearing a medal on a red ribbon.
Gold, silver and bronze.

Other notable scores were by Wyatt and Lewis with 8 points each, Orson with 7 points, Fin, Henry N and Mason all on 6 points each.

Well done to all who took part, it’s a fun competition which gets you used to playing against the clock.

Next week we return to normal with Ladder games and the Knockout competition. There will be news regarding a team challenge against Bournemouth Junior Chess club being held on the 19th December.

My thanks extend to Jon Catchpole and Samuel for their valuable assistance today, also I’d like to thank Martin Simons of Dorset Chess for donating more chess sets, boards and digital clocks enabling us to expand even further in the future.

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