Sorry for the large gap in output. This column has had university deadlines.

Following February's university championship, Uplands House Hotel played host to the inaugural e2e4 High Wycombe Congress. With another event being held at Latimer Place Hotel in May, it was the first of a double header of South Bucks tournaments organised by Sean Hewitt, who's changing the face of tournament chess in the UK and Ireland. Gone are cramped church halls and smelly school gymnasia; in their place are swanky hotels and executive chairs. It's no surprise they've proved so popular and High Wycombe was no exception.

Grandmaster Keith Arkell won the Open with a perfect 5/5 score. Among those a point behind in a share of 2nd place was Ameet Ghasi, who evidently likes playing at Uplands House following his strong showing for BPP in the university championship. Bucks players struggled in the Open, with Phil Bonafont and Ray Edwards scoring 1½/5 and Under 13 prospect Guy Moss scoring 1/5.

There was, however, significant Bucks success in the subsidiary sections. Bourne End's Roger de Coverly overtook Wycombe & Hazlemere's Ilya Iyengar with a final round win to finish outright 2nd in the Major. Iyengar, now of Cambridge University, was joined on 3½/5 by Aylesbury's William Claridge-Hansen in a share of 3rd. In the Minor, John Kelly tied 2nd with 4/5 whereas early leader Jonathan Melsom won a rating prize.

Slightly further afield, England #4 Gawain Jones qualified for next year's World Cup with a superb 15th place finish at the European Championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Jones held at least a share of the lead for the majority of the tournament but required a win in Round 11 against Spike Ernst to qualify as one of the top 23 finishers. The World Cup will be held in Tromsø with a prize fund of nearly $2 million.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here