Category Archives: News

Presidents party

6th October 2025 Webmaster

This years Presidents party takes place on 14th December at 3pm. RSPV to alan.hustwayte@yahoo.com

Hastings v Bexhill – September 2025

29th September 2025 Webmaster

Hastings v Bexhill – September 2025

Arriving at our club on a bright sunny day in Hastings, we looked forward with excitement and anticipation to our annual match against our neighbours from Bexhill, always a highlight of the chess calendar.

The teams were spread across both floors of the club, and play commenced promptly at 1 o’clock with clocks set at 65 minutes plus a 30-second increment.

The first result came on board 3, where John secured a solid draw. Not long after, Bexhill struck first with a win on board 10, as Rose produced an excellent game against Keith – clearly a player to watch for the future.

Two more draws followed in quick succession on boards 13 and 12, with both Steve and Alex putting in strong, steady performances. Hastings then recorded their first win on board 8, with Sarah once again showing her continued rise up the ratings list is no fluke.

The match was now level, and excitement built among those who had already finished. Paul then added another point for Hastings with a fine win on board 7, but Marc’s loss on board 9 quickly cancelled out the advantage.

The next two results also balanced each other out. Daniel won well on board 6, before Martin went down on board 11, leaving the match finely poised once again.

On board 2, Francis scored a valuable win, only for Henry to lose soon after on board 4 – once again leaving the scores tied. Terry then produced a determined performance on board 5 to edge Hastings ahead going into the final game.

All attention turned to the top board, where at one point it looked as though defeat might allow Bexhill to snatch a draw in the match overall. However, Daniel held his nerve in a tense endgame to secure a draw around 4 o’clock, which was enough to clinch overall victory for Hastings in this year’s Challenge Trophy.

Final Score

Hastings 7 – 6 Bexhill

Hastings players

D. Lowe 2136
F. Rayner 2067
J. Sugden 2004
H. Cove 1927
T. Hoxey 1906
D. Evans-White
P. Kelly 1809
S. Orsborne 1696
M. Bryant 1592
K. Hossack 1454
M. Fletcher 1453
A.Watts 1376
S. Oakman 1166

Captain and reserve A. Cload (1547)

Reserve S. Blewitt (1806)

Events, News

Glyde Cup, next tournament 5th October 2025. 2pm

26th September 2025 Adrian Cload

The Glyde Cup is won by winning the lightning 10 seconds per move tournament . If you wish to play please email me at HastingsChessClub@outlook.com

These are the rules:-

Rules for Lightning (10 second) chess : Lightning chess can be a game between two players where the thinking time is regulated either by a buzzer sounding every ten seconds or by using digital clocks set in >Bronstein= mode.

1. The time limit between moves shall be ten seconds.

2. Where a buzzer is used, each player on his turn to move, shall move immediately the buzzer sounds – not before or after.

3. A move must be completed before the buzzer ceases to sound or the time on the clock expires. Any player exceeding this time limit is likely to be defaulted. An Arbiter should only give one warning of this, and thereafter enforce the Rule.

4. If a player completes an illegal move, his opponent can immediately claim the game. If he does not do so, but instead replies to the illegal move with a move of his own, the illegal move stands and the game must continue.

5. A player may not claim a draw on grounds which normally require the existence of a game score (eg repetition or the “50-move” circumstance).

6. Except insofar as they conflict with the Rules given above, the normal Laws of Chess (including the touch move Rule) shall apply.

7. If the Arbiter considers: (a) that neither player is trying to win; (b) that one player is unnecessarily prolonging the game; (c) or that irregularity or malpractice has occurred then, notwithstanding anything stated above, he may: (1) award a win to one player and a loss to the other (2) award a loss to both players (3) declare the game a draw (4) order the game to be replayed with or without colours reversed.

8. In the event of any dispute arising over the interpretation of these Rules, the Arbiter’s decision shall be final.

Junior Club, News, Regulars

Junior Club

27th July 2025 Webmaster

Our club for Juniors is run by our members Mark Brougham and Keith Hossack. The Juniors club is for all ability levels: we are happy to teach beginners the moves, and we welcome all youngsters who enjoy playing chess, whether for fun or more competitively. And Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club has plenty of expert members who will be happy to give tips to any budding chess prodigies!

Age groups: The Juniors club is open to all young persons aged five to eighteen who are interested in chess. For five to seven year olds, we ask that a parent or carer accompany the child while they are on the Club premises. Parents who wish to accompany older children are of course very welcome too.

Safeguarding: We have an approved and rigorous safeguarding policy.

Where: The Juniors club meets in the lower playing room in the Club’s own premises at 2 Cornwallis Terrace, Hastings, TN34 1EB.

When: Friday evenings in school term time, 4.30pm until 6.30 p.m. We reopen after the Summer holidays on 5 September 2025. Then we are open every Friday except 31 October, the school mid-term holiday. We will be closed from 19 December to 9 January 2026 for the Christmas/New Year holidays, reopening on 16 January 2026.

Our charges: first three sessions are a free sample, after that £2 visitor’s fee per attendance, or take out a junior membership for £10 to cover attendance for the whole year.

Donations: Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club welcomes donations earmarked for the Juniors club.

For any further details, please contact Keith Hossack at dialethe@yahoo.co.uk

News

Finals day

31st May 2025 Mason Woodhams

It’s the Kent Chess League finals today!

Despite having representations in the semi-finals, County, Stevenson, En Passant, Fuller & Intro only our Fuller team progressed to today’s final.

Good luck Umberto’s Underdogs in the Fuller, make us proud!

Kent County Chess Association Finals
Fuller Cup

Charlton v Hastings & St Leonards

News

The King is Dead, long live the King

13th December 2024 Mason Woodhams

Congratulations to Gukesh Dommaraju the new chess World Champion!

Gukesh defeated reigning world champion Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 over 14 games in classical time control to become, at 18 the youngest ever champion eclipsing Garry Kasparov’s achievement at the age of 22.

The final game of the championship saw both players going for it until Ding decided to try and go for the draw late in the game and take the championship to tie-breaks but it was a strategy that backfired spectacularly. The swapping off of all the pieces left Gukesh with an easy (even for us lesser mortals) K+2p vrs K+1p ending which Ding resigned after realising his blunder.

The King is dead. Long live the King.

Well done Gukesk a worthy champion and inspiration to all juniors out there.

See Ollie Willson’s commentary on the final game of the championship.