All posts by John Upham

John is an English Chess Federation accredited coach and has taught in schools and privately since 2009. John started chess relatively late(!) at the age of twelve following the huge interest in the Spassky-Fischer World Championship match in 1972. John Upham is the founder of British Chess News, staff photographer and the IT Manager. John performed similar roles for British Chess Magazine from 2011 until 2015. John is an English Chess Federation accredited coach and has taught in schools and privately since 2009. John started chess relatively late(!) at the age of twelve following the huge interest in the Spassky-Fischer World Championship match in 1972. John is Membership Secretary of Camberley Chess Club and an ordinary member of Crowthorne and Guildford Chess Clubs. John plays for Hampshire and for 4NCL Crowthorne. John is Secretary of the Hampshire Junior Chess Association and the Berkshire Chess Association and manages the Chess for Schools partnership. He has played in the British Championships and represented Yateley School, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Guildford Chess Club, CentYMCA, Crowthorne Chess Club and Camberley Chess Clubs. He is an active photographer for with his own gallery. John has both junior and adult learners as private students. John has recently re-launched the Hampshire Junior Chess Association. John has recently started playing for the Crowthorne team in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL).

Success for Hampshire Girls !

Congratulations !
Congratulations !

Hampshire Junior Chess Association is proud to report success for Hampshire girls in recent tournaments as follows :

In the Wiltshire and West of England Tournament :

Mansa Chandar : U14 Girls West of England Champion 2018

and

Melissa Hamilton : U12 Girls West of England Championship 2018

Well done girls and we are confident of further success !

Recent Equipment Purchase !

Hampshire Junior Chess Association has taken advantage of an excellent offer from the makers of the best digital chess timer, the DGT 2010. DGT via FIDE and then the ECF made available DGT 2010 timers at a knockdown price provided we purchased a bulk quantity. Following the successful Junior Congress in October we were able to purchase twenty DGT 2010s bringing our stock to thirty four (34).

DGT 2010 Chess Timer
DGT 2010 Chess Timer

Hampshire Under – 11 Team Enjoys Jamboree

The brand new Hampshire Under -11 team led by Andrew Kirby on board one enjoyed their first outing at Langley Grammar School on Sunday, November 4th.

We played three matches against our friends from Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Many high quality games of chess were played and Hampshire ended the day congratulating Berkshire Juniors on winning this friendly event.

EPSCA Dates Confirmed

EPSCA have sent HJCA dates and venues for the 2017 – 2018 competitions and Entries South Zone at 3 Nov 2017.

Dates and venues as follows :

Under 9 zone Saturday 10th March 2018 in Sussex
Under 11 zone Saturday 17th March 2018 in Wiltshire
Under 11 Girls Final Saturday 24th March 2018 in Oxfordshire
Under 11 Final Saturday 21st April 2018 in Warwickshire
Under 9 Final Saturday 28th April 2018 at Nottingham High School, Nottingham NG7 4ED

Hampshire Junior Congress 2017

HJCA is pleased to announce the confirmed date and venue for the 2017 Hampshire Junior Congress to be :

on Sunday, October 15th 2017

at New Hall, Winchester College, Wharf Hill, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9NA

The princpal organiser is Hampshire Junior Chess Association.

Here is the entry form — > HJCACongress2017

Entry fee will be £15 for each section.

Calling all Hampshire Juniors !

Hampshire Junior Chess Wants You !
Hampshire Junior Chess Wants You !

If you are eighteen years old or younger, reside in Hampshire or go to a Hampshire LEA school then we want to hear from you !

Of course, we also hope you are a keen chess player !

Hampshire Junior Chess Association (HJCA) is building junior teams from the “ground up” for the 2017 – 2018 season and are focusing on the following county teams :

  • EPSCA Under – 9
  • EPSCA Under – 11
  • EPSCA Under – 11 Girls
  • SCCU Under – 14

for the time being.

If you are keen on chess and wish to have the chance to play for your own home county then please get in contact. For the past few years junior chess in Hampshire has lacked its own teams and so myself (John Upham) and GM Nick Pert and others decided to do something about it.

You may well be currently playing for another county such as Surrey, Sussex, Dorset or Berkshire. This is not a problem and you may switch to your home county if you wish.

Please ask your parents to contact myself (John Upham) on john.upham@zen.co.uk or (07976) 634053 or www.facebook.com/john.upham with your details and will be in touch.

HJCA Endorsed by Hampshire Chess Association (HCA)

The June 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Hampshire Chess Association (HCA) welcomed the initiative to restore the good fortunes of the HJCA and affiliated without dissent the HJCA.

HCA appointed Chris Priest to be HCA delegate to HJCA meetings. In turn HJCA will reciprocate as its first formal meeting which has yet to be organised.

HJCA (via John Upham) laid out progress to date and a high level summary of its plans for the forthcoming season and its long term plans.