YOUNG people who enjoy strategy board games can test their mettle at an open chess competition.
The Berkshire Open Event Chess Tournament for players aged 18 and under is organised by Berkshire Junior Chess Association (BJCA).
The competition gives young players the opportunity to find out how good they are at the game.
Some may discover they have a special talent.
Keith and Kate Tunstall run the group.
Keith said: “Young people play lots of games online, but there’s nothing quite like a real board with actual chess pieces you can physically move.
“If you learn to play chess, you have a game to enjoy for life, so we want to sow the seeds of interest, and give young people something to love doing.
“And you can get really good at it.
“Two of our club members went on to become international masters: Matthew Wadsworth and James Adair both came up through the under nines.”
But without clubs like this one, young talent can’t be discovered or nurtured.
BJCA has been running since 2000.
“We began with an under nines group, as a way to give something back,” said Mr Tunstall.
“I had loved the game since I was a child, and I thought I was quite good, because I’d been school chess champion at my school, Emmbrook.
“But then my son beat me when he was six.
“He ended up playing for England under 18s.
“He still does it for fun, and can even now beat me with his eyes closed.
“There used to be lots of little chess clubs in schools, but now lunch breaks aren’t long enough for the game.
“So we think it’s important to keep the club going.”
Not everyone gets on with the game, but some take it very seriously.
“It’s brutal,” said Mr Tunstall.
“If you make a mistake, your opponent can take you to the cleaners.
“But it’s great for learning life lessons: learn from your mistakes; don’t get so upset when things go wrong – try again; understand the rules.”
Mr Tunstall would love to see more young people coming along to try their hand at competitive chess, especially girls.
“Any youngster who can play chess, and who enjoys it, can come along,” he said.
“We can’t teach them the game if they don’t already know it, but if they can play, and want to see how they fare in competition, they’ll have a great time, and make some long lasting friends.”
Berkshire Junior Chess Association (BJCA) is affiliated to the Berkshire Chess Association.
It promotes chess for juniors aged eighteen or younger who live or go to school in Berkshire.
Young people must be accompanied by an adult.
The group’s monthly contests take place over six rounds, with time in between to play outdoor games.
The next event takes place at Nine Mile Ride primary school, Finchampstead, on Sunday, March 24.
Doors open at 1.15pm for registration and introduction.
Games start at 1.45pm, with prize giving at 5.15pm.
Entry costs £11 for English Chess Federation (ECF) members, and £13.50 for non-ECF members.
For information, visit: www.bjca.org.uk.
To enter, email: secretary@bjca.org.uk, call: 0118 932 8346, find the group on Facebook, or visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk and search for Berkshire Junior Chess Association.
