ON Saturday, April 25 Fishguard Chess Club hosted the first major Chess event in Pembrokeshire for many years. The Rapidplay Chess Tournament in Fishguard Twin Hall attracted 60 entries from 20 different clubs, four International Federations and four FIDE Masters - some of the strongest chess players in Wales.

Some of the best in Wales came to the event!
Some of the best in Wales came to the event! (Photo: Fishguard Chess Club)

The event, in which the players had to play seven games with each game lasting about 30 minutes, was opened by Fishguard & Goodwick Mayor Billy Shaw.

It was a remarkable event in several ways.

Firstly, it was organised and run a club which only came into existence in May of last year but has grown to almost 60 members.

Fishguard Chess Club entrants
Fishguard Chess Club entrants (Photo: Fishguard Chess Club)

Secondly, almost half of the entries were from three of the new clubs in Pembrokeshire: Fishguard, Haverfordwest and Narberth; the Chairman of Narberth, Michael Edwards, actually winning his section! Only one of the players from these new clubs had ever played competitive chess before joining their respective clubs.

Haverfordwest Chess Club Entrants
Haverfordwest Chess Club entrants (Photo: Fishguard Chess Club)

The sheer number of entries caused this to become the largest Chess tournament of its kind in Wales which, given its location in Pembrokeshire, is a real testament to all at Fishguard Chess Club for making this such an attractive event that people were prepared to travel to the far west to play.

The tournament, in Fishguard Town Hall, was the largest event of its kind in Wales
The tournament, in Fishguard Town Hall, was the largest event of its kind in Wales (Photo: Fishguard Chess Club)

Winners were: 1st Alexis Harakis (Pembrokeshire Chess Club); Joint 2nd Ewan Ferguson (Carmarthen), Daniel Wilmot (Pontypridd); Best u1700 Grade Michael Edwards (Narberth); Joint Best u1500 Grade Harry Harling (Pembrokeshire), Nicolas McIlvenna (Cilgwyn); Best u1350 Grade Jabob Parr (Cwmbran).

Alexis Harakis, Daniel Wilmot & Ewan Ferguson
Alexis Harakis, Daniel Wilmot and Ewan Ferguson (Photo: Fishguard Chess Club)

A UK first also took place at the tournament. Initially there were only 59 entries. An odd number in a chess tournament means that someone misses out playing in each round. However, the Welsh Chess Union have recently been donated a chess playing robot which has been christened Rook to D2, or R2D2 as it has become known. The robot is currently on a tour of chess clubs in Wales and Saturday happened to be the day it was due to come to Fishguard Chess Club. So, with the agreement of the tournament controller, Bill Hewitt of the Llanelli White Knights Chess Club, the robot was entered in the tournament! This is the first chess tournament in the UK where a Chess Robot has competed! A UK first for Fishguard and Pembrokeshire!

R2D2’s first opponent was Fishguard’s Tristan Thomas who became the first chess player in the UK to play a chess robot in a competitive event. The robot finished the tournament with a respectable 3 points from 7, the organisers being mightily relieved it didn’t win!

Tristan Thomas of Fishguard Chess Club became the first Chess player in the UK to play a Chess robot in a Tournament!
Tristan Thomas of Fishguard Chess Club became the first Chess player in the UK to play a Chess robot in a Tournament! (Photo: Fishguard Chess Club)

More events are planned for later this year with an Invitational match between a team from Ceredigion/Pembrokeshire playing a Carmarthenshire team and the Pembrokeshire Junior Chess Championships in August.

Tenby Chess Club opened on April 14 and has already attached a significant amount of members. There are firm plans to open clubs in Pembroke and St Davids later this year.

Contact Kevin at [email protected] for more information on chess in the county.