Dartmouth Summer Chess July 2024

The 2024 Dartmouth Summer Chess events for 2024 were originally scheduled for June, but bad weather meant they were deferred to Thursday 18 July (evening) and Saturday 20 July (day time).

Playing conditions for the Thursday event were lovely, with plenty of sunshine and a gentle breeze. Bad light stopped play after six rounds, and the outright winner was Trefor Thynne who was undefeated on 5/6. Alan Brusey was second on 4½, while Steve Levy and Andrew Kinder were joint third on 4. The full cross table for the Thursday event can be viewed here.

Dartmouth Outdoor Chess 2024 Relaxing Between Rounds
Relaxing between rounds
Dartmouth Outdoor Chess 2024 Charles Doidge 0-1 Mike Cuggy
Charles Doidge 0 - 1 Mike Cuggy
 
Richard Thomas 0-1 Andrew Kinder
Richard Thomas 0-1 Andrew Kinder
Dartmouth Outdoor Chess 2024 Chris Collins 0-1 Trefor Thynne
Chris Collins 0 - 1 Trefor Thynne
 
As usual, Tony Tatam was an absolute wizard with the pairing software
As usual, Tony Tatam was a wizard with the pairing software
Dartmouth Outdoor Chess 2024 Trefor Thynne trophy winner
Congratulations to Trefor Thynne, seen here with the trophy
 

Unfortunately the Saturday brought heavy rain. Rather than postponing the event twice, the decision was made to move indoors. The top four boads were set up in one room, while the remaing boards shared the Conservatory with the refreshments table. As has become traditional, a fish 'n' chips lunch for everyone was ordered from the Wheelhouse, Dartmouth.

Dartmouth Chess 2024 Boards 1-4
Boards 1 - 4
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Boards 5 - 9
Boards 5+
 
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Boards 5 - 9
In the foreground: Les Barron 1 - 0 Mike Bender
Dartmouth Chess 2024Henry Hurt Thynne Brusey Levy Goldschmidt
Round 7 Boards 1 - 4
 
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Signage
One loo for boards 1 - 4, another loo for the riff-raff
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Ian Henry 1 - 0 Trevor Hurt
Ian Henry 1 - 0 Trevor Hurt
 
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Steve Cawser
Steve Cawser
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Charles Doidge
Charles Doidge
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Mike Bender
Mike Bender
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Les Barron
Les Barron
 

After 9 rounds, the clear winner was Steve Levy who scored a very impressive 8½. Trefore Thynne came second with 7, while Chris Collins was third with 6½. The final cross table can be viewed in full here.

Luckily the rain stopped in time for the presentation of trophies to take place outdoors.

On 19 May 2023 local artist Miranda Housden launched an exhibition of her art in Plymouth featuring 32 paintings of chess pieces representing people who have had a significant impact on her life. A blitz chess competition of players from Devon and Cornwall took place on the opening night, and the winner was presented with a fantastic glass trophy made by internationally renowned glassmaker Gill Mannings Cox, commissioned by Miranda in memory of her grandfather Richard Kenber who taught her how to play chess. A video of the event can be viewed here. Miranda kindly agreed that each year this trophy should be presented to the winner of the "Saturday Dartmouth Chess" event. Miranda, accompanied by Gill, very kindly agreed to attend and present the trophy to this year's winner - Steve Levy.

Dartmouth Chess 2024 Prize Ceremony Participants
Left-to-right: Gill Mannings Cox, Mike Cuggy, Barry Lippard, Chris Collins, Trevor Hurt, Gerard 't Hart, Charles Doidge.
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Prize Ceremony Participants
Left-to-right: Les Barron, Alan Brusey, Trefor Thynne, Ian Henry, Miranda Housden, Mike Bender.
 
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Prize Ceremony Steve Levy Miranda Housden Gill Mannings Cox
Miranda Housden describes the origins of the trophy...
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Prize Ceremony Steve Levy Miranda Housden Gill Mannings Cox
... which she presented to Steve Levy. Left: Gill Mannings Cox.
 

Trefor Thynne kindly commissioned a wooden trophy (to keep permanently) for highest-finishing player with a rating of Under 1600. Congratulations to the winner of this trophy - Mike Cuggy.

Dartmouth Chess 2024 Prize Ceremony Trefor Thynne
Trefor Thynne introduces the trophy...
Dartmouth Chess 2024 Prize Ceremony Trefor Thynne Mike Cuggy
... which he presented to Mike Cuggy.
 

Thank you to everyone for making these occasions so enjoyable - despite the weather on the Saturday. A very special thank you to Tony Tatam in particular, whose fantastic organisation and efficiency kept the pairings and results under perfect control.