National Chess Junior Squad (NCJS) Championships - 7 - 9 April 2006, High Wycombe

This year, this 3 day event took place a little closer to home in High Wycombe (although it didn't feel like it to those parents who spent 4 hours on the M25 on Friday night!!)

Sussex had 4 players in the U16 event. However, Chris Linnet was taken ill on the Friday, and David Grant also fell victim part way through Sunday, leaving only two competitors. George Salimbeni scored an impressive 3 out of 3 early in the tournament. In the final round, he met Shiela Dines, and the two kept the organisers waiting as they took the full 4 hours for their match. George triumphed with only a minute left on his clock to finish the tournament on 4 out of 6. Alex Galliano finished on 3.

Five players competed in the U12 tournament, with Ben Silverstein and Oskar Shortz both looking to achieve part qualifications for the England Squad. By the last round Ben had already achieved his qualification with a win in Round 6, leaving himself and Rhys on 4.5 and Jude on 5, all with a chance of finishing in the places. Oskar needed a win in the last round to gain his part qualification for the squad. In the final round, Jude lost to Peter Williams after a very furious blitzing game, but Rhys beat Ben to finish on 5.5 in joint second place with Peter Williams behind eventual winner Akash Jain on 6 points. Joe Quinn finished on 4 out of 7 and Oskar on 3. Andrew Turner also achieved his part qualification to the squad.

In the U10 tournament, Charlie Mills was a deserving winner, finishing on a fantastic 6.5 out of 7. Robert Fitzgerald finished on 5 and George Galliano on 3.5.