UK Parliament Chess vs Warwick Alumni Match

 

It was a great opportunity for Warwick Chess Alumni to visit Westminster Palace and Portcullis House - playing the UK Parliamentary Chess Club, on Monday 28th October.

This was originally planned by Jack Huffer (Alumni Competitive Chess Secretary), and Peter Hornsby (Parliamentary Captain) for the late spring of 2024, however the match was untimely derailed by Rishi Sunak's snap General Election!

Thanks to Peter's efforts, the matches was successful rearranged. The Warwick Alumni Team comprised of Taran Jina (Chair/acting Capt.), Ben Lee, James Munns, Oliver Lindrop, Chris Bromo, and Anish Ram. The Parliamentary Team comprised of Peter Hornsby (Captain), Griff Simon, The Lord Carter, Alfie Coulstock Cockeram, and Daniela Stuhlmann.

The full match report will be uploaded by Taran in due course, but the Alumni fared well, winning 7.5-2.5. The players had some friendly game afterwards, and enjoyed a tour of Westminster, which was a lovely experience all round!

Next Event: 

4th Warwick Alumni Christmas Dinner: Saturday 7th December, 2.30m. (Fitzroy Tavern, London). Sign-up Form: LINK

Taran (Captain) got to meet his favourite MP (for Leicester East), Shivani Raja.

Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Warwick Alumni

 

The Warwick Alumni Assoc. at the TM Global Chess League. Pictured (L-R): Hok Yin Stephen Chiu, Simeon Bott, Jack Huffer, Dimiter Daskalov (Captain), FM Peter Batchelor, Eddie Ko, Mateusz Eggink, Vash Ravi.

It was an absolute pleasure for the Warwick Chess Alumni Association to compete in the TechMahindra Global Chess League's Open Team Tournament, on the 5th October.

The Warwick Alumni came up against leading national teams, including the joint 4NCL Sharks - Hammersmith team, UCL, Eton College, She Plays To Win, among many more. Alongside the GCL Open Team Tournament, the Super GMs, Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, were playing in the hall next to us, in the main championship event. We were very fortunate to be given tickets to spectate after our matches, and watch the live commentary from David Howell.

The Warwick Chess Alumni Association, were proud to come 5th overall in the Open Team Tournment. Equally, it was a delight to reunite the 2018 A Team, and its illustrous Captain, Dimiter Daskalov, who flew into London from Bulgaria for the reunion.

Many thanks to all, who came to play and spectate, and a big thank you to Peter Hornsby, the Tournment Director, for making the event possible. Look forward to seeing everyone at the next Alumni reunion!

Calendar:

UK Parliament Chess Club vs Warwick Alumni: Monday 21st October, 6.30pm. (Portcullis House, Parliament)

4th Warwick Alumni Christmas Dinner: Saturday 7th December, 2.30m. (Fitzroy Tavern, London)

Alumni Summer Party 2024

At our inaugural Warwick Chess Alumni Summer Party 2024 (August 17th), we were thrilled to reunited - welcoming old and new faces, especially our Class 2024 graduates!

Early Bird Drinks began at the Red Lion (Mayfair), before we moved into St James' Square for cocktails and a handicapped blitz tournament. We ventured to an old classic, Four Seasons Wardour, for some Cantonese roasts, before culminated with drinks at the EI-DSPC, the home of the Sports' Club Est. 1893, which has championed the best of British sports for over 130 years.

All in all, it was an excellent day of great food, great drinks, & great company. We look forward to upcoming reunions, including an outing to the Global Chess League (5th October 2024), and the Alumni Christmas Dinner (7th December 2024).

Season in Pictures

 

A delight to celebrate an excellent season (2023-24), with a mix of socials, reunions, and competitive chess events for members, and partners!

Socials and Reunions:

• Chess Fest & Blitz Tournament, Trafalgar Square (July, 2024)
• Post-Rapidplay Alumni-Society Networking Dinner, Varsity (March, 2024)
• 2nd Warwick Alumni Vs. Society Football Match, Cryfield: 4-4 [5-3 Penalties] (March, 2024)
• 3rd Warwick Alumni Christmas Meal, Clerkenwell (December, 2023)

Competitive Chess:

• World Chess League: 1 team (Group E winners; qualifying for the KO Competition - July 2024)
• Warwick Alumni vs. UK Parliament Chess (June 2024, rearranged due to the General Election.)
• Warwick Alumni vs. Eton College Chess: 91⁄2 - 61⁄2 (April, 2024)
• 6th Warwick University Rapidplay (March, 2024)
• WCL Meme of the Season Award: Holden Davis, and Vincenz Bill. (Sept 2023)
• World Chess League: 3 Alumni teams (22nd, 33rd, 48th Placed - July 2023)

Annual Report: here.

Chess Fest & Blitz Tournament 2024

A delight for the Alumni to come together for our first Blitz, followed by our annual trek to ChessFest, on Traflagar Square.

Briefly avoiding the rain, we held our own Blitz Handicap Tournament by St James' Square, followed with dinner in Chinatown - with Warwick Uni Alumni stretching a decade come together. Well done to Vincenz Bill for winning the Blitz!

Next Alumni event: Summer Party, Sat 17th October, details here.

General Election Called - Parliament Match delayed.

Due to the calling of the General Election on the 30th May and the dissolution of Parliament, the 10th June match between Warwick Alumni against the UK Parliamentary Chess Club will be suspended until further notice.

A new date will be announced after the General Election.

Warwick Alumni vs. Eton College Chess Club 2024

On April 21st, Warwick Chess Alumni fielded a team against Eton College.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, with a closely fought set of matches - followed with lunch, tour of Eton, and a stroll through Windsor. Thank you to Tom Richardson for organising this expedition.

The WCAA Team: Mateusz Eggink, Arjun Pyda, Tom Richardson (Capt.), and Sid Panicker.

Well done to the players on both sides!

Congratulations to our President, Peter Batchelor, and Emma Bewley!

 

Many congratulations to our Honorary President, Peter Batchelor, and Emma Bewley, two awesome people in the Alumni, for getting married on the 23rd March. All the very best for the future!

The 6th Warwick Rapidplay and 2nd Alumni-Society Football Match

 

A delight for Warwick Chess Alumni to return for the 6th Warwick Rapidplay on the 2nd March, and play in the annual Alumni-Society Football Match. Great to bring together chess players spanning 20 generations of the University, in particular the Alumni and Society Networking Dinner.

Many thanks goes to Emilija Tamosiunaite, the Society's Publicty and Marketing Officer for organising and coordinating both the Society and Alumni.

Score: 4-4, but the Alumni won on penalties!

[Last year, we lost 7-2!]