Apologies for this late report – we usually beat even the ECF to revealing its new grades. However, this time I was at a festival being rained on.
No doubt you’re all aware the new English Chess Federation grades are out. To see the Battersea list (with all the extra names sifted out) click here.
But this year I am pleased to announce Battersea has achieved new high average grade.
In the January 2018 list our average standard-play grade was 153. Now it has jumped to 160.
There are several factors fuelling the rise.
Most obviously a few very well known names have played for the club since January, such as IM Gavin Wall and GMs David Howell and Simon Williams.
We have also made some very strong new signings, such as soon-to-be IM Adam Taylor (225) and England junior CM Shreyas Royal – both of whom saw big jumps – and Bao Nghia Dong.
The club has three other super-strong juniors in Denis Dupuis (up 6 to 127) and the Stoyanov brothers Boris and Viktor.
Finally, the success of the club in general has seen plenty of wins chalked up and some great grade improvements among the rest of us mere mortals (although not Your Correspondent who remained stuck on 122).
Here are just a few examples that I have picked out (in no particular order):
- Chris Beckett hit a career-best of 205
- Ben Franklin rocketed 12 to 171
- Long-time member Tony Ashby shot up 10 points to 179
- Ryan Benguelo rose 10 to 142
- Aldo Camilleri up 12 to a lofty 196
- Gregg Hutchence up from 77 to 101
Overall it has been a hugely-impressive period for the club with our first team finishing 4th in division 1 of the London Chess League and the club keeping two teams in the Central London Chess League’s top division.
Well done everyone.
