Welcome to the 2024-25 Grand Prix page. Here you should find everything you need to know, including results and standings, about this ongoing internal tournament held at Battersea Chess Club.
The Grand Prix is our big year-round graded competition that takes in the historic Club Championship (top 8 at the club), the Barrow Trophy (1700 to 2000-rated ECF) and our third-tier Division 3 (under 1700 ECF).
The 2024-25 Grand Prix will again be marshalled by Stephen Welch, the club’s tournament director. Greg Taylor will act as Grading Officer.
How to enter?
There are four qualifications:
- You need to be a paid-up club member. Click here to join and pay your subs.
- As this is a graded tournament, you need to be an ECF member. Click here to join up online.
- Fill out the general entry form here.
- Fill out the round entry form here.
The 2024-25 Grand Prix started in September but you can enter it at any point in the year. The pairings are released on the Sunday before the round and can be found on the Battersea Chess Club WhatsApp chat.
Tournament Standings
The Club Championship was first held in 1885 when it was won by J F Sugden and – like the club – has operated continuously since. Here is the list of champions. Last year it was won by Sam Walker.
The Barrow Trophy is our secondary prize for all the mere mortals at the club – that is the players who aren’t quite in the top bracket but aspire to be. The winner not only gets this impressive trophy, by tradition he or she also qualifies for the following years Club Championship. The Barrow is dedicated to a former player. Last year it was won by Caglar Meric.
The Division 3 competition is for players rated under 1700. If you are trying to get a first rating or are new to competitive chess this may be the place to start. Our current champion is Marco Flaccavento.
The Barrow Trophy
❓Rating Span: 1700 to 2000 ECF
🏆Current Champion: Caglar Meric
🪜Latest Standings:
Name | G | W | D | L | bye | def | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Drennan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Domenico Amibale | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Alejandro Mateo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Malcolm Dancy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Samuel Riggs | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Chad Green | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Stephen Welch | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Tim Valentine | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Tim Spanton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Bathuman Madavan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Caelan Gopaides | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Paul Stokes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Marco Flaccavento | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Micheal Krautzberger | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Hugo Bassa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Division 3
❓Rating Span: under 1700
🏆Current Champion: Marco Flaccavento
🪜Latest Standings:
Name | G | W | D | L | bye | def | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sudhir Giri | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Paddy Whelan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| David Blackwell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Alexander Bruells | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Nikolai Clerc | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Mikhail Konovalov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Kalin Ivanov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Olya Orell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Zoya Boorzorginia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Norman Cho | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |