Junior Squad 2008

This was held on the IM Marsh Campus of John Moores University, Liverpool the usual weekend after Easter. Unfortunately, the very early Easter meant that many schools took their holidays in April and only had the Bank Holidays off (if that). As a result, numbers were down especially in the mini squad sections where we had 20 players as opposed to 51 last year. The U12s with 54 was only 11 down and the U16s was 12 down – both understandable in the circumstances. The venue proved successful and those who ventured outside did find that the cultural side of Liverpool is alive and well!!

So, back to the chess. Both sections were closely fought and ended up in ties with younger players holding their own. In the U12s Pierre Weller, Peter Batchelor, George Fortune and Isaac Sanders came first equal. Of these four Pierre was the only U12 with Peter and George U11 and Isaac U10. In the U16s three players shared the title, Robert Maguire, Martin Brown and Jean-Luc Weller. Jean-Luc is U14 so took that trophy whilst George, Tom Clements and Richard Weaving shared second in the U14s. In the mini-squad sections Natalie Cass won the U10 section whilst the U8s was shared by Aloysius Lip and Adarsh Vani.

The event will hopefully be held here again next year on April 17th – 19th. Please make a note in your diaries and turn up in force.