Chess: Hastings Masters guards tradition and produces an English co-winner

"Hastings is the grandfather of international chess tournaments, first staged in 1895 and then every year since 1920, with breaks for war and pandemics. Its vintage years were the 1930s, 50s and 70s, when world champions and challengers lined up to compete, while the badminton legend Sir George Thomas and the Bletchley Park codebreaker Hugh Alexander both shared first after defeating renowned opponents."

"Nowadays, Hastings has publicity problems, sandwiched as it is between the London Classic and Tata Steel Wijk and Zee, and running simultaneously with the Magnus Carlsen show in the World Rapid/Blitz. Its traditional support from Hastings Borough Council has completely vanished, so that this year's event lacked any player from the world's top 200 grandmasters. Hastings had a 10,000 prize fund, compared with 50,000 for the London Classic and 1m for the World Rapid/Blitz in Qatar."

"Alex Golding, 21, who tied for first by defeating the experienced GM Simon Willliams in the final round, developed his skills in Guildford, who for years were the dominant team in Britain's national league, the 4NCL, and in Surrey, the current county champions. Golding was joint winner on 7/9 with Alexander Kovchan, 42, a Ukrainian GM currently resident in London, who leads the Barnet Knights team in the 4NCL."

"In the decisive final round at Hastings, Kovchan scored in the endgame against 17-year-old German IM Marius Deuer. The English GMs Stephen Gordon, Williams, and Danny Gormally, all had their moments but lacked the consistency for the top places, as did the talented English juniors Stanley Badacsonyi and Kenneth Hobson whose quests for IM norms continue. GM Stuart Conquest, director of the Hastings congress, says that plans for its 100th event next year may depend on finding an entirely new sponsor."

Hastings chess tournament began in 1895 and has been held annually since 1920 except for war and pandemics. The tournament's vintage eras included the 1930s, 1950s and 1970s when world champions and challengers competed and figures such as Sir George Thomas and Hugh Alexander shared top places. Recent editions suffer publicity and funding problems, positioned between larger events and coinciding with high-profile rapid/blitz competitions, with local council support vanished and no top-200 grandmasters participating this year. Prize funds have fallen dramatically compared with competing events. The event continues to reveal new talent, with Alex Golding and Alexander Kovchan sharing first this year. Organizers seek a new sponsor for the centenary.

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