Hampshire Junior Chess Association

♟️ About Hampshire Junior Chess Association

Hampshire Junior Chess Association (HJCA) is the principal coordinator and organizer of junior chess in Hampshire, England. It serves children and young people aged 18 or under who live in Hampshire or attend school within the county. HJCA organizes tournaments, manages Hampshire junior representative teams, supports school and club chess, and works to create a pathway from introductory chess through to county and national competition. HJCA is affiliated with the Hampshire Chess Association and is a member of the English Primary Schools Chess Association (EPSCA) and the Southern Counties Chess Union (SCCU). The English Chess Federation recognizes HJCA as a Junior Association, and in July 2024 the ECF Board also approved HJCA as a member association, giving it representation within the ECF council structure. Grandmaster Nick Pert serves as President, Kim Shek is Chairman and Schools Coordinator, and John Upham is Secretary and one of the association’s principal organizers. Upham also manages HJCA’s website, social media, equipment, and liaison with the Hampshire Chess Association. In 2026, HJCA’s program includes county team chess, qualification tournaments, the Hampshire Megafinal, monthly online competitions, the Hampshire Open Junior FIDE Blitz, and the Hampshire Junior Open Congress.

📜 History and Development

HJCA traces its origins to 1975, when it was founded with Terry Hollington serving as Secretary. Early Hampshire junior chess activity included congresses organized in Southampton and Fareham, while Joe French became an important long-term supporter of the association and hosted HJCA meetings at his home in Basingstoke. After a period of dormancy, HJCA was revived in 2017 as a tribute to Joe French. That year, the Hampshire Chess Association formally welcomed and affiliated the restored organization, while the Southern Counties Chess Union accepted HJCA as a non-county member. Since then, the association has rebuilt a regular calendar of county teams, tournaments, qualification events, and development opportunities for Hampshire juniors.

🎓 Junior and School Chess

HJCA works to expand chess in schools and local clubs and to encourage young players to progress into representative competition. The association manages Hampshire junior teams and participates in EPSCA competitions, including the national Under-9 and Under-11 Inter-Association Championships. In 2026, Maha Chandar managed the Hampshire teams entered in these age-group competitions. The association also supports established national junior pathways. On March 22, 2026, HJCA organized the Hampshire qualifier for the EJCOA National Junior Championships at Badger Farm Community Centre in Winchester. The competition consisted of six rounds of ECF-rated rapid chess. On June 21, 2026, HJCA hosted the Hampshire Delancey UK Chess Challenge Megafinal at New Hall, Winchester College. The Megafinal forms part of the nationwide UK Chess Challenge structure and provides another progression route for school-age players.

🏆 Tournament Activity

HJCA runs several recurring competitions in Winchester. The Hampshire Junior Open Congress 2026 takes place on November 15 at Badger Farm Community Centre. It uses six rounds of rapid chess with a 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move time control and includes age groups from Under-8 through Under-18. The event also serves as a London Junior Chess Championships qualifying competition. Another established event is the Hampshire Open Junior FIDE Blitz, scheduled for October 25, 2026 at the same venue. It is open to players aged 18 or under regardless of residence or school and consists of 15 Swiss-system rounds at 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment. Results count for both ECF and FIDE blitz ratings, with John Upham serving as Tournament Director and Chief Arbiter. HJCA also maintains online activity through its regular Lichess Team Battles, allowing Hampshire juniors to compete together between over-the-board events.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

The association’s current leadership combines experienced chess organizers, coaches, arbiters, and parents. GM Nick Pert is President, Kim Shek is Chairman, Maha Chandar is Treasurer and Child Protection Officer, and Lucas Piecha serves as Chief Coach. John Upham serves as Secretary and is the most appropriate general contact for HJCA. In addition to his administrative roles, he regularly directs and arbitrates the association’s tournaments and manages its public communications.