The First Fishguard Rapidplay Chess Tournament took place on Saturday 25th April at Fishguard Town Hall, marking the first major chess event in Pembrokeshire for many years – and it proved to be a remarkable occasion in more ways than one.
The tournament attracted 60 entries from 20 different clubs, four international federations and four FIDE Masters, some of the strongest chess players in Wales. Players competed across seven games, each lasting around 30 minutes, with the event officially opened by Fishguard & Goodwick Mayor Billy Shaw.
Due to the number of entries, it became the largest chess tournament of its kind in Wales – a real testament to all at Fishguard Chess Club for making the event attractive enough that players were prepared to travel to the far west of the country to compete.
What makes this even more impressive is that Fishguard Chess Club only came into existence in May 2025, yet has grown to almost 60 members in that time and successfully organised and ran the entire event.
Almost half of the entries came from three of Pembrokeshire's new clubs – Fishguard, Haverfordwest and Narberth – all of which have only started playing in the last year. Remarkably, only one of these players had ever played competitive chess before joining their respective clubs. Narberth Chess Club chairman Michael Edwards went on to win his section.
The tournament also played host to a UK first. Initially there were 59 entries – an odd number which would have meant someone missing out on playing in each round. However, the Welsh Chess Union has recently been donated a chess-playing robot, christened Rook to D2 (or R2D2 as it has become known), which happened to be visiting Fishguard Chess Club on the day as part of its tour of Welsh clubs.
With agreement from tournament controller Bill Hewitt of Llanelli White Knights Chess Club, the robot was entered into the competition – making this the first chess tournament in the UK where a chess robot has competed.
Tristan Thomas of Fishguard Chess Club became the first player in the UK to face a chess robot in a competitive event. R2D2 finished with a respectable three points from seven games, with organisers reportedly relieved it didn't win.
It was fantastic to see members of Pembrokeshire clubs performing so well on home turf.
A spokesman for Fishguard Chess Club said everyone involved was delighted the event was such a success and that all the hard work had paid off. It represents another step in putting Pembrokeshire back on the map of Welsh chess.
More events are planned for later this year, including an invitational match between a Ceredigion/Pembrokeshire team and a Carmarthenshire team, plus the Pembrokeshire Junior Chess Championships in August.
Tenby Chess Club opened on 14th April and has already attracted a significant number of members, with firm plans in place to open clubs in Pembroke and St Davids later this year, along with the possibility of another club in the north of the county.
For more information on chess in Pembrokeshire, contact Kevin at info@pembrokeshirechess.co.uk.
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