🏆 Champion: Ruari Coffey
A record 44 players from across the state competed in the 2024 Victorian Country Chess Championship, which was held in Bendigo on 19 and 20 October, for the first time in 20 years – the last 10 years being hosted by Geelong Chess Club. Players came from as far as Yarrawonga, Warrnambool, Morwell and Echuca to add to the numbers from the three larger regional clubs, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong. The venue was the Old Church on the Hill, with the tournament being hosted by a collaboration of the Bendigo Chess Club and Chess on the Hill communities.
The field was opened up after last year’s winner and top seed, Reinier Milan (Geelong), was defeated in Round 3 by the young Ballarat player, Declan Smith. After four rounds, Jack Smith (Geelong) and Ruari Coffey (Echuca) were tied for the lead on 4/4, and battled out a hard fought draw in round 5. In the final round, Jack Smith lost to Reinier Milan, while Ruari Coffey defeated Sagargiri Goswami (Geelong) to finish outright first on 5.5/6. On 5/6 in equal second were Reinier Milan and Gaurav Movalia (Bendigo), playing in his first tournament, and on his birthday, defeated Nigel Barrow and James Watson in Rounds 5 and 6 respectively.
The reserves section was taken out by Harrison Trewin (Yarrawonga) and Pava Marko (Ballarat) on 3.5/6, with Shanaya Guha (Ballarat), Henry Musson (Geelong) and Lucas Ware (Ballarat) equal third. The unrated section was won by Sam Song (Ballarat) on 4/6, with Andre Sardone & Liam Rankin (both Bendigo) in equal second.
Some of the games were particularly hard fought, with Sagargiri Goswami fighting out exciting finishes against Nigel Barrow and Reza Daneshvar (winning the latter game with rook, knight and pawns versus queen).
A reporter and photographer from the Bendigo Advertiser showed up during Round 5, covering the event with interviews and photos which appeared in Tuesday’s paper.
They also put together a video montage:
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/video/local/x97oocw/bendigo-hosts-2024-victorian-country-chess-championship/
Online story (subscription required):
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8797017/contenders-from-across-state-vie-in-bendigos-chess-tournament/
Chess on the Hill organizer, Andre Sardone, was interviewed on Statewide Drive on Monday, October 21.
(Interview starts around 20 minutes into the recording.)
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/vic-statewide-drive
Thanks to the organizers and players for helping to create such a successful event that was played in great spirit.
