Making the moves at annual chess challenge

331 contestants aged between seven and 80 take part

More than 300 people took part in the Scarborough Chess Congress over the weekend.

The annual event is held at the Scarborough Spa complex and this year had 331 contestants aged between seven and 80.

With around 30 winners and a pot of prize money amounting to £5,500, the stakes were high at the competition.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Scarborough Cllr Tom Fox and Mrs Ros Fox opened the competition which began on Friday with chess matches running until Sunday.

This year’s overall winners at Scarborough Chess Congress were David Walker from Gateshead and Sixten Thestrup from Manchester with 4.5/5 points.

The top j unior players included Zheming Zhang from Newcastle, Arya Pasnian from Grimsby, John Wall from Newcastle, Amy Milson from Louth, Hamble Willow from Nottingham and Morven Petrie from Eas t Ki l br i de – a l l wi t h 4/5 points.

Veteran winners included Paul Clarke f rom Leeds and Trevor Blower f rom Barrow, both with 4/5 points.

Next year will be the 40th Scarborough Chess Congress, again to be held at the Spa on October 21-23.

Max Turner thinks ahead YRN-151024-175358016 John Jarmany from Scarborough faces his opponent YRN-151024-174934016 Deep in thought at the annual chess congress. YRN-151024-175042016 Chess matches under way at Scarborough Spa YRN-151024-175147016

Players start the afternoon session YRN-151024-175008016

Amy Milson considers her next move YRN-151024-175325016

Chess Congress at The Spa in Scarborough Pictures by Harry Atkinson