Local MP Michael Foster (accompanied by the Mayor of Hastings, Councillor Pam Brown) makes the first move for Vassilios Kotronias (Greece) against Ryan Harper (Trinidad & Tobago).

GM Vladimir Belov (Russia) against FM Bernard Cafferty (England).  Round 1 of the Premier Knock Out.

The Pairs Tournament at the Pig in Paradise Pub.  Local Hastings Club members Richard Almond and Paul Kelly in action.

The Pairs Tournament.  Anuk and Chantal Sirisena against Rasa Norinkeviciute and Patrick Donovan.

 Local player fm Thomas Rendle ready to play gm Milos Palovic (Serbia & Montenegro) in the first round of the Premier.

  gm Alexei Barsov (Uzbekistan) shaking hands with gm Mark Bluvshtein (Canada) before round 1 of the Premier

 First round of Premier.  gm Bartosz Socko (Poland) waiting to start against fm David Howell

  General view of the Premier at the Horntye Park Sports Centre

First semi-final: Bartosz Socko (Poland) playing Alexei Barsov (Uzbekistan).

  Second semi-final: Milos Pavlovic (SCG) playing Vladimir Belov (Russia).

 GM Alexei Barsov presents Martin Cutmore (Ashford, Kent) with his prize as winner of the top section of the Christmas Morning tournament.

Start of Round 9 of the Challengers tournament arouses some local interest as three Hastings Club members are all sat together. Nearest on the right is Bernard Cafferty playing Tom Pym of Newport, Shropshire.  Behind (left); Richard Almond is playing club mate Francis Rayner. In the background on the right is Elmira Mirzoeva, the current Russian women's champion.

The two finalists Vladimir Belov and Bartosz Socko shaking hands before the start of the first game in the Premier final

Rt. Hon. Charles Clarke, MP (Home Secretary) seen arriving at the congress at midday on Thursday 6th January accompanied by Local MP Michael Foster. 

Rt. Hon. Charles Clarke MP playing Ukrainian International Master and journalist Petr Marusenko in the gallery at Horntye Park. The game was later agreed drawn.

Elmira Mirzoeva and Home Secretary Charles Clarke

MP Michael Foster, Gerry Walsh, Charles Clarke, Cllr. Paul Smith, Con Power

Monika Socko with Cllr. Paul Smith

Bartosz Socko and the Mayor

MP Michael Foster, Vladimir Belov and the Mayor