Individual competitions and awards
Updated 25 September 2026
Worcestershire Chess Association |
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| Worcs CA | League | Teams | Clubs |
Updated 25 September 2026
| Closed Congress 2025 | Bennett Cup | Ball Cup | Jim Friar award | Chess 960 | Woodcock Prize |
The championship has been decided at a weekend congress in recent years. The last championships were held in August 2026. The current county individual champions are
Read and see more about 2025 championships.
See results of congresses linked from the congress web page and winners from 1895 in the archive.
On the merger of the district league with the county association prior to the 2022-3 season it was agreed that the competitions for the Bennett Cup and the Ball Cup should continue. The Bennett Cup is an open competition. The Ball Cup is for players rated below 1650. Traditionally games have been played throughout the season by arrangements between players. Recently both competitions have been arranged with two all-play-all groups in the preliminary stages followed by progression of four semi-finalists into a knock-out stage.
Bennett Cup winner 2025-6 Joe Friar (Kidderminster)
Ball Cup winner 2025-6 Graham Kemp (Evesham)
In the 2026-7 season, there were thirteen entries for the Bennett Cup and eleven entries for the Ball Cup. The controller for the 2026-7 competitions is Brian Turner (Malvern). Results in the 2026-7 season.
This individual competition is trialled new this year as a result of decisons at the association annual meeting. . Introduced by Bobby Fisher, it is intended to take players out of their opening books. Brian Turner, Malvern, has agreed to be controller. Six players have entered. Results 2026-7 season.
This award was generously donated by Jim's family. Rather than it being awarded solely on the basis of performance in competitive play, it is awarded to a player who has contributed to chess in Worcestershire over an extended period of time taking into account organisational contributions as well as playing ability. The current holder of the award is Andrew Farthing (Worcester). Previous holders of this ward.