Isle of Wight Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2025

Collyer Claims the Isle of Wight Chess Triple Crown

The Isle of Wight Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships took place this past weekend at the Esplanade Hotel in Ryde, with the Rapid event held on Saturday 4th October and the Blitz following on Sunday 5th October.

Saturday’s Rapid Championship featured games played at a 15+10 time control, and we’re pleased to confirm that all rounds were both English Chess Federation and FIDE rated. A special thanks goes to International Arbiter Lance Leslie-Smith, who travelled over to officiate and ensure the event was conducted under full FIDE regulations. His presence offered local and new players an excellent opportunity to experience top-level rated play here on the Island.

It was also fantastic to see several new faces taking part, reflecting the growing local enthusiasm for competitive chess — no doubt fuelled by excitement ahead of the upcoming Isle of Wight International Tournament in February 2026. We were also delighted to welcome visiting players from the mainland, including Hampshire Chess President Peter Eales, who made the journey thanks in part to generous travel discounts from Wightlink and Hovertravel.

Rapid Championship

The Rapid title was fiercely contested, with David Collyer and Clive Bowley finishing level at the top of the table on 5/6. The championship was decided in a dramatic Armageddon playoff, with Collyer as White given five minutes to Bowley’s four — and with the added twist that a draw would count as a win for Black.

Both players fought frantically in the fast-paced decider, but Collyer’s solid play under pressure ultimately prevailed as Bowley ran out of time. It was an exciting finish to a closely matched day of chess.

Blitz Championship

Collyer carried his fine form into Sunday’s Blitz Championship, where he produced a dominant performance, scoring an impressive 8½ out of 9 to secure his second title of the weekend.

With victories in both formats, David Collyer was crowned the overall Isle of Wight Speed Chess Champion — a well-deserved achievement after a weekend of high-quality and entertaining chess.

With the victory, Collyer also secured a Wild Card place to compete against some of the world’s top players in the Masters section of February’s Isle of Wight International Tournament.

If you’re interested in getting involved with local chess or competing in future events, take a look at the events schedule.

We hope to see you at the next major event — The Isle of Wight International Tournament, held at Ryde School from 16–22 February 2026.