Matthew wins more than admiration at championship
By Martin Neville – Friday, February 11, 2011
MATTHEW Grattage played all the right moves to become this year’s South of England junior chess champion.
It was a case of check mate for 13-year-old Matthew, of Lake Road, Sandown, who won all five of his games and achieved the maximum score at the championships at Yateley Manor School, Hampshire.
Matthew, who took between 30 and 90 minutes to win each game, came top of the 16 players in his age group to take the title and automatic qualification for next year’s under-14s closed championship.
His talents also caught the eye of Andrew Martin, chief coach of the English Junior Squad, who has suggested coaching to help him achieve his full potential.
His mother, Christine, said: “Quite a few of the people he played against have regular coaching and he still beat them. Everybody was making quite a fuss over him and Andrew said he should be having coaching lessons now.”
Matthew, who started playing chess with his father, Mike, has played for Hampshire five times and has ambitions to become a grand master.
“I like chess because it is a very interesting game and I never get bored with it,” said Matthew, who achieved a maths GCSE at A* grade, when he was just nine.
“If there are any players on the Island with an ECF rating greater than 140 and would like a challenge then please contact me,” he said.
His parents are now trying to secure sponsorship to enable Matthew to travel to Winchester College to take up the offer of weekly chess tuition and travel to the mainland for tournaments.
• The family can be contacted at mikegrattage@yahoo.co.uk
How strong is he?
About 120 ECF.