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Hastings 1895 

Hastings Christmas Chess Congress Tournament Will See Its 100th Running Later This Year

 Arguably, the first chess super tournament was held in the UK at Hastings in 1895.  It was won by Massachusetts native Harry Pillsbury from a field of twenty-two players. The field included Lasker, Steinitz, Chigorin, Gunsberg, Tarrasch and Janowski. Later in 1895, Pillsbury went on to finish third at Tsar Nicholas II’s sponsored tournament in St. Petersburg after leading the tournament before intense headaches caused his performance to fall off.  Eventually finishing third, it has been speculated that his headaches were caused by syphilis contracted prior to the tournament. Pillsbury would not be at the first Hastings Christmas Chess Congress in 1920-21 having died of the disease in 1906 at the young age of 33.  


The First Hastings Christmas Chess Congress (1920-21) was a small, round robin affair won by Yates from three other UK players.  By the Third Christmas Congress the event had expanded to ten players being won by Akiba Rubinstein.  With the exception of several years during WWII, Hastings has been held every year. Winners include Euwe, Alekhine, Colle, Capablanca, Fine, and Reshevsky up until the start of the World War.  During the Cold War winners included Gligoric, Keres, Botvinnik, Tal, Smyslov, Spassky and Larsen. Since the fall of the USSR, winners have included Nunn, Conquest, Judit Polgar, Bareev and Nigel Short. 


As I write, the 99th Hastings International Chess Congress concluded today. The winner is Ukrainian GM Alexander Kovchan. Kovchan is ranked #1099 in the world by FIDE. One hopes that a stronger field will contest the 100th edition of Hastings later this year. Despite the small amount of prize money on offer by Hastings compared to other classical chess tournaments and the riches potentially available in “Freestyle” tournaments, perhaps the splendid history of Hastings will draw at least some of top twenty or so rated players to Hastings windswept coastline for the 2026-27 holiday season.  



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