It’s always a busy and stressful time at the end of the year, so I to combined the two Players of the Month from November and December.

Many of you may know that the West Wales Chess Congress took place in November. Running a chess tournament, especially one as large as this, is a very challenging task. Entries need to be taken, payments counted, venues arranged — the list goes on.

Our November Player of the Month has been handling this process for many years — over three decades, in fact. Not only has he served on the committee, including a term as secretary, but he is also a loyal player who has participated in countless games. For November, we would like to say a huge thank you to Les Philpin for all the work he has carried out over the years.

The December Player of the Month has dedicated a tremendous amount of time to bringing junior chess into Llanelli and Carmarthen. Encouraging youngsters to play chess had been a significant challenge before covid, as several clubs have struggled to grow their younger numbers. Thanks to Jason Garcia, however, the White Knights have recently seen a massive boost in participation.

Jason works with five schools, runs a very successful academy, and has helped many juniors join his club. While many people contribute to running these events, as the main driver of this effort, we are proud to name Jason Garcia as the December Player of the Month.

A big thank you to all those who dedicate their time to organising and running chess. It’s fantastic to see players enjoying the games, but it’s even more rewarding to recognise those who help the game grow and move forward.

Have you got a player you feel should be given the title of Player of the Month? Throughout January, have a think of who has been contributing most to chess in your area for that month and send us an email. You never know, next time it might be you!