The Silver Queen award for the player with the best performance in competitive chess
Silver queen on a plinth with engraved panel.
Underneath : Garrard & Co. Ltd, 112 Regent Street W.
Hallmarked: London Assay Office, Garrard & Co Ltd, Sterling quality, 1953
296g. Estimated scrap value (2025) £225
Presented by D J Groen
to the
Kingston and Thames Valley Chess Club
Engraved names
Season Winner
1953-54 E. Owston
1954-55 G. E. Hawker
1955-56 G. E. Hawker
1956-57 K. Inwood
1957-58 L. Schweigert
1958-59 P. Preece
1959-60 M. Dane
1960-61 D. Shallcross
1961-62 D. Shallcross
1962-63 T. Fox
1963-64 T. Fox
1964-65 M.P. Wederell
1965-66 T.C. Fox
1966-67 A. Hurdle
1967-68 M. Groom
1968-69 W.H. Booth
1969-70 M.J. Shehan
1970-71 D. Rowson
1971-72
1972-73 C.B. Gillman
1973-74 G. Malpas
1974-75 P. J. Roche
1975-76 C.A. Plasa
1976-77 L.G. Kennion
1977-78 J.W. Branford
1978-79 J.W. Branford
1979-80 P.J. Roche
1980-81 C.J. Ison
1981-82 T.D. Hellings
1982-83
1983-84
1984-85 W.E. Waterton
1985-86 D.J. Best
1986-87 M.J. Sheehan
1987-88 W.E. Waterton
1988-89 B. Gale
1989-90 N. Maxted
1990-91 T. Quelch
1991-92 M.J. Sheehan
1992-93 P. Gibbons
1993-94 R.W. Ursell
1994-95 C. Wright
1995-96 C.D. Carr
Non-engraved names
undated Chris Clegg
2011-12 John Foley
2013-14 Steven Lovell
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17 Adam Nakar
Notes:
- 1969/70 Shehan is probably a misspelling of Sheehan
- 1965/66 T.C. Fox may be the same person as T.Fox 1962-64
- 1989/90 N. Maxted may be Neil Maxwell who was an active player at the time
- Winners after 1995-96 were not engraved due to administrative neglect
- The partial list of non-engraved names listed was constructed from AGM minutes and emails.
Winning Condition
The winner is the person achieving the highest percentage score across all of the competitions in which the club participates. It takes into account their games in the Thames Valley and Surrey Leagues and Cups. Originally, there was a requirement to have played a minimum of 10 games. This was reduced to 8 games in 2012 recognising that some players only played in one league and would not be able to play 10 games.
The winning condition does not take into account the strength of the opponent. The award was started prior to the mathematical rating system of today. This raw percentage approach means that the top players in division 1 would find it more difficult to win the cup compared to players facing less strong opponents on lower boards or in lower divisions. The Silver Queen has a democratic aspect and became a reasonable ambition for many average club players. The calculations were made at the end of the season and the results were announced at the AGM.