Kidderminster Chess Club’s Joe Friar enjoyed an outstanding 2026 season, collecting an impressive seven club trophies across a wide range of competitions.
Joe won the Club Championship, Shuttle Shield, Lightning, Quick Play, Handicap, Graham Bunn Trophy and President’s Cup, completing a remarkable haul of silverware.
Winning across such a varied group of competitions highlights Joe’s consistency and strength across different formats of chess, from the club’s main championship through to faster time controls and handicap competition. Joe was not the only player celebrating success during the year. Jon Francis won the Minor Club Championship, while Brandon Wilkes claimed the Clive Billinge Trophy, rounding off a strong season of internal competition at the club.
The club congratulates Joe on an exceptional year, as well as Jon and Brandon on their own trophy successes. Their achievements helped make 2026 another memorable year for competitive chess at Kidderminster.