Farley, Clarke lead Kevin Denny chess tournament

After four rounds in the 2026 Kevin Denny Open Chess tournament, two juniors are leading the two sections of the event.

In the Fide rated section, 12-year-old Jeremiah Farley holds the sole lead with four points from his four matches.

Farley, who has just returned from campaigning at the PanAmerican Scholastics Under-13 championships in El Salvador, has so far played unbeaten, inclusive of an upset victory over the number two seed Justin Parsons.

Jeremiah Farley, leader of the FIDE rated section of the 2026 Kevin Denny Open chess event. (Photo Credit: BCF)

In the last round, Farley defeated Allan Herbert after a long and intense battle. The game seemed destined for a draw in an endgame where both players had opposite colored bishops. However, Herbert lost the plot and succumbed to defeat.

Five players sit a point adrift of Farley in joint second. These include Herbert, Fide master Dr Philip Corbin, Justin Kirton, Women’s Fide master Hannah Wilson and Mark-John Alleyne.

In the last round Corbin played to a draw with Parsons, Kirton defeated Charis Stuart, Wilson won from Rebekah Lashley, while Alleyne garnered the full point from Ronaldo Rochester. Alleyne is the top seed in the event and is making a return to active over the board play after a long break.

The chasing pack will feel they all have a chance to still capture the event in the 20-player field. The featured match in the next round will see Dr Corbin with the white pieces playing Farley. Other important matches will see Wilson facing Alleyne, while Herbert will battle Kirton.

In the Novice section, seven-year-old Raef Clarke is the leader with four points also after four rounds from the 20-player field.

Raef Clarke, leader of the Novice section of the 2026 Kevin Denny Open chess event. (Photo Credit: BCF)

In the last round he won by default against then co-leader Ernest King to take control of the event. Just as in the Fide rated section, five players lie in joint second position with three points. These are King, Kevin St Hill, Junior Corbin, Liam Martin and Jerome Stuart.

The featured games of the next round will see Clarke versus Corbin, King against St Hill and Stuart taking on Martin.

(PR)