Martin Walker, a chess master from Norwich, has been crowned the champion player in Norfolk’s chess championships after a drought of three decades. Walker, who is a World Chess Federation master, expressed his happiness and relief at finally winning the title again. He had previously come in second place in the past three championships, which made him doubt if he would ever win again. Walker credited his wife, Heather, for her unwavering support and belief in his abilities. The championships, which took place over two days at Horstead Tithe Barn, saw Walker emerge as the winner in the championship section, while the challengers section had joint winners.
Walker, 58, resides in Sprowston Road with his wife Heather, whom he met through chess before marrying in 2021. Their marriage brought joy to the chess community. Walker is a member of the Norwich Dons Chess Club, while his wife plays at Broadland Chess Club in Horstead and Aylsham. The championship drew significant interest this year, with more than 26 players participating in the championship section alone. John Wickham, chairman of the Norfolk County Chess Association (NCCA) and the organizer of the event, highlighted the growing interest in chess and encouraged those interested in competitive play to explore local clubs and tournaments through the NCCA website.
Martin Walker’s victory in the Norfolk County Chess Championships marks a remarkable return to form after many years of near misses. The chess master shared his delight at finally securing the title, which had eluded him in the previous three editions of the tournament. Walker humorously expressed his relief at not becoming one of Norfolk’s “nearly men” in chess. His victory comes after a 32-year hiatus from his last championship win, and he expressed hope that his next victory wouldn’t take as long, considering his age.
Walker’s achievement was made even more special by the presence and support of his wife, Heather. Their love story began over a chessboard, and their marriage in 2021 brought happiness to the chess community. The couple actively participates in different chess clubs, with Martin being a member of the Norwich Dons Chess Club and Heather playing at Broadland Chess Club in Horstead and Aylsham. Their dedication to the game and support for each other have been crucial to their success.
The Norfolk County Chess Championships were held over two days, attracting a significant number of participants. The event took place at Horstead Tithe Barn, the home of the Broadland Chess Club. In addition to Martin Walker’s victory in the championship section, there were joint winners in the challengers section. The success of the tournament reflects the growing interest in chess and competitive play in Norfolk. John Wickham, chairman of the Norfolk County Chess Association (NCCA) and organizer of the event, emphasized the need for potential players to explore local chess clubs and tournaments, using the NCCA website as a resource.
