♟️ HBCC JETS 2026 – Junior Elite Training Squad

Developing Tomorrow's Chess Masters!

Hobsons Bay Chess Club (HBCC) is proud to introduce JETS 2026 – Junior Elite Training Squad, a high-performance chess development initiative designed to nurture promising junior players and provide a structured pathway towards achieving internationally recognised chess titles.

JETS brings together 16 selected junior players from Hobsons Bay Chess Club and Geelong Chess Club for an intensive three-day program combining master-level coaching, advanced chess training, competitive play, mentorship and team bonding.

Our ambition is to develop the next generation of Victorian and Australian chess champions, national representatives and future chess masters.

More than a squad. A pathway to masters.

📅 Program Details

Dates: Friday 27 – Sunday 29 November 2026
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Venue: Urban Camp, 7 Brens Drive, Parkville VIC 3052 (proposed)
Participants: 16 selected juniors (14 HBCC and 2 Geelong Chess Club)
Training Level: Approximately FIDE 1700–2200
Program Coordinator: IA Casey Goh

💰 Program Cost and Club Investment

The total program cost is $450 per junior participant.

Contribution	HBCC Junior
Parent contribution	$250
HBCC subsidy	$200
Total program cost	$450

For HBCC Juniors

HBCC will contribute $200 per selected junior, covering approximately 44% of the program cost.

With 14 HBCC juniors participating, this represents a total club investment of $2,800 towards junior development.

For Geelong Chess Club Juniors

The two participating Geelong Chess Club juniors may approach Geelong Chess Club individually to seek a subsidy towards their participation costs.

Any financial assistance will be subject to Geelong Chess Club's own approval and arrangements. The HBCC subsidy does not automatically apply to Geelong Chess Club participants.

As a community-based, volunteer-run chess club, HBCC believes in investing directly in junior development and creating opportunities that extend beyond regular club coaching and tournaments.

🎯 What is JETS?

JETS aims to accelerate junior chess development through structured, high-level training and practical competitive experience.

The program focuses on:

Master-Level Coaching: Advanced chess lectures and mentorship from experienced titled players.
Competitive Development: Chess puzzles, simultaneous exhibitions, practical challenges and blitz competition.
Mental Strength: Building confidence, discipline, resilience and a competitive mindset.
Team Bonding: Strengthening friendships and encouraging juniors to learn from one another.
International Preparation: Preparing players for major national and international tournaments.

👨‍🏫 Meet Our Confirmed Coaches and Speakers

We are delighted to have the following coaches and speakers participating in JETS 2026.

IM Haridas Pascua – Endgame Mastery Friday 27 November (Online)

An intensive endgame training session focusing on endgame understanding, practical techniques and improving players' ability to convert advantages and defend difficult positions.

FM Grant Szuveges – Middlegame Strategy Saturday 28 November (Face-to-Face)

Advanced middlegame training covering strategic planning, positional understanding and practical decision-making.

IM Jairo Hernandez – Simultaneous Chess Exhibition Saturday 28 November (Evening)

An opportunity for our juniors to challenge an International Master in a simultaneous chess exhibition and gain valuable practical experience.

FM Rheyansh Annapureddy – Motivational Session Sunday 29 November (Online)

An inspirational session encouraging juniors to pursue their chess ambitions and continue working towards higher levels of competition.

Anirudh Krishnan – Chess Puzzles and Trivia Friday 27 November (Evening)

An interactive puzzle-solving challenge and chess trivia session designed to develop calculation, problem-solving and friendly competition.

🗓️ JETS 2026 – Three-Day Schedule

Friday 27 November – Endgame Training

Time	Activity
9:00 AM	Arrival
10:00 AM	Online Endgame Lecture – IM Haridas Pascua
12:30 PM	Lunch
1:30 PM	Endgame Lecture (continued)
5:30 PM	Leisure Time
7:00 PM	Dinner
8:30 PM	Chess Puzzles and Trivia – Anirudh Krishnan

Saturday 28 November – Middlegame Strategy

Time	Activity
8:30 AM	Breakfast
9:30 AM	Face-to-Face Middlegame Lecture – FM Grant Szuveges
12:30 PM	Lunch
1:30 PM	Middlegame Lecture (continued)
5:30 PM	Leisure Time
7:00 PM	Dinner
8:30 PM	Simultaneous Exhibition – IM Jairo Hernandez

Sunday 29 November – Inspiration and Competition

Time	Activity
8:00 AM	Breakfast
9:00 AM	Online Motivational Talk – FM Rheyansh Annapureddy
10:00 AM	Blitz Tournament
12:00 PM	Departure

Schedule is subject to minor adjustments.

🏆 Pathway to Chess Masters

JETS is part of HBCC's long-term commitment to developing a sustainable high-performance chess pathway.

Club Player → Competitive Player → Candidate Master (CM) → FIDE Master (FM) → International Master (IM) → Grandmaster (GM)

Through advanced training, mentorship and competitive experience, we aim to prepare juniors for major events such as:

Victorian Junior Chess Championships
Australian Junior Chess Championships
Oceania Youth Chess Championships
FIDE Zone 3.6 Zonal Championships
Other major FIDE-rated competitions

Beyond chess titles, we also hope to develop future coaches, arbiters and mentors who will contribute to the wider chess community.

♟️ Player Selection

Selection for JETS 2026 was highly competitive, with limited places available.

The selection committee considered ACF/FIDE ratings, tournament performances, commitment, attitude, club participation and potential for future development.

Selection Committee: Anirudh Krishnan and Casey Goh.

All successful players have been notified individually.

To those who were not selected, this does not mean you are not a good chess player or that your achievements have gone unnoticed.

We encourage you to continue improving, competing and taking advantage of the opportunities available through HBCC.

💙 Investing in Our Future

As a community-based, volunteer-run chess club, HBCC believes in creating opportunities that go beyond regular club tournaments and coaching.

JETS represents an investment in our juniors, their development and the future of chess in Victoria.

Our vision is not simply to produce stronger chess players today, but to develop future champions, mentors and leaders of the chess community.

📝 Parent/Guardian Consent Form – Mandatory

As JETS 2026 involves a three-day program with two overnight stays, all parents and legal guardians must read and accept the HBCC JETS 2026 Terms and Conditions, Overnight Stay Consent and Participation Agreement before registering their child.

The agreement covers:

Parental consent for participation and overnight accommodation.
Supervision, child safety and participant welfare.
Medical information and emergency treatment authorisation.
Participant behaviour and accommodation rules.
Program fees, subsidies and payment obligations.
Risk acknowledgement and applicable liability provisions.
Emergency contact and communication arrangements.

Please read the full Terms and Conditions before proceeding with registration:

HBCC JETS 2026 – Parent/Guardian Terms and Conditions and Consent Form

Important: Registration is conditional upon the parent or legal guardian accepting all mandatory terms and providing the required overnight stay and emergency medical consent.

Emergency Contact Arrangements

For the duration of JETS 2026, HBCC will provide registered parents with the mobile phone numbers of two designated facilitators for emergency contact purposes only.

These numbers are strictly for urgent matters involving the safety, health or welfare of participating juniors.

All routine enquiries, administrative matters and non-urgent communications must be directed to info@hobsonsbaychess.com.

We appreciate parents' understanding and cooperation in allowing our volunteer facilitators to focus on supervising and supporting the participating juniors.

📩 Enquiries

For any questions regarding JETS 2026, please contact us via email at info@hobsonsbaychess.com.