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Leader Live
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Wrexham: Tributes paid to 'chess king' David Bennion
On Friday, May 30, David Andrew Bennion sadly passed away, aged 64. A beloved son to the late Mary and Denis, he was known to his nearest and dearest as 'the chess king', and he spent most of his life living in Ruabon, Wrexham. David completed one-year at Keele University where he played bass and drums in an amateur punk rock band, which was honoured at his funeral by The Clash and Eddie & The Hot Rods. A floral tribute of a Knight at David's funeral by Regent House of Flowers (July 16). (Image: UGC) In his later life, his musical taste broadened to include popular and classic sounds from all eras. David was also interested in a wide variety of topics, including current affairs and politics, but his main passion in life was always chess. David was a proud member of the Wrexham Chess Club in the 1980s, with the early 2000s being the best years of his career. Graham Ives (Captain), Charles Higgie, Brian Whyte, Dave Bennion and Richard Bryant (Image: Oswestry Chess Team) He represented his country and played in tournaments across the globe, regularly contesting the Welsh Championship, including Hensol Park 2006 where he shared fifth place. He contested it again in Hensol in 2007 and later in Cardiff in 2009. But his greatest triumph was not in Britain, but the USA. The highest rated player he ever beat was Hungarian Grandmaster Emil Anka in June 2004 in the National Open, Las Vegas. Friend Charles Higgie, who remembers their time playing the game together fondly, said: "His modesty was such that I only learned of these achievements after his death. David playing chess (Image: Holmes Chapel Chess Club) "As a chess player Dave had a very interesting style. He would frequently sacrifice material for an attack. When it came off it was most impressive. "I used to joke with another chess player, Peter Lovatt, that Dave was the Mikhail Tal of the team and we gave up trying to predict the outcome of one of Dave's games while he was still playing." It was when Covid struck that Dave gave up team chess. Unlike most other players, he didn't get into playing the game online, nor did he return to it once the pandemic ended. But, more than anything, David was a much-loved family man. His niece, Tamsin George, describes her uncle as extremely kind with a dry sense of humour. She said: "We are very proud of our uncle, and happy that he found success in something he enjoyed. "He managed to travel the world for chess tournaments, against the odds. "He had a keen interest in current events, politics and so on, as well as football - he was a Wrexham supporter and used to take my grandmother to football matches, until it got a bit much for her." David also hugely influenced her love of music, as that was another great passion of his, and would often come out with obscure trivia about a band he's seen or heard in documentaries. Read more Tamsin added: "He was funny, had quite a dry sense of humour and was quite stoical about things most of the time. "He was very kind to us nieces, always asked if we were ok and liked to hear about what we had been doing." A funeral was held for David on Wednesday, July 16. His nieces wore a pendant in the shape of a King, and there was a beautiful floral tribute by Regent House of Flowers in the shape of a Knight to honour his love of chess. David is survived by his sister Fiona. He was a much-loved uncle of Tamsin, Mhairi, Ailsa and Alex, and a dear great-uncle to Rohan and Eben.
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ballon d'Or to boardroom – why Swansea for Modric?
Luka Modric has made a career of seeing passes no-one else perhaps it is fitting that he has now made a career move no-one saw Ballon d'Or winner has not left the Bernabeu, but he has moved into the boardroom at Swansea 39-year-old has invested in the Welsh club, receiving a minority stake as a quite why the Real Madrid magician has transformed into co-owner at a Welsh Championship club is a question that many have been struggling to answer since the surprising news broke. How did this happen? Swansea are thought to have been working on this deal for some time. So much so, there was some surprise at the club that the story did not leak before it did on Monday, with confirmation of the news that bewildered the football world coming by the club's US-based ownership group – who took over at the Stadium in November – had been seeking an investor who could make an impact through their by majority owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, they specifically sought someone with football gravitas and global reach. Six-times Champions League winner Modric ticks all the it was discovered the Croatia captain had an interest in club ownership, Swansea reached out with a proposal that eventually led to this week's eye-catching announcement. Why Swansea? Modric's only words on the matter so far are those issued in Swansea's speaks of the club's "strong identity, an incredible fanbase and the ambition to compete at the highest level".There was little clue, though, as to why he has got involved at is some talk of a link between Modric and Swansea's ownership group, with numerous new faces on the board following the takeover of the club last are also suggestions that Modric – who played against Swansea twice for Tottenham Hotspur in the 2011-12 Premier League campaign – was at least aware of the club's profile and style of play from that time, as well as the subsequent years which saw the Welsh side win the League Cup and claim notable victories at home and in that in mind, it seems a successful pitch from Swansea to Modric was enough to turn the head of someone who has already begun building a life outside football with investment in property and with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry and David Beckham among those to have branched out into club ownership, one Swansea source says Modric has viewed this as a chance to try something similar himself. What will Modric's role be? No-one should be expecting Modric to make a summer move from Spain to the centre of Swansea's midfield, regardless of the fact that his contract with Carlo Ancelotti's side is up at the end of the a World Cup to come next summer, even if Real captain Modric leaves Madrid after 13 years and 28 major trophies - he is their most decorated player - the Championship will not suddenly be graced by a far as Modric and Swansea are concerned, the focus is on helping the club improve rather than directly influencing has already told club officials he wants to help in any way possible, with Swansea chief executive Tom Gorringe noting how on the World Cup finalist has shown a genuine knowledge of how the team are appointed director of football Richard Montague will not see his role impacted, but Swansea do want to draw on Modric's experience, with the club having been criticised in the recent past for lacking footballing he will not be is someone looking to inject big money into the club. What does it mean for Swansea? It is not known how much Modric has invested in Swansea or what stake he has received – and that may never become clear if he simply adds to the US group that currently has a 77.4% what the iconic Modric brings is worth more than just cash, with Swansea keen to capitalise on his global club's owners recently acknowledged they need to drive new income after financial losses and their statement confirming Modric's involvement talked of "helping the club garner global attention".Indeed, his 37.2m-strong Instagram following – where he posted the club's investment announcement – is bigger than that of most Premier League clubs, including source spoke of the deal helping put Swansea on the map as they seek a new point of difference in the ultra-competitive Championship, as well as the potential to attract better sponsorship and commercial the possibility of Modric's involvement swaying some potential signings has been mooted, as well as the general lift the news has brought, with players at the club's Fairwood training base said to be excited by talk of the unexpected new a season to finish at Real – and no indication of his incredible playing career stopping just yet – Modric's association is more likely to be remote than rooted in south the way his shock transition from footballing inspiration to owner and investor has got people talking, that should not be an issue. A supporter's view An open letter from Swansea fan Steven Carroll Dear Luka Modric, Welcome to the capital of Welsh football. We came up against each other during the 2011-12 season, our first in the top flight for nearly three decades. We would remain there for seven seasons and with your help we'd like to get back there. Swansea has a rich footballing history. The backbone of the Wales side that qualified for the 1958 World Cup were born in the city, including the great John Charles, who was voted the greatest foreign player in Serie A terms of local cuisine Swansea is famous for its laverbread, and of course, Joe's Ice Cream. We have miles of beautiful coast, with Rhossili Bay voted among the world's best 50 beaches in to the football though and since Roberto Martinez became manager in 2007, the club has been synonymous with the Swansea Way - possession with purpose as I call you can help us recruit players who suit that philosophy and can help us improve and get back to the Premier League, that would be a job well done. And if you want to leave Real Madrid to see your career out here we won't mind that either!
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Full-back Anderson signs new long-term Dragons deal
Full-back Huw Anderson has signed a new long-term deal with 20-year-old, who also plays on the wing, made his debut for the region in 2023 and has played in eight games this season scoring two scored a stunning solo try against Newcastle on his first start for the region in the European Challenge Cup in November and also crossed against Scarlets on New Year's Coach Filo Tiatia said: "Huw has enjoyed a breakthrough season for us and has worked very hard to earn his opportunity and now cement his place in the side."He is one of a number of talented homegrown players we can build the team around in the years to come and I'm sure our fans share our excitement that he has agreed a long-term contract to continue his development with us." Caerphilly-born Anderson signed his first Dragons academy contract in 2023 and has impressed on duty for Pontypridd in the Welsh Championship and Super Rygbi named in Wales age-grade squad for the 2023 U20 World Rugby Championship he did not get any game time in South Africa, eventually making his Wales U20s debut in 2024 U20 Six Nations, during which he scored a try against Scotland.
