Chess Grandmaster Jonathan Hawkins, 42, Dies Of Rare Cancer—A Week After Appeal To Help Him

Chess is in mourning after it was announced English GM Jonathan Hawkins has died aged 42 just before Christmas.

The former British Chess Champion, originally from Consett in County Durham, but living in in Torbay, Devon, had been suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

It came a week after Hawkins' friend GM Danny Gormally launched an appeal to help him and his family. The response has so far seen more than £25,000 raised for Hawkins and his partner Angela Eyton.

In his column for the Newcastle Chronicle, FM Tim Wall, a good friend of Hawkins' wrote: "Tributes have come from throughout the chess
community, from leading grandmasters to his Consett clubmates.

"Brian Harkness from Consett remembers Jonathan as a junior at the
club, and says that later, when he was the county’s strongest player,
he was always happy to analyse his friends’ games."

Prior to Hawkins' death, Gormally explained: "Jonathan is currently facing a battle with cancer. He was recently diagnosed with large cell neuroendocrine cancer, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The original diagnosis of adenocarcinoma has mutated, so Jonathan has to start a new course of chemotherapy, the outcome of which is unpredictable at this time. Jonathan’s future lies in the balance.

"This situation has resulted in a complete loss of income for Jonathan and his partner Angela Eyton, who has been caring for him during his illness.

"After his successful career as a chess player, Jonathan helped many of England’s best young chess players to improve and succeed at chess in his second career as a chess coach.

"However, he is no longer able to pursue this career due to the challenges faced by his battle with cancer.

"Jonathan needs funds to help cover his bills and help replace the lost income. Any help would be very gratefully received by Jonathan and his partner Angela."

Hawkins shared the British Chess Championship in 2014 with GM David Howell before winning it outright in 2015.

However, he was notable for being considered a "late-developer" who made the journey from club player in his teens to GM in 2014.

Hawkins' sharp rise up the rating ladder was charted in his highly-regarded chess autobiography, which was also an instructional book, Amateur to IM: Proven Ideas and Training Methods.

If you want to contribute to the fund, follow the link here.

Gens una sumus.