The 2002 Glorney & Faber Cups were held in the University College of Wales in Swansea from 22-26 July. The format was the same as the last few years, including Dublin 2000: eight countries (boys teams of five players and girls teams of three players each, all under 18) compete in preliminary then final groups over five rounds, with one result being carried forward for each team from the preliminary to the final stage.
The boys team improved on last years eighth place to finish one better at seventh. Individual scores were: Simon Jeffares 1½/5, Karl McPhillips 1½, Matthew Dignam 4, Stephen Stokes ½ and Mark McGovern ½. Notably both Karl and Matthew are under 14.
Similarly the girls team has had to rely on youth rather than experience and has been exclusively under 14 for the last two years. The team of Sarah Hegarty, Emily Alfred and Hannah Lowry OReilly finished eighth last year and this year (echoing the boys team) improved to seventh. The girls scored 4½ points from their 15 games with Sarah scoring most at 2/5, Hannah scoring 1½ and Emily scoring 1.
The Netherlands won both competitions. The Irish boys met them in the first round but escaped with only one half point.
- Scores of Preliminary Groups:
- Glorney A: Netherlands 10½, England B 8½, Scotland 8, Ireland 3.
- Glorney B: England A 11½, Czech Rep.11, Wales 6, Belgium 1½.
- Faber A: Netherlands 9, Czech Rep. 4½, England B 3, Scotland 1½.
- Faber B: Wales 7, England A 7, Belgium 2, Ireland 2.
- Scores of Final Groups:
- Glorney A: Netherlands 10, England A 9, Czech Rep. 6, England B 5.
- Glorney B: Wales 11½, Scotland 8½, Ireland 6½, Belgium 3½.
- Faber A: Netherlands 6½, Czech Rep. 4, Wales 4, England A 3½.
- Faber B: England B 8, Belgium 4, Ireland 3½, Scotland 2½.
Matthew Dignam sat down to his last round game suffering from a sprained wrist. He played through the pain barrier to overcome his opponent in the complications. Dignam, Matthew—Van Streels, L
Matthew went on to win the under 16 title at the British Championships the following week.