THE close-knit chess community is mourning the deaths of two Melbourne players killed in a road accident on their way back from a tournament in Canberra.
The group of six Melbourne men, aged from 18 to 30s, were travelling home in a Toyota Tarago along the Hume Freeway near Winton, 220km north of Melbourne, after competing in the Doeberl Cup - Australia's biggest chess tournament - over the Easter long weekend.
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit were told the driver lost control of the van about 11pm, causing it to roll several times before coming to a stop.
Two passengers died at the scene.
The third passenger is in a critical but stable condition at the Alfred Hospital. The fourth is in a serious condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The driver of the vehicle and fifth passenger suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Police at the scene of the double fatality involving chess players driving from Canberra to Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston
Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill told 3AW radio that the driver hadn't been speeding, and was not affected by alcohol or drugs.
He said a mechanical fault may have caused the crash.
The group, members of the Melbourne Chess Club, were competing in the annual tournament held from Thursday to Monday at the Hellenic Club in Woden, Canberra.
The event hosted 240 players, with each game running from four to six hours.
Melbourne Chess Club member Jamie Kenmure, 25, said the news was tragic for the close-knit chess community.
"It's one of those things, you don't wish it upon anyone," Mr Kenmure said.
Mr Kenmure knows five of the six men, and said his thoughts were with their families.
He said the family of one of the men in hospital was "distraught".
One of the men who lost his life "always had a smile on his face".
"Never would you see him even in his bad moments without a smile on his face,'' Mr Kenmure said.
Police inspect the van near Winton. Picture: Channel 7
"I could never say a bad word about him.
"One important message is that the chess community thinks of them and will always be with them.
"We are one family. This is what we are. The chess community is a tight-knit community. No matter what's happened, us chess players will always help and always be there for each other."
Doebrel Cup event organiser Charles Bishop was shocked to learn about the horror smash and said the group of men were well-known, high achievers who were “very involved” in Australia’s competitive chess circles.
“They’re young men and they’re very nice guys,” he said.
The scene off the Hume Freeway. Picture: Channel 7
“The chess community’s very close.
"It’s a small niche.
"There’s hundreds of thousands of kids, but at the level we we were playing at over the weekend ... there were 11 grand masters here in Australia from countries all over the world.
“It’s just one of those communities that when you’re around it, it’s like any social group ... particularly when you’re playing at this level.
“They were well-liked young men and they were lovely young men. It will (shake the chess community).”
MCIU Sergeant Rohan Courtis said the smash, 10km from Benalla, was a tragedy.
“It’s quite a sad, sad time for the families involved in this," he said.
It’s around Easter, it’s supposed to be a happy time spending time with family and friends and it's ended in this tragedy.”
The Hume Freeway has reopened Melbourne-bound between Glenrowan and Winton.
“We know that there was a reasonable amount of traffic on the road at the time," Sgt Courtis said.
"We had two witnesses stop who were travelling in a truck.
"If there are other witnesses who observed the incident we press upon them to contact police or crime stoppers so we can piece together this horrific event."
The double fatality brings Victoria's Easter road toll to five.
Sixty-six people have died on the state's roads this year, 11 fewer people than the same time last year.
Information about the accident to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au
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