Background
West was born in Babinda, Queensland, and moved to Melbourne at age 12.
West was born in Babinda, Queensland, and moved to Melbourne at age 12.
He became interested in chess during the "Fischer boom" of the early 1970s and joined Heidelberg Chess Club, where Ian Rogers (who later became Australia"s highest ranked player) was a noteworthy junior. West was first selected to represent Australia in 1978 at the World Student Chess Olympiad in Mexico City, followed by the 1978 World Junior Chess Championship in Graz, Austria. Early in his career he represented Australia in two international telechess matches, the first one being in 1977 against Russia (on the junior board) where he lost to future World Champion Garry Kasparov.
He also holds the title of International Master in correspondence chess, where several days are allowed for each move.
Perhaps his most heralded career victory was winning the 1995/96 Australian Chess Championship, in Sydney. During his career West has represented Australia at nine World Chess Olympiads, consisting of Valletta 1980, Lucerne 1982, Thessaloniki 1984, Dubai 1986, Novi Sad 1990, Manila 1992, Moscow 1994, Elista 1998 and Istanbul 2000.
West is not a professional chessplayer and is currently Managing Director of internet company OZmium Pty Limited.