Forthcoming Junior Events

Jonathan Blackburn has asked me to publicise the following individual  junior events:

Tuesday 30th May @ Alsager Cricket Club, ST7 NW

Wednesday 31st May  @ Newcastle-Under-Lyme Bridge Club, ST5 1EL

Both events will run from 09:30 to 13:00 and will be ECF rated. Time control is 15 minutes plus 5 second increments. Entry fee £5.

There will also be a School Teams event on Wednesday 28th June @ the Co-Op Academy, ST6 4LD. This event is for teams of 4 players and there will be U13 and U16 sections. 

Please contact Jonathan by email at jonathan.blackburn1985@gmail.com if you would like to enter either of the individual events. For the School Teams event, can a school offcial please contact him.

2022/2023 Season Drawing To A Close

The 2022/2023 season is now drawing to a close, with only the Major Cup still to be decided. Crewe have dominated Division 1, with their 'A' and 'B' teams finishing as Champions and runners-up respectively. They also won the Minor Cup and play Fenton in the Major Cup Fnal on Tuesday. Newcastle pipped Stafford to the Division 2 title by a single point. Alsager had a fine season, with their 'B' team taking Division 3 by a point from Crewe 'E'. They also won the Open and Intermediate Cups. 

Click here to view the full Honours List.

Another Local Congress

The inagural Derbyshire Chess Congress is being held over the weekend of 23rd/24th September in Long Eaton. Full details can be found here - https://belperchess.club/derbyshire-chess-congress-2023.

County Championship Quarter Final

Peter Evans is looking for players for the County Championship Quarter Final match between Essex and Staffordshire on Saturday 20th May. If you are rated under 1850, and are interested in playing, then please contact him by email - peterfkevans@live.co.uk - or on 07486 988180. The match is being played in Wanstead - just at the bottom of the M11 - and has a 1:30 start time.

6th Crewe Chess Congress

Support Your Local Congress !!

Just a reminder that the Crewe Chess Congress is being held over the weekend of 30th June/2nd July. Please use the following link for full details and entry form - https://crewechessclub.co.uk/congress-entry/.

This is always an exceptionally popular and well run event, so don't delay and get your entry in as soon as possible. 

Saturday Morning Chess Session

A new Saturday morning chess session will be starting on 25th February at Sandbach Library from 10:00 - 12:30. Contact Nigel Hancock - nigeljhancock55@gmail.com - for further details. 

North Staffs High School Championships.

I have just received the following from Jonathan Blackburn, the County Junior Secretary :

On Wednesday February 15th, Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy will host the North Staffordshire High Schools championships. Currently 11 schools from all around will send teams of 4 (some more than 1 team!) to see who will be crowned Champions. While it is a competitive event, the focus is on continuing to build upon the recent resurgence of chess at this age range, and provide extra-curricular opportunities for the pupils within these chess clubs.

A big thank you goes out to all those teachers giving their time to run these clubs and bring their pupils to the event! As well as to Chess in Schools & Communities who have provided many of the schools with the equipment to run the clubs.

 

Junior Chess Clubs

Junior chess is flourishing in North Staffs and South Cheshire. 

Welsh International FM, Jonathan Blackburn, runs junior clubs at Alsager Cricket Club on Tuesday evenings, from 5:30 - 7:00, and at Newcastle Bridge Club on Thursday evenings from 5:00 - 6:30. 

Chris Hankey runs the Potteries Junior Chess Club at the Gables pub in Blurton on Saturday mornings from 10:00 - 12:00. 

You can contact Jonathan on 07891 600115, or by email - jonathan.blackburn1985@gmail.com

You can contact Chris on 07866 400719, or by email - chrishankey1964@gmail.com

Shropshire Congress 2023

Congratulations to Jonathan Blackburn of Alsager on winning the Open Section at this weekend's Shropshire Congress, with a score of 4.5/5.

Other standout performances were from Carmel Barwick of Crewe, who finished joint 2nd in the Intermediate Section with a score of 4/5. 

Chris Hankey of Fenton was joint 4th in the Major with 3.5/5.

The highest placed NSDCA players in the Minor Section were Nigel Gardner of Crewe and Lea Podmore of Fenton, both finishing joint 6th with scores of 3.5/5.

Very well done to all the other NSDCA players who took part.

The full results can be viewed at www.chess-results.com and searching for Shropshire Congress.

FIDE Laws Of Chess 2023

The FIDE Laws Of Chess have been updated and can be viewed here, or from the link on the left hand side of the page.