Congratulations to Jacob Boswell of Cheddleton on finishing in 8th place in this weekend's UK Open Blitz Finals. A score of 8/15 put him ahead of 4 IM's and a GM. Click here to view the final ranking cross table and results.
Congratulations also to Carmel Barwick of Crewe, who finished 8th in the Women's Fnal, with a score of 7.5/15. Click here to view the final ranking cross table and results.
Many congratulations to Jacob Boswell of Cheddleton on finishing joint first, along with GM Gawain Jones, in the Open Section of the Yorkshire Rapidplay, with a score of 5/6.
Click here for final ranking cross table and results.
Many congratulations to Meir Chess Club on being voted Staffordshire Club Of The Year at last week's County AGM.
The League Playing Rules have been updated to include the addendum, proposed by Colin Abell, allowing players rated U1325 to play in Division 4, regardless of what board they may have previously played on in a higher Division. This addendum was proposed by Colin after the AGM and agreed by all Clubs that replied to him.
On the 4th November 2023 Staffordshire sent 3 teams to the National Youth Championships in Oxford. We were represented in all 3 sections under 12, under 14 and under 18. Thanks go to Jays Travel & Daughter minibuses who got most of the players there as well as a number of travelling parents this was one of the biggest contingents to play in such an event for a long time.
Our under 12 side was very much a development team as most had hardly played many tournaments and the results showed. We knew this before going and the majority will still be under 12 next year so we have time to improve.
The under 14 team had mostly started playing pre-covid and
were much more experienced, and we had some new exciting additions. With a
resounding 6/6 in the last round we managed to shoot up the rankings and come
joint 4th which is an amazing achievement. Isaac Stanley scored 3/3 on board 2
as the team's top performer.
The stars of the show were our under 18 team where we were very strong, we even turned up with a reserve which was rotated round. Our top 2 boards Dylan & Joe took the brunt of the opposing team's best players and allowed Stephen & Sean to mop up the middle order. Momin, Julian & Rhys did great jobs on the lower boards and if you include the reserve match Rhys came away with 3/3.
WIth 2 teams running away with it at the top we went into the last round joint 4th with a team half a point ahead of us, both those teams scored badly in the last round as we picked up 4 points to overtake them and come away with 3rd and a trophy for each player! Well done to the under 18's in this national event!
Ou top performance though goes to a 'junior' who isn't going to be a junior much longer playing on board 4 scoring 3/3 was Sean Tavener... we wish him well as he moves on to adult life! Before he does though we might see all of these players fight it out in the Staffordshire junior championships on November 19th.
If you haven't entered yet: www.staffsjuniorchess.co.uk
Nigel Hancock of Alsager Chess Club has continued to use the opportunity available from Chess in Schools and Communities to further his local library initiative.
Sets were first provided at Sandbach and the sessions are
ongoing with the continued support from Neil Hankey.
Alsager followed some five weeks ago and Tunstall began on Friday 22nd September with a 2-4.30pm timing. The fourth library hosting chess will be Kidsgrove from Saturday 7th October from 9.30-12pm.
These sessions are free of charge and are open to people of all age groups and abilities.
The library
authorities clearly see the benefits of chess to all age groups (including
tackling loneliness in the older generations).
