Monday 4 December 2023

UK Open Blitz Finals

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.

Yorkshire Rapidplay 2023

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.

 

Staffordshire Club Of The Year

Many congratulations to Meir Chess Club on being voted Staffordshire Club Of The Year at last week's County AGM.

League Playing Rules Update

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. 

Wednesday 8 November 2023

National Youth Championships

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

 

Saturday 23 September 2023

Chess In Libraries

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).

For further information please contact Nigel on 07955 827051 or by email - nigeljhancock55@gmail.com.

Alternatively, you can contact Neil Hankey on 07747 651145 or by email - hankey.neil@gmail.com, or Andrew Crosby on 07591 493839 or by email - atcrosby@icloud.com.


Tuesday 19 September 2023

Charity Simultaneous Exhibition




FIDE Master Jonathan Blackburn will be giving a simuktaneous exhibition, in aid of the British Red Cross, on Tuesday 26th September at Alsager Chess Club. The entry fee will be £5 and it is open to all NSDCA players. For further information, please contact Jonathan by email - jonathan.blackburn1985@gmail.com. 

Wednesday 30 August 2023

Newcastle-Under-Lyme Invitation Championship

The final results of the recent Newcastle-Under-Lyme Invitation Championship have now been published. Many congratulations to Jacob Boswell of Cheddleton on finishing joint 1st, but actually winning it on tie break against an extremely strong field of players. Click here - for the results and final standings - https://chess-results.com/tnr798315.aspx?lan=1&art=4&flag=30.

Wednesday 9 August 2023

Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club Golden Jubilee

Many congratulations to Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club on their Golden Jubilee. The Club was founded on the 9th August 1973 by Robert Milner, Phil Birks and Ashley Wood. To celebrate this milestone they are running a crazy chess tournament this Friday 11th August, starting at 19:30. This will be preceded by refreshments and brief speeches by the Mayor of Leek and Robert Milner. Representatives from all other NSDCA Clubs are invited to attend.

Newcastle-Under-Lyme Invitational Chess Championship

Jonathan Blackburn is organising the above tournament, which will be running from Wednesday 9th August to Sunday 13th August. Please follow this link fior the results - https://chess-results.com/tnr798315.aspx?lan=1&art=2&flag=30.