30 August
Those of you interested in Inter-County chess should note that the new season will be starting within the next month or so.  This year, both of our U120 teams have new captains.

Terriers
Steve Emmerton from Fenton has taken over as Terriers captain from the highly respected Paul Clapham, who decided to stand down as captain at the end of last season.

Bulldogs
Peter Evans who plays for Stafford has taken over as captain of the Bulldogs.  He takes over from David Buckley, who decided to stand down at the end of last season having taken the team to the national quarter finals.

 
Both Peter Evans and Steve Emmerton are keen to make their team a success, so if you are interested in playing for either team, the captains would like to hear from you.

If you are eligible to play for Staffordshire, you can play for either team, but the rules state you cannot play for both teams in the same season.  If you're interested, let the captain know.

21 July
John Fenby had played 37 games without being beaten - a mixture of league, congress, inter-county and even National Club Championship matches.  A mixture of wins and draws, but not a single loss.  Last night was Brewood's final summer league match of the season.  We were playing Bushbury.  John is a member of both clubs, but plays for Brewood in the summer league.  David Buckley is also a member of both clubs, but he plays for Bushbury during the summer league.  As the captains announced the teams, the two players found themselves facing each other on board 3.

As their game reached its conclusion the other 4 games had already finished, as wins for Brewood.  In that final game, John (black) had king on b4 and rook on c1, while David had a rook on b8 and unmoved pawns on a2 and b2.

What happend next was one of those momentary lapses of concentration we've all been victim to.  John moved his king out of check.  Almost the instant he let go with his hand, he knew it was all over, and swept his king aside.  In a similar game just a couple of weeks earlier, another player had worked out a lovely combination that would have secured his opponent's bishop, yet inexplicably moved the wrong piece first - giving a rook away.

At the end of yesterday's match, John commented on facing players from all over the country, but to lose against someone he knows so well and shares membership of the same clubs with.  That run may have come to an end, but it is quite an achievement.
Well done John!

5 July
By Paul Walters
Wolverhampton Chess Club will be at the Wolverhampton Show for the second consecutive year.  Last year's show was fantastic and well supported.  A lot of people had tremendous fun and enjoyed the outdoor chess experience.

This year's event will be huge and includes stuntmen, parachutists and lots more.  I believe the Wolverhampton Chess Club pitch will be by the boating lake on a field behind the tennis courts.  I’ve been in contact with Ray Dolan too and am delighted to he’ll be attending.

A lot of preparation and organising.  The rota's almost finalised and delighted with another year of great support from our chess club members and the County.  Very exciting.

More details on our club website

Dates for your Chess Diary:

Wolverhampton Show 2010:
Chess in the Park.
Sat 10 and Sun 11 July 2010.

30 June
Bearing in mind what happened to me during yesterday evenings meeting in Stafford, I'm not sure I should be writing this.  I found myself on being presented with the Personality of the Year award by newly elected president David Anderton.

During the presentation, Traci Whitfield gave very warm praise for my contributions and involvement:  This website; my support and encouragement for all aspects of the local game - at both junior and adult levels etc; Attending events and helping and advising if I can.

I am of course just one member of our chess community, so my thanks to everyone whose help and support is doing so much for chess and the community.

30 June
Yesterday evening also saw the Staffordshire Chess Association elect a new president.  David Buckley has been president since his election in 2006, but decided to step down this season.

This year saw two names put forward for his replacement, Robert Milner from Cheddleton and David Anderton from Walsall Kipping.  Both of them highly respected and very worthy of holding the role.  After being given 90 seconds each to explain why they though they should be chosen, those present were able to ask questions.  A secret ballot was then taken after they had both left the room.  The result, by 7 votes to 6, was David Anderton.

On the national level, David has been captain of the England team, ECF president and International Director.  On a local level, he captains Staffordshire's Inter-County Open team, which regularly reaches the national stages - this year being beaten 9 - 7 by Sussex, who outgraded the Staffordshire team on all but one of the 16 boards, in the semi-finals.  He is also a strong influence at Walsall Kipping chess club, who enjoy regular success in the county cups.

Congratulations David!

23 June
Players interested in the Birmingham League may like to know they are now developing a new website.  Point your browser at www.birminghamchess.org.uk

30 August
Players should note that due to unforeseen circumstances, Fenton have changed their clubnight to Tuesday.  All other details (venue and start times etc) remain unchanged.

30 August
Players should also note that Warley Quinborne have now changed venue.  They now meet at The Merrivale Club, Vicarage Rd., Oldbury.

24 Auguts
Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Macmillan Rapidplay on Sunday.  Entries were down on last year, but the event raised almost £300 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.  I had intended to take part but unfortunately, a combination of being disabled and living so near to the venue for the V music festival (also held over the weekend) made travel difficult.  Hence this short report.

31 July
Well done Macclesfield.  The players from Macclesfield have put together a very smart website, something they can be really proud of.  If you're in the area and fancy a game of chess on Monday evenings, I'm sure the members will give you a warm welcome.
macchess.110mb.com

21 July
Just a few days after their second successful involvement at the Wolverhampton Show, Paul Walters and the players from Wolverhampton have another reason to be pleased with themselves.  Along with team mates Dave Wightman, Peter Pearson Jones, Gordon Sands (Capt), Richard Dawson, Bob Khoshnevis, Brian Walker and Steve Wilson (who was unbeaten during the season), the team finished their summer season with five wins out of five.

Earlier this year, the club also secured it's second Pittaway cup success in a row (The Pittaway cup is an 8 board knockout with no grading limits).
Congratulations to Paul Walters and all the players!

17 July
By Paul Walters
The Wolverhampton Show 2010 was great.

Our chess stall proved popular for the second year in a row and 100s visited our stall to play chess and enjoy the outdoor chess experience.  Some of our members played continuously and we had prizes available for those who did well against us and tips for those not so strong.

The event received great support from our club and its members and as an organiser I'm delighted with how the weekend went.  Our presence at the event heralded a wonderful achievement and represents a great team effort by all.  A few members of the public were keen to visit our club and all are potential new members.  This is exciting and bodes well for the future.

I was a bit apprehension about our 2nd year at the show and we had a slightly more ambitious format for the show weekend.  Our members all worked well together and played many games with the public.  It took a lot of organising, but well worth it; Even one smile from the public is priceless and everyone had fun.

Some details here
Wolverhampton Chess Club website.
We are also mentioned on the official
Wolverhampton Show website.

30 June
Yesterday evening in Stafford, this year's Staffordshire Chess Association Club of the Year award was presented to Paul Jackson and Tony Meakin from Rugeley Chess Club.  Despite only having eleven members at the moment, the club fielded an extra team in league chess last season, and had the honour of not defaulting a single board all season.

The reliability of players like Paul Jackson, Alan Dobson, Anthony Meakin & Mike Page helped the county's U120, U140 and U160 Inter-County teams achieve their successes this season.

In the last twelve months, players from Rugeley have also become more active in congress chess, with up to 5 of their players competing at events such as the Leamington, Bolton and Stockport Rapidplays, the Blackpool Conference and the Scarborough, Wrekin and Staffordshire congresses.

Congratulations Rugeley.  Well done!

23 June
Despite again being outrated on 15 out of 16 boards again...
Details

23 June
Players involved with the Wolverhampton Summer League who are due to play matches at St George's should note that they now play their matches in Russell House.  This is still part of St George's where they were playing last season, but Russell Hall has 4 steps leading to the entrance.  It does not have a ramp for wheelchair access.