Peter Kitchen’s reports on the county chess scene in the Shropshire Star
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Brothers Rudi and Henry Bedford were the stars of the show among the Shropshire delegation at Staffordshire Junior Chess Championship. Rudi, who also plays for the Shrewsbury-based Telepost club, came joint first in the under 10s section with 5/6, which included a first win over his long-time rival Lucas Zheng. Henry had what Shropshire junior …
Brothers lead the charge as juniors star in Staffordshire Read More »
Shropshire’s national league team can be competitive in division three of the Four Nations Chess League this season after receiving a fortunate reprieve from the drop. That’s the view of captain Charles Lowick Higgie, who took heart from seeing the team – which competes under the name Shropshire & Friends – push stronger opposition hard …
Higgie hopeful of national league revival after relegation reprieve Read More »
Shrewsbury A became the first team to beat reigning champions Maddocks A in a home Shropshire Chess League fixture for four-and-a-half years, returning back down the A5 with the points after a stunning 4-1 triumph. Victories for Francis Best, Olusegun Ilesanmi and Dan Lockett saw the visitors spectacularly upset the form book, ending the night …
Shrewsbury claim season’s first big upset as Maddocks’ mammoth home run ends Read More »
Newly-promoted Telford A have made a dream start to life back in the top flight of Shropshire Chess League – while Telepost A have celebrated landing a marquee signing by going top of the early table. Telford won their first division one match for five years, beating Oswestry A at home 3-2 thanks to wins …
Shropshire’s chess league is set to increase in size by more than 50 per cent for the coming season – a further sign of the boom in interest in the game. Eight more teams have provisionally entered Shropshire Chess League – taking the number of sides from 14 last season to 22 this time around …
League swells to three divisions as new teams sign up in numbers Read More »
Additional material added 18/9 – Ed It has involved hours of travelling from one side of the county to another, organising events and helping to set up new community clubs. But the hard work and dedication of Shropshire’s Chris Lewis has all been worth it. Lewis’s tireless efforts have helped inspire an unprecedented boom in …
“Deserving winner” Lewis is lauded after scooping national award Read More »
A league and cup double has been completed while a two-legged playoff was needed to decide the destination of another trophy as Shropshire’s summer chess competitions draw towards a conclusion. Telford A made it a memorable season for all the right reasons as they defeated clubmates Telford B 3-1 in the final of the Minor …
Trophy delight as summer competitions reach crunch time Read More »
The driving force behind the meteoric rise of junior chess in Shropshire has been nominated for a top national accolade. Chris Lewis of Newport Chess Club has organised major junior tournaments that have attracted entries from across the country, helped set up junior chess clubs in libraries in Ludlow and Market Drayton and helped to …
Lewis in line for top accolade for inspiring juniors Read More »
Team knockout competitions will be moved into the regular season in a bid to create the “FA Cup” of the Shropshire chess calendar. The opening rounds of both the Cox Trophy and Minor Knockout will be played between Shropshire Chess League fixtures before Christmas, with the semi finals during the spring and the finals at …
Bid to create “FA Cup of chess” as sport enjoys an unprecedented boom Read More »
Maddocks A have completed the final leg of an historic treble after defeating fellow finalists Telepost B 2.5-1.5 to lift the Cox Trophy. The Oakengates side squeezed home against the tournament’s surprise package to add the knockout trophy to the Shropshire Chess League and Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League title secured earlier in the season. It …