Peter Kitchen’s reports on the county chess scene in the Shropshire Star
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Champions Maddocks A have completed a perfect Shropshire Chess League season with eight wins out of eight. The Oakengates side maintained their 100 per cent record with a 3.5-1.5 win away to a below-strength Telepost A, finishing the campaign five points clear of closest challengers Newport A. It caps a superb season for Glyn Pugh’s …
Maddocks B have secured the club’s second league title of the season after clinching the Shropshire Chess League division two crown in dramatic fashion. Tony Preece’s side got the point they needed against Telepost C to pip Telepost B to top spot in the final round of matches. It comes after Telepost B – who …
Time scrambles – where players frantically make their moves instantaneously before running out of seconds and losing the game – can lead to strange things happening on the chess board. Just ask Newport’s Shane Greenwood and Shrewsbury’s Francis Best – both players mistakenly left their kings in check within a few moves of each other …
Kings left in the firing line during rapidplay time scramble chaos Read More »
While the sporting world is gripped by the Premier League title race between Manchester City and Liverpool, two teams are both tantalisingly close from Shropshire Chess League glory of their own. Maddocks B missed the chance to clinch the division two title after losing 3-2 away to Telepost B, who are now their nearest challengers. …
Premier League is not the only title race in town Read More »
James Holyhead has produced one of the biggest upsets in Shrewsbury Town Championship for many years by defeating defending champion Nathanael Paul in the opening round. Telepost’s Holyhead made up a rating deficit of more than 600 ECF points to record a stunning victory that few would have predicted. Playing with the white pieces in …
Holyhead on the fast track for glory with opening round upset Read More »
Shrewsbury Chess Club have pulled off a coup by enticing Nathanael Paul – Shropshire’s third highest rated player – to join the club from rivals Telepost. Paul, who has an ECF rating of 2142, has signed for the club primarily to enable him to attempt to defend his Shrewsbury Town Championship title, which he won …
Nathanael on the move ahead of town championship campaign Read More »
It forced families across the country apart for several months in the name of public safety – but the lockdown brought about by the Covid-19 has actually helped two brothers to form an unlikely alliance over the chess board. Peter and John Westhead recently played in a competitive chess match for the same team for …
Lockdown enables brothers to join forces at chess for the first time Read More »
The next generation of potential chess stars in Shropshire has clinched promotion on the national league stage – at the first time of asking. Shropshire Juniors have finished sixth in the 34-team division four of the Junior Four Nations Chess League Online competition. Despite ending their campaign last week with a 3.5-1.5 loss to Colchester …
Budding juniors enjoy their moment in promotion spotlight Read More »
Maddocks A are the new chess champions of Shropshire after sealing their first division one title for seven years. The Oakengates-based side came from behind to win 3.5-1.5 away to bottom side Shrewsbury to mathematically secure the championship with two games to go. Glyn Pugh’s side have won all six matches so far and will …
Champagne corks popping as Maddocks end seven-year wait for title Read More »
Telepost A gained revenge over old foes Shrewsbury by winning the Shropshire Chess League county town derby 4-1. Matthew Clark’s side avenged a 3-2 defeat to their local rivals in December with a convincing display to put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the table – and leave Shrewsbury rooted to the foot …
Telepost claim the big one amidst deluge of derbies Read More »