Counties Chess
Union
Midland Counties Chess Union |
Obituaries
Archived News
January 2012 to September 2011
Staffordshire retain Midland Counties Team Championship
28 Jan. Staffs beat Warks 9 - 7 in a match with a high proportion of draws. Use the "County Matches" menu button for more details.
Lincolnshire go top of the Minor County table
28 Jan. Lincs thrashed Shropshire and Leics beat Worcs. Use the "County Matches" menu button for more details.
Bushbury (Staffs) through to National Club Major quarter finals
28 Jan. Julie Johnson reports that Bushbury beat Gloucester 3 - 2. In the quarter finals, Bushbury play St Albans.
Alan Smith from Stockport wins Nottingham Rapidplay
23 Jan. Alan Smith (Stockport) won the Open with 5 from 6. Three players shared the Major: Mark Kenyon (West Nottingham), Andrew Toothill (Ashfield), and Michael Connor (Great Lever) all on 5/6. Janos Wagenbach (Mansfield) 5/ 6 won the Intermediate and Graham Gibson (Gambit, Nottingham) the Minor. The event was organised by Robert Richmond, and attracted 99 players. For full results, see Notts website.
Warks are u180 Midlands champions
21 Jan. Warwickshire neatly reversed last year's result at Tyseley, Birmingham to take the under-180 title. Use County match menu button above and then the left u180 button to see details.
Walsall Kipping club mourns Norman Young
16 Jan. The death of Norman Young (1928-2012) has been announced. Norman was a former president of Staffordshire Chess Association and was active over the board until a few weeks before his death. "He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all of his friends in the Chess World" writes current Staffs President David Anderton in a brief obituary.
Notts team are first Midland Counties Champions this season
14 Jan. A young Notts side comfortably beat Warks, last season's winners, at Nottingham. Use the 'County Matches' menu button for more details.
Shropshire Congress attracts over a hundred players
8 Jan. This new event saw Tristan Cox (Sutton Coldfield, Warks) placed first in the Open. Wiatt Ropp (Stratford, Warks) won the Major and David Buckley (Bushbury, Wolverhampton, Staffs) the Minor tournament. For further results and visit the Shrops website. Francis Best and Steve Rooney were key congress organisers.
Worcs retain lead in u140 county team championship
11 Dec. Results of all three matches are posted. Use the top "County match" menu button above and then the "u140 Championship" button for details.
Steve Crockett leads Midlands Rapidplay GP
5 Dec. After four events, Steve (Redditch, Worcs) leads this tournament by a healthy margin having entered all Midlands Rapidplay events so far. He is pursued by two juniors. Use the "Grand Prix" menu button above to get link to standings in the Midlands Rapid Grand Prix.
Don Mason wins Bury Rapidplay
4 Dec reported by Rod Middleton and Mick Norris. Don Mason (Shirley & Wythall, Birmingham) was first in the Open with 5/6. The Major was shared by Martin Burns (Stockport, GMC) and Brendan Kane (Aigburth, Liverpool) also with 5/6. Tim Hilton (3Cs, Oldham, GMC) was sole first with 5½/6 in the Minor. Entries included a phalanx of juniors from 3C's (Oldham), and a special Junior (u14) Prize was won by Becky Kerton with an impressive 4½ points in the Minor, leaving most of the adults in her wake! Nearly 100 players participated. Controllers Rod Middleton, Julian Clissold and Anthony Lee ran the show cheerfully and efficiently, and the Sports Club staff provided a warm welcome, and refreshments.
Alex Holowczak appointed national controller County Championships
4 Dec. Alex from Oldbury, Worcs has taken on this role. Julie Johnson remains the MCCU representative. The 2012 dates for the preliminary, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals are published on the ECF website.
Northampton Girls second in 4NCL Junior Division 3
26, 27 Nov. Northamptonshire Girls scored 8/14 coming second to Yateley Manor A. In Division 2, midland teams trailed teams from the south.
Midlanders at the British Rapidplay, Leeds
19, 20 Nov. Ali Jaunooby (3Cs, Oldham, GMC) was highest placed Midlander at the British Rapidplay Championships at Leeds on 7 from 11 games. First was GM Gawain Jones 10½/11. In the Under-16 Rapidplay, Ashwin Kalyana (Solihull Checkmates, Warks) was first on 3½/5. In the Intermediate, Phil Talbot (Wigan, Greater Manchester) was first on 8½/11. Harry Croasdale (Nottingham) was first on 4/5 in the one-day under-16 event.
Miroslav Gruca wins Bolton Rapidplay
13 Nov from Rod Middleton, organiser. Miroslav (Widnes) led from the start and half a point clear after four rounds. His final round victory ensured first place by a clear point. Arthur Mehmood (Newport, Shrops) dominated the Major with 6 straight wins. The event attracted nearly ninety players and held at Bolton Ukrainian Club. Results of MCCU players graded under-150 now added to Rapid Grand Prix. Use this link for more details.
Worcestershire and Staffs Terriers share lead in under-120 championship
12 Nov. For more details use "county matches" menu button above.
Greater Manchester Juniors are Champs
6 Nov. Greater Manchester were first with 17½/24 in the under-16 competition. The winning Manchester side comprised: Jamie Horton, Daniel Lea, Nathan taylor, Andrew Horton, Jacob Manton, Tim Chays, Jennifer Neil, Phoebe Price, Jack Virgin, and Jason Lau and was managed by Phil Adams. In the same competition Staffordshire were 7th on 8½. In the under-12 event, Greater Manchester were 3rd, Warwickshire 4th, and Staffordshire 6th equal. The event was organised by NYCA (National Youth Chess Association) at Abraham Derby Academy, Madeley, Shropshire.
Lincolnshire lead in Minor Counties
5 Nov. Worcs and Derbys fought a nail-biting draw while Shrops beat Leics in spite of the latter fielding a grand master. Use the "county matches" menu button above for match details.
Leicestershire under-160 team withdrawal
28 Oct. It is reported that Leicestershire team are withdrawing from the under-160 competition
Pemberton leads in Midlands Rapid Grand Prix after Birmingham Rapidplay
24 Oct. There is a single leader on 7½ points after the second round at Birmingham: Clive Pemberton (S Birmingham) on 7½. Only Adrian Walker (Leamington, Warks) on 7 from the first round leaders is in the top three. Also in the top 3 is talented junior Aloysius Lip (South Birmingham) on 7. Full results and winners' pictures are on the Birmingham and District website.
Warks webmaster runs Half Marathon24 Oct. Colin Reed raised over £600 for Alzheimer Society by completing the Great Birmingham Run in 2hours 45 minutes and 42 seconds. |
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Notts first to score in Counties u-160 Championship
23 Oct. Notts beat Staffs. use the "County Matches" top menu button and follow links for more.
Short 25, Denton Chess Club 0
22 Oct. GM Nigel Short beat all 25 opponents at a simul. Steven Lee (Aigburth, Liverpool) was the last man standing, but eventually he fell. The event was sponsored by Kerry Logistics and SE Lanc Chess League. See pictures at Denton Chess Club.
Shock loss for Greater Manchester in the Minor Counties
16 Oct. After the first round of the Minor counties Championship, Leicestershire and Worcestershire were surprise winners. Lincolnshire, as expected, beat Derbyshire. use the "County Matches" menu button at the top to see more.
First PC Gibbs correspondence results
12 Oct. At an early stage in the 2011-12 Midlands Correspondence championships, three players share the lead. Use the "Correspondence" button on the top menu bar to see details.
Ian Kingston overtakes GM to lead Midlands GP
11 Oct. With the full results of the Leicester HE Atkins Congress now in, Ian Kingston from Nottingham leads by half a point overtaking GM Hebden, and early leaders Besedin and Sygnowski. For a report and pictures visit the Leicester Congress news page.
Three lead Midlands Rapid Grand Prix after first round
10 Oct. There are three joint leaders on 5 points after the first round at Leamington (subject to Controller's scrutiny of eligibility): Karl Forman (Coventry Herbert); Brank Pribranich (Northampton); and Adrian Walker (Leamington, Warks). A total of 40 players have opened their accounts in the RGP and there is all to play for because last year's winner is graded above 150 for this season. For full results at Leamington, visit the organiser's website.
John Redmond wins Leek congress held 9-11 September
11 Oct. Results have now been published. John Redmond (Atticus) won the FIDE rated tournament with 4½/5. In the main section the overall wnnler was Philip Hallen (Bath University) also on 4½ points. Full results are published on the Tournament Director site for the FIDE rated and Main tournaments. Over 100 competitors took part in this annual congress organised by Roger Edwards.
Home victories for under-140 teams in first Midlands county matches
8 Oct. Visit "County Matches" and under-140 competition for full details.
Hebden wins HE Atkins Memorial Tournament at Leicester
2 Oct. GM Mark Hebden (Liecester) claimed first prize in the Open with 4½/5 to join Pavel Besedin and Tomasz Syngowski near the front of the Midlands GP. Daniel Broughton (West Nottingham) won the Major, and Louise Coxon (Solihull) shared the Minor with Hart (Swallow Inn). The Leicestershire annual tournament attracted over 100 players and was ably controlled by Andrew Morley and his team. Equipment and bookstall was provided by Chess Direct. A personal report with pictures is on a news page.
Pavel Besedin and Tomasz Sygnowski are Midlands GP leaders
19 Sep. After two rounds, Pavel and Tomasz stay in the lead.
Manchester Autumn Congress Results
19 Sep. John Pitcher (S Birmingham) and Steven Jones (Padgate) shared first in the open with 4/5. In the Major, Simon Crowley (Stockport) and Robert Clegg (Huddersfield) were first on 4½/5 and in sole first position in the Knights Tournament, was Catherine Smith with 4½/5. Over 100 players competed. Detailed results are on the Manchester Chess Federation site.
Leamington Rapidplay results
11 Sep. The Premier (under-220) was won by Richard Weaving (Solihull Checkmates) with 5/6. The Major (under-175) was a triumph for Henrik Stepanyan (Sutton Coldfield), the only player at the congress to score 6/6. Four players shared honours in the Intermediate (under-150): Karl Forman (Coventry Herbert), Ben Graff (Leamington), Branko Pribanich (Northampton), and Adrian Walker (Leamington) with 5/6. Junior Joseph Friar (Hagley, Worcs) won the Minor (under-120) with 5½/6. Over 120 players competed. Full results are available from the Leamington & District Chess League website.
Midlands Grand Prix schedule
8 Sep. Six standard play events and seven rapidplay events are in the Grand Prix this year. Use the "Grand Prix" top menu button to see more. I hope to put up Manchecter Autumn results as soon as I receive them from the organisers.
Midlands county team championships 2011-12: Minor and under-140 Championships hotly contested
5 Sep. Entries are in and the fixtures list (to see the dates use the "County Matches" menu button above) has been distributed to county contacts. On 23 Aug, Greater Manchester confirmed team entries for Open Division 2 (Minor counties) and the u160 championships. 29 Aug, Shropshire confirm entries for Minor and u140 championships. On 30 Aug Worcs confirms entries for the Minor, u140 and u120 competitions.