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League trophies presented at the 2019 annual meeting

Presentations were on 30 May 2019 at Amphlett House, Droitwich. Lee Davis receives the Bonham rose bowl for 2019 league champions Malvern: John Edge receives the Cobham Trophy for Division 2 champions Halesowen C: and Tony Shaw receives the Wheatley memorial cup for Worcester, winners of the team handicap KO competition.

County News 2018-9

Jeremy does a Blitz follow-up

21 Aug. The county champion wasted no time in demonstrating his dominance. In the Brian Dudley Memorial Blitz, Jeremy won all seven games finishing two points ahead of Zibi Koncki (Stourbridge) and David Anderton (Walsall). The u150 prize was won by Ray Hall (Warley), the u120 prize by Pete Banks (Halesowen), and the junior tournament was won by Calum Glendenning. The event attracted 34 players. Full results are on the Stourbridge CC website.

 

Jeremy Fallowfield is new Worcestershire Champion

18 Aug. Jeremy (Shirley & Wythall) won all 4 contested games and took a half-point bye in the third round. The crunch game was in round 4 when he faced Peter Kitson (Worcester), but uncharacteristically Peter made a serious error that cost him his queen. Jeremy’s final game was against new player Matthew Holmes (Worcester) who put up tough resistance. He finally succumbed when Jeremy exchanged down to a won ending correctly calculating that none of a chain of passed pawns could be promoted before Jeremy's extra piece could mate his opponent. Julie Wilson (Stourbridge) reatined her women’s title, as did Brian Turner (Malvern) for the veteran title. Both players scored 3½ points. Senior champion was Peter Kitson and Minor champion (u130) was Mathhew Holmes, both on 3 points. The event was organised by Ray Collett and the tournament controlled by Andrew Farthing. Over £100 was raised for St Richard’s Hospice by Andrew’s chess book stall. The association is most grateful to the headteacher and governors of The King's School Worcester for hosting the tournament.

9 Aug. So far, five of last year’s champions are defending their titles: Lee Davis (Open), Julie Wilson (Women), Peter Kitson (Senior), Brian Turner (Veteran) and Arnold Kirkland (Minor).

 

Worcestershire lose to Warwickshire

17 Aug, Steve Crees reports. In a pre-season friendly county match Worcestershire lost 2½-9½. Terry Radford (Droitwich) returned to the board and John Hesketh (Worcester) appeared as a late substitution. See detailed results.

Record entry and funds raised at Bewdley Charity Rapidplay.

 

21 Jul. Michael Ashworth (Wotton Hall, Glos) won first prize with 5½ points from his six games. Runner-up was Mike Friar (Stratford) on tie-break from three other players on 4½ points. The highest scoring ungraded player on tie-break was Paul Wheeler (Worcestershire 4 points); highest junior was Joshua Clarke (King’s School Worcester 3½ points), and highest female player was Jaime Ashworth (Wotton Hall, Glos 3 points). The event attracted forty players and was organised by Teresa Friar, John Whitehead and Keith Thompson and controlled by Andrew Farthing assisted by Ray Collett. Click here for pictures and link to full cross-table.

 

Worcestershire lose to Yorkshire in u140 national final

13 Jul. The overall score at Kettering was 6½-9½. Harry Evans (Redditch), Sam Bradley (Stourbridge), Matthew Holmes (Worcester) and Steve Alcock (Greenlands) for their wins today. Harry achieved the remarkable score of 7½ points from his 8 county games for the team and Sam played in 7 games achieving 5½ points during the 2019-20 campaign. At very short notice and not for the first time, John Hesketh (Worcester) played because of a selected player’s illness.

 

6 Jul. Bewdley chess players were in action outside St Anne's Church as part their annual promotion of the game. John Wrench, former Worcestershire first team captain visited from the Isle of Wight, and Bewdley’s Mayor played. Players in the town have received equipment from Chess in Schools and Communities and have received a three-year grant from Bewdley Development Trust. On 21 July, Bewdley Chess holds a charity quickplay tournament with proceeds going to St Annes' Roof Fund and The Mayor’s Charities.

 

30 Jun, Andrew Farthing reports. Changes to league time controls approved at Annual meeting. After a long debate, new time controls were passed by a large majority. The proposal from Malvern was accepted: 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move from the outset, with a back-up available of a simple 90 minutes per player for the entire game (no intermediate time control) where digital clocks are unavailable. The association was authorised to go ahead with a purchase of pairing software and a 2019 edition of the Worcestershire Closed Congress for county titles. In relation to the forthcoming season, the association intends to enter an under-100 team in the Midland Counties team competitions. Peter Kitson stepped down from being President and the meeting offered the position to Ray Collett (Worcester) which was accepted. Other positions were unchanged. Malvern won Division 1 and Halesowen C won Division 2 of the County League.

 

Greenlands rapidplay

15 Jun, Steve Crees reports. Kevin Hurney and Stephen Woodhouse shared the Open Trophies, with Kevin winning the play-off outright. Richard Collett won the Graded section. Matt Rowe won the ungraded section and twelve-year-old Aaron Machado won the Junior event.

County players at Cotswold Congress

28 May, Andrew Farthing reports. Malvern player Ian Clarke shared first place with two others in the Major (under-155) tournament finishing on 4½ points. Andrew Farthing helped both with the organisation of the event and in controllong one of the sections.

Worcester win Wheatley Cup 20 May. Worcester win the Wheatley Cup for the third time in a match against Shirley & Wythall.   Picture Tony Shaw: Worcester’s team captain John Hesketh (left) receives the cup from Laurence Wheatley at Greenlands Chess Club, Longbridge, Birmingham. Worcester won 4.5 - 0.9. See detailed results.

18 May. Worcestershire u140 team beat Hertfordshire 10-6 at a match in Braunstone, Northants in a quarter final national stage match. In the national semi-final, Worcestershire play Essex on the weekend of 8 June. More information on the county teams page....

 

12 May. Worcestershire Megafinal results. Nearly a hundred junior players converged on The King's School Worcester for a county stage of the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge. Winners attending secondary schools were: Viswamedha Nalabotu (KE Camp Hill Sch, Birmingham under-15); Kuderin Abylay (Malvern Coll the under-14), Charlotte Tunley (Blessed Edward Oldcorne Coll, Worcester under-15 girls’), Joshua Clarke (The King’ School, Worcester, under-13) Alexander Ryan (KE Camp Hill Sch, Birmingham, under-12). In the tournaments for players at junior schools, Hallfield School, Edgbaston dominated, and St Mary’s Harborne had winners. Forty players qualified for the Midlands Giga fina to be played at Solihull in July. The tournament was controlled by Alex Holowczak (Warley) assisted by Matthew Carr (Stafford), Ray Collett and Simon Berry (Worcester), Nigel Towers (Redditch) and Lukasz Rybarczyk (Malvern College).

 

26 Apr, Tony Shaw reports. The Quarter Final national stage match against Hertfordshire for the Worcestershire u140 team will be played on Sat 18 May at Braunstone Village Hall, between Rugby and Daventry..

 

24 Apr. Halesowen C are 2018-9 League Division 2 Champions. Halesowen won their match to stave off Stourbridge's late challenge.

 

11 Apr. Malvern are 2018-9 Worcestershire League Champions. In their final match against Worcester City, Malvern won convincingly.

31 Mar. Worcestershire u140 team have been paired with Hertfordshire in the national quarter final match.

 

23 Mar. Worcestershire first team beat Leicestershire 9-7 away at Sharnford, Leics. This was a fine win against a team that looked certain earlier in the season to win the Midlands county team championship.

 

23 Mar. Worcestershire decided not to enter a u180 team in the national stage so as to give Worcestershire u140 team and captain Tony Shaw the best chance to win their quarter final match in the national stage.

 

2 Mar. Worcestershire u140 are Midlands County team champions. Worcestershire beat Nottinghamshire 9-7 away. New captain Tony Shaw has led his team to 5 team wins this season.

 

23 Feb. Worcestershire u120 team draw 6-6 with Staffordshire to get points on the table.

 

16 Feb. Worcestershire u120 team lose to Leicestershire.

 

9 Feb. Worcestershire u140 team draw 8-8 with Derbyshire away.

 

2 Feb. Worcestershire first team lost away to Nottinghamshire 7-9. WGM Katarzyna Toma (Evesham), on board 2 and making her first appearance for Worcestershire, and Brian Turner (Malvern) won their games.

 

26 Jan. Worcestershire u140 at home beat Lincolnshire 10-6.

 

19 Jan. Worcestershire first team lost 6-10 to Warwickshire at Greenlands Social Club, Longbridge, Birmingham. Pavel Besedin (South Birmingham), John Edge (Halesowen), and Stephen Mellor (Worcester) won their games.

 

31 Dec, Paul Sharratt reports. Provisional entry for national u180 county team competition. Worcestershire have stated the first team wishes to compete in the national Minor Counties stages if matches in the new year go our way. In the event that the first team does not does not qualify, the county will compete in the u180 national stage for the first time.

 

8 Dec. Worcestershire u-140 playing at Webheath Redditch, beat Warwickshire 11½-4½. This convincing win puts the u140 team on course for the national stage in 2019.

 

1 Dec. Worcestershire first team lose 6½-9½ playing Lincolnshire. Geoff Marchant (Malvern), Lee Davis (Malvern), Finlay Bowcott-Terry (Halesowen) amd new cap Mihai Zbircea (Redditch) won their games. Skipper Stephen Woodhouse was especially impressed with Finlay’s win. New caps IM Lawrence Cooper (board 1) and Hossam Aboushady (Stourbridge, board 15) drew their games.

 

24 Nov. Worcestershire u140 beat Staffordshire 9½-6½ at Worcester. Harry Evans (Halesowen), David Waud (Kidderminster), John Varilone (Kidderminster), and David Cleak (Droitwich) won their games.

 

18 Nov. Worcs players in 50+ World Championship at Bled. GM Keith Arkell (Halesowen) and Lee Davis (Malvern) are playing. Keith is seeded 7th and Lee is seeded 70th in a field of over 100. You can follow some games and get all results at chess-results.com.

 

17 Nov. Worcestershire u120 playing away lose to Derbyshire 4½-7½. Monty Woodhouse (Captain, Greenlands) and Simon Berry (Worcester) won their games on boards 5 and 10 against much higher graded opponents.

 

14 Nov, Dustin Bowcott reports. End of an era at Halesowen. John Southcote has announced he is retiring from post of Secretary for Halesowen Club - a position he has held for ten years - from 1 December when he relocates to Liverpool. Worcestershire Chess Association assistant secretary Ray Collett writes: "John has been a most conscientious club secretary and players throughout the county will thank him for a decade of service and will wish him good fortune in his new home." John writes that he will be coming back to visit and perhaps an occasional game. From 1 December Don Curry will take over co-ordination of Halesowen fixtures in all leagues and John Edge continues as main contact for Worcestershire Chess League and Worcestershire Chess Association.

 

30 Oct, Jim Keene reports. Correspondence season delayed start. Captain Jim Keene has been told there are problems with the web server and the start has been put back by the controller.

27 Oct, Tony Shaw reports. Worcestershire u140 team beat Leicestershire. In a splendid opening fixture, Worcestershire u140 won away at Leicester 10½-5½ points, Sam Bardley (Stourbridge), Harry Evans (Halesowen), Eric Horwill (Stourbridge), David Waud (Kidderminster), David Cleak (Droitwich), and Steve Alcock (Stourbridge) won their games.

 

13 Oct. ECF Annual Meeting. Worcestershire-based Alex Holowczak (Warley Quinborne) was elected unopposed to the post of Director for Junior Chess. Other directors were re-elected unopposed except for the post of Director for Home Chess: Adrian Elwin had a narrow win over Tim Wall. The meeting agreed to recommend a phased increase in ECF membership fees to help fund strong international teams and ideas in the strategy paper published for the meeting. Recommended increases will be subject to formal votes at future meetings. Worcestershire CA secretary Paul Sharratt, who attended the meeting, comments: "I voted against because I believe it to be too much too quickly - I have no objection to an eventual fee of around £20 but it can be achieved over 2-3 years. The ECF has sufficient funds in its reserves to support this and still achieve its objectives with immediate effect. There was also much disquiet about the issue being put to a vote at the AGM rather than at the Finance Meeting next April - some, including myself, felt it was an attempt to put pressure on the Finance Meeting to comply - given that it still has the final say on the matter. There is, in my opinion, a need for the ECF board to provide more detail in its proposals through a more carefully constructed development plan, and more accountability in its procedures through publication of key performance indicators for its various officers. This is a view shared by others in the meeting - there is a danger of a schism between the board and council if formal communication is not improved and deadlines for publication of papers are not adhered to." The Coventry & District CL delegate has published a summary of his impressions of the meeting on the ECForum.

 

10 Oct. Worcestershire B crash out of Butler-Thomas correspondence chess. Captain Jim Keene was unable to find two new players for the B team and reluctantly has had to withdraw Worcestershire B team from the competition. The county still has a presence in county correspondence chess with the Worcestershire A team in Division 3 of the British County & District Correspondence Chess Club.

 

6 Oct. Worcestershire u120 lose to Warwickshire. The overall score was 4-8, but the result was in doubt for some time. New captain Monty Woodhouse hopes to draw upon a wider range of players for a good result in the next fixture against Nottinghamshire.

 

26 Sep. Draw for team KO Cup. The competition for the Wheatley Cup is underway. In the first round games: Mercia play Worcester, Kidderminster play Greenlands, Redditch play Shirley & Wythall and Malvern play Droitwich.

 

16 Sep. County juniors do well in Terafinal. Current county junior champion Finlay Bowcott-Terry scored 4 points from his 6 games in the under-14 UK Chess Challenge tournamant at Peterborough and Manvith Sandhu scored 3½ ponts in the under-10 tournament. Full results on the chess results server.

 

29 Aug, Stourbridge report. Power cut shortens Dudley Memorial Rapidplay. In the tournament to celebrate Brian Dudley’s contributions to Stourbridge chess Nic Fallowfield was the winnner on 5½ points from 6 games. The power cut came just as father Nic was playing the key game against son Jeremy, but power was resored nearly half-an-hour later and the tournament was completed with one fewer round than originally planned. Jermy was second on 5, Joe Friar (Kidderminster) shared third place with David Anderton (Walsall) and Hossam Aboushady won the u145 grading prize. Ethan Chan Smith won the junior tournament with 5/5 points and Cameron Henry (Kidderminster was second. See full details and pictures on the Stourbridge website.

Division One 2018-9

Malvern are 2018-9 League champions, Halesowen A are runners-up

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Match Points
Malvern	10*	7*	2	1	39*	21	16*
Halesowen A	10	5	3	2	36	24	13
Worcester City	10	5	2	3	32	28	12
Olton	10	3	4	3	30½	29½	10
Halesowen B	10‡	2	1	7‡	23	37‡	5
Kidderminster A	10	2	0	8	19½	40½	4
Notes: * includes match won by default; ‡ includes conceded match.

2018-9 Division One news

30 Apr. At the end of a poor season, Kidderminster win the final fixture in the season against Olton.

25 Apr. Halesowen A beat Kidderminster A with one game adjourned and finally conceded by Kidderminster a few days later. Halesowen A’s win puts them into second position above Worcester.

11 Apr. Malvern completed their fixtures with a win over chasing Worcester to make Malvern league champions. Theoretically Worcester could still have topped Malvern, but to do so they would have had to win 5½-½ - which no team has achieved against Malvern for many years.

26 Mar. Worcester travelled to Halesowen B and the scores are tied with one game unfinished. The Halesowen player resigned his game a few days later making the final score 2½-3½ in favour of Worcester.

22 Mar. Worcester go into second position with a home win against Olton.

7 Mar. Two match results today. Halesowen B beat Kidderminster A. In the second match, Halesowen A and Olton were at a stand-off with two-and-a-half points each with one game adjourned at the conclusion of the first session on 5 March, the outstanding result on board 2 was agreed drawn with a match draw the following day.

1 Mar. Malvern beat Halesowen A. Is Halesowen's domination in the Worcestershire League coming to an end?

28 Feb. Olton struggle against Halesowen B. Halesowen B resigned the board 1 game overnight to produce a match draw. With one game adjourned the score was 3-2 in Halesowen's favour.

20 Feb. Malvern go further ahead in a match where the home team defaulted a board.
14 Feb. Halesowen A catch up with Malvern witn a draw against Worcester.

7 Feb. Olton beat Kidderminster in a closely fought match to take olton into third place.

30 Jan. Worcester-Malvern match postponed because of threatened snow.

29 Jan. Halesowen A, as expected, win against Halesowen B to bring the A team within a point of leaders Malvern

24 Jan. Worcester City beat Kidderminster to claim second spot in the table.

22 Jan. Halesowen B conceded their match against Malvern putting the latter further ahead.

14 Jan. The board 2 game Olton-Malvern was agreed a draw without resumption giving Malvern the match and putting them at the top of the table.

9 Jan. Brian Turner finally won his adjourned board 3 game for Malvern against Worcester near the end of the third session of play.

8 Jan. Malvern have at least a draw against Olton with one game unfinished and due to be resumed on 15 January.
7 Dec. Malvern beat Worcester with one game unfinished.

5 Dec. Kidderminster beat Halesowen B.

27 Nov. Olton, playing at home beat a weakened Halesowen team to challenge for the lead.

20 Nov. Halesowen B lead Malvern 3-2. One game was unfinished, but agreed drawn without resumption giving Halesowen B the match.

3 Nov. Malvern and Halesowen A agree results of adjourned games to halve their match on 16 Oct match.

2 Nov. Malvern beat Kidderminster A.

1 Nov. Worcester City in a home match were ahead of Halesowen B with the board 1 game unfinished, but Halesowen resigned that game the following day.
23 Oct. Halesowen A beat Worcester City to go into a clear lead in Division 1.

18 Oct. Worcester City gain their first match win against Kidderminster, but one game is unfinished.

16 Oct. Halesowen A lead in their away match with Malvern.

12 Oct. Malvern and Olton Draw

9 Oct. Halesowen A, without grandmaster support, easily overcome the B team.

27 Sep. Worcester City, a man down gain an away draw against Olton.

26 Sep. Halesowen A crush Kidderminster.

4 Sep. Olton start the ball rolling with a win over Halesowen B

 

2018

2018-9 Date	Division 1 Fixtures	Result
Tue 4 Sep	Olton - Halesowen B	4 - 2
Wed 26 Sep	Kidderminster A - Halesowen A	1 - 5
Thu 27 Sep	Olton - Worcester City	3 - 3
Tue 9 Oct	Halesowen A - Halesowen B	5 - 1
Fri 12 Oct	Malvern - Olton	3 - 3
Tue 16 Oct	Halesowen A - Malvern	3 - 3
Thu 18 Oct	Worcester City - Kidderminster A	4½ - 1½
Tue 23 Oct	Halesowen A - Worcester City	4 - 2
Thu 1 Nov	Worcester City - Halesowen B	4 - 2
Fri 2 Nov	Malvern - Kidderminster A	5 - 1
Tue 20 Nov	Halesowen B - Malvern	3½ - 2½
Tue 27 Nov	Olton - Halesowen A	4 - 2
Wed 5 Dec	Kidderminster A - Halesowen B	4 - 2
Fri 7 Dec	Malvern - Worcester City	4½ - 1½
Tue 8 Jan	Olton - Malvern (at Greenlands)	2½ - 3½
Fri 18 Jan	Malvern - Halesowen B	6 - 0 def
Wed 23 Jan	Kidderminster A - Worcester City	1 - 5
Tue 29 Jan	Halesowen B - Halesowen A	2 - 4
Wed 6 Feb	Kidderminster A - Olton	2½ - 3½
Thu 14 Feb	Worcester City - Halesowen A	3 - 3
Wed 20 Feb	Kidderminster A - Malvern	2 - 4
Tue 26 Feb	Halesowen B - Olton	3 - 3
19-22 Apr	Easter
Fri 1 Mar	Malvern - Halesowen A	3½ - 2½
Tue 5 Mar	Halesowen A - Olton	3 - 3
Thu 7 Mar	Halesowen B - Kidderminster A	5 - 1
Thu 21 Mar	Worcester City - Olton	3½ - 2½
Tue 26 Mar	Halesowen B - Worcester City	2½ - 3½
Thu 11 Apr	Worcester City - Malvern	2 - 4
Thu 25 Apr	Halesowen A - Kidderminster A	4½ - 1½
Tue 30 Apr	Olton - Kidderminster A	2 - 4

 

Team captains:

• Halesowen A: Captn John Edge; Secy, John Southcote
• Halesowen B: Captn Dave Etheridge; Secy John Southcote
• Kidderminster A: Captn John Varilone; Secy, David Waud
• Malvern: Captn, John Knee; Secy, Brian Turner
• Olton: Captn Mark Cundy; Secy, Rob Reynolds
• Worcester City: Captn Andrew Farthing; Secy: Ray Collett

Division I detailed match scores 2018-9 season

 

Board	Home team: Olton	Score	Away team: Halesowen B
1 2 3 4 5 6	Phillip Holt Mark Cundy Richard Smith Richard Liszewski Ken Allen Jon Asbury	1 - 0 1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1 1 - 0	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Adrian Priest Dustin Bowcott Mark Bethel Andy Ambrose Manvith Sandhu
	Totals	4 - 2	Division 1 match played 4 Sep
Reported by: Dustin Bowcott and Mark Cundy.

Board	Home team: Kidderminster A	Score	Away team: Halesowen A
1 2 3 4 5 6	James Friar David Close Mark Riley David Spowart David Waud John Varilone	0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 ½ - ½ ½ - ½	Keith Arkell Nick Arkell Malcolm Hunt John Edge Mike Hadley Paul Evans
	Totals	1 - 5	Division 1 match played 26 Sep
Reported by John Edge. Board 3 was the first to finish with resignation after the loss of a black piece in a London System. Positional pressure on Board 1 led to an exchange in to a won position. A closed Sicilian on board 4 suddenly finished with the white king caught in a mating net, making the score 3-0 to Halesowen. Boards 5 and 6 petered out to draws after very tense positions. Board 2 was the last to finish as white forced a pawn through.

Board	Home team: Olton	Score	Away team: Worcester City
1 2 3 4 5 6	Phil Holt Mark Cundy Richard Smith Robert Wallman Ken Allen Jon Asbury	½ - ½ 1 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 ½ - ½ 1 - 0	Peter Kitson Ben Fuller Ray Collett Tony Shaw Andrew Farthing default
	Totals	3 - 3	Division 1 match played 27 Sep
Reported by Andrew Farthing, Mark Cundy and Ray Collett: Worcester were lucky: with players away and having struggled to put a team together, captain Andrew Farthing found that he had to return to the board for his first graded game for a couple of years. Then, on the day of the match one of his selection was unable to play . The top boards featured the Pirc Defence. Olton scored the first win on board 2 when Cundy smashed through with a massive king-side attack. Players agreed a draw on board 1 after a fluctuating struggle when they reached a level major piece ending. Tony Shaw got a deadly back rank pin to force material gain and then cleaned up. From a Ruy Lopez, and instead of a queenless middle game or massive exchanges to a minor piece ending, players went into a complex middlegame where the black queen was mercilessly harried. Collett won the exchange, but the game was far from over because black had possibilities of a king-side attack. As players ran short of time, Collett took advantage of the black queen's misplacing to sacrifice his own and gain a further piece. The last game to finish was board 5 where Allen had the advantage in a rook and pawn ending, but he had doubled pawns and was blockaded so offered a draw which drew the match.

Board	Home team: Halesowen A	Score	Away team: Halesowen B
1 2 3 4 5 6	Nick Arkell Stewart Fishburne Malcolm Hunt John Edge Dale Jackson Don Curry	½ - ½ 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 ½ - ½	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Dustin Bowcott Andy Ambrose Manvith Sandhu John Davis Richard Woolley
	Totals	5 - 1	Division 1 match played 9 Oct
Reported by Dustin Bowcott:

Board	Home team: Malvern	Score	Away team: Olton
1 2 3 4 5 6	Geoff Marchant Lee Davis Brian Turner Leigh Canham Ian Clarke John Knee	½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½	Mark Cundy Richard Smith Gary Hope Rob Reynolds Rob Wallman Jon Asbury
	Totals	3 - 3	Division 1 match played 12 Oct
Reported by John Knee and Mark Cundy: A cautious approach by Malvern to their first match of the season and away players wanting to finish in good time for the journey back led players to reach early agreements. Last to finish was board 1, where Marchant's promising position petered out to an equal ending.

Board	Home team: Halesowen A	Score	Away team: Malvern
1 2 3 4 5 6	Nick Arkell Stewart Fishburne John Edge Dale Jackson Mike Hadley Don Curry	½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1 ½ - ½	Geoff Marchant Brian Turner Ian Clarke Leigh Canham Geoffrey Herbert Matthew Jordan
	Totals	3 - 3	Division 1 match played 16 Oct
Reported by: John Edge. Halesowen Board 4's name corrected 26 Oct. The results of adjourned games on boards 2 and 4 were agreed on 3 Nov: a win for Fishburne and a draw between Jackson and Canham.

Board	Home team: Worcester City	Score	Away team: Kidderminster A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Peter Kitson Stephen Mellor Nick Harris Ray Collett Tony Shaw Phillip Austin	1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 0 - 1 1 - 0	Maurice Bissell John Chester David Close Alan Preece David Spowart John Varilone
	Totals	4½ - 1½	Division 1 match played 18 Oct
Reported by: Andrew Farthing & John Edge. Kidderminster conceded board 3 overnight after players had reached a knight and pawn ending, with the Kidderminster player's knight apparently trapped. Kidderminster resigned the board 1 game without resumption.

Board	Home team: Halesowen A	Score	Away team: Worcester City
1 2 3 4 5 6	Keith Arkell Nick Arkell Stewart Fishburne Malcolm Hunt John Edge Don Curry	1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½	default Peter Kitson Ray Collett Phil Austin Andrew Farthing Will Kemp
	Totals	4 - 2	Division 1 match played 23 Oct
Reported by: Andrew Farthing. It looked for part of the session that Worcester might cause an upset. Farthing had chances to win and Collett won the exchange, but allowed his opponent's pieces to accupy key squares and so settled for a draw. At the end of the session, the position on board 2 was balanced with a multi-pawn and queen ending and was agreed drawn the following day.

Board	Home team: Worcester City	Score	Away team: Halesowen B
1 2 3 4 5 6	Peter Kitson Ed Osbourn Nick Harris Ray Collett Tony Shaw Andrew Farthing	1 - 0 0 - 1 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Dustin Bowcott Mark Bethel Andy Ambrose Tony Stokes Silas Bowcott-Terry
	Totals	4 - 2	Division 1 match played 1 Nov
Reported by Andrew Farthing and Dustin Bowcott. Board 1 was unfinished at the end of the session, but Halesowen resigned it the following day.

Board	Home team: Malvern	Score	Away team: Kidderminster A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Geoff Marchant Lee Davis Leigh Canham Ian Clarke Geoffrey Herbert Matthew Jordan	½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0	John Wrench Maurice Bissell Dave Spowart John Varilone Clive Billinge Terry Pountney
	Totals	5 - 1	Division 1 match played 2 Nov
Reported by: Geoffrey Herbert

Board	Home team: Halesowen B	Score	Away team: Malvern
1 2 3 4 5 6	Finlay Bowcot-Terry Adrian Priest Dustin Bowcott Mark Bethel Andy Ambrose Manvith Sandhu	1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½	Geoff Marchant Brian Turner Ian Clarke Geoffrey Herbert Matthew Jordan John Knee
	Totals	3½ - 2½	Division 1 match played 20 Nov
Reported by: John Knee and Dustin Bowcott. Board 3 was unfinished at the end of the session, but agreed drawn three days later.

Board	Home team: Olton	Score	Away team: Halesowen A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Philip Holt Alan Lloyd Mark Cundy Gary Hope Jon Asbury Rob Reynolds	1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 1 - 0	Stewart Fishburne Malcolm Hunt John Edge Dale Jackson Peter Banks default
	Totals	4 - 2	Division 1 match played 27 Nov
Reported by John Edge and Mark Cundy: Unexpected unavailability of a regualr team member and simultaneous BDCL fixtures led to Halesowen having to default a board. This was Halesowen A team's first loss since October 2014.

Board	Home team: Kidderminster A	Score	Away team: Halesowen B
1 2 3 4 5 6	John Wrench John Chester John Varilone John Whitehead John Gittus Remi Harris	0 - 1 ½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 1 - 0 1 - 0	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Dustin Bowcott Andy Ambrose Silas Bowcott-Terry default default
	Totals	4 - 2	Division 1 match played 5 Dec
Reported byJohn Varilone. Although the game on board 2 was adjourned, a draw was agreed without resumption.

Board	Home team: Malvern	Score	Away team: Worcester City
1 2 3 4 5 6	Geoff Marchant Lee Davis Brian Turner Ian Clarke Leigh Canham Geoffrey Herbert	1 - 0 0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 1 - 0	Peter Kitson Ed Osbourn Ray Collett Andrew Farthing Tony Shaw William Kemp
	Totals	4½ - 1½	Division 1 match played 7 Dec
Reported by Andrew Farthing. Kitson resigned the game on board one the day after the match. The board 3 game, where Turner is a pawn up in a double rook ending was resumed on 21 Dec, but a further session on 9 January was required. White resigned after black’s 99th move.

Board	Home team: Olton	Score	Away team: Malvern
1 2 3 4 5 6	Alan Lloyd Mark Cundy Richard Smith Rob Reynolds Rob Wallman Ken Allen	½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½	Geoff Marchant Lee Davis Brian Turner Ian Clarke Geoff Herbert John Knee
	Totals	2½ - 3½	Division 1 match played 8 Jan
Reported by John Knee and Mark Cundy. The board 2 game was agreed drawn six days later later without resumption.

Board	Home team: Kidderminster A	Score	Away team: Worcester City
1 2 3 4 5 6	Maurice Bissell John Chester Mark Riley David Spowart David Waud John Varilone	½ - ½ 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 ½ - ½ 0 - 1	Peter Kitson Ed Osbourn Stephen Mellor Ray Collett Tony Shaw Philip Austin
	Totals	1 - 5	Division 1 match played 23 Jan
Reported by: Andrew Farthing. The board 2 game was adjourned, but the Kidderminster player conceded defeat a couple of days later without resuming play.

Board	Home team: Halesowen B	Score	Away team: Halesowen A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Dustin Bowcott Adrian Priest Andy Ambrose Mark Bethel Manvith Sandhu	0 - 1 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1 0 - 1 1 - 0	Keith Arkell Nick Arkell Malcolm Hunt Stewart Fishburne John Edge Mike Hadley
	Totals	2 - 4	Division 1 match played 29 Jan
Reported by: Dustin Bowcott and John Edge. Board 3 finished first with a draw after exchanges in a London System. First blood went to the 'A' side on board 4 after white misplayed the follow-up to a sacrifice. This was followed by another point on board 5 as white found a way through a cramped black Alekhine Defence. On board 6 the 'B' side hit back, after black's K-side attack narrowly failed to finish off his young opponent, and then paid the price for being over-extended. Board 1 sealed the match for the A side, Keth Arkell using his experience to convert a level endgame, probably drawn with best play. A draw was finally agreed on board 2 with most pieces still on the board in a blocked hippopotamus position as it became apparent that it was dangerous for either side to force a breakthrough.

Board	Home team: Kidderminster A	Score	Away team: Olton
1 2 3 4 5 6	James O’Dell Maurice Bissell David Waud Alan Preece John Varilone Terry Pountney	½ - ½ 0 - 1 ½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 0 - 1	Alan Lloyd Mark Cundy Richard Smith Robert Wallman Jon Asbury Jim Gillespie
	Totals	2½ - 3½	Division 1 match played 6 Feb
Reported by: Mark Cundy and John Varilone

Board	Home team: Worcester City	Score	Away team: Halesowen A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Peter Kitson Stephen Mellor Nick Harris Ray Collett Philip Austin Robin Hayles	½ - ½ 0 - 1 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½	Nick Arkell Stewart Fishburne Malcoplm Hunt John Edge Dale Jackson Mike Hadley
	Totals	3 - 3	Division 1 match played 14 Feb
Reported by: Andrew Farthing

Board	Home team: Kidderminster A	Score	Away team: Malvern
1 2 3 4 5 6	Mark Riley Dave Spowart Maurice Bissell Dave Close John Varilone Notified default	0 - 1* ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1	Geoffrey Marchant Lee Davis Brian Turner Ian Clarke Geoffrey Herbert --
	Totals	2 - 4	Division 1 match played 20 Feb
Reported by: John Varilone. *Score on board 1 corrected 22 Feb.

Board	Home team: Halesowen B	Score	Away team: Olton
1 2 3 4 5 6	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Dustin Bowcott Adrian Priest Andy Ambrose Mark Bethel Manvith Sandhu	0 - 1 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 1 - 0	Phil Holt Alan Lloyd Mark Cundy Robert Wallman Ken Allen Jim Gillespie
	Totals	3 - 3	Division 1 match played 26 Feb
Reported by: Dustin Bowcott. The board 1 game was initially adjourned, but was resigned the next day.

Board	Home team: Malvern	Score	Away team: Halesowen A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Geoff Marchant Lee Davis Brian Turner Leigh Canham Ian Clarke Matthew Jordan	½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 1 - 0 ½ - ½	Malcolm Hunt Stewart Fishburne John Edge Mike Hadley Don Curry Paul Evans
	Totals	3½ - 2½	Division 1 match played 1 Mar
Reported by Brian Turner and John Knee. Three games were decided early: Lee Davis used a fianchettoed bishop to augment queen side pressure. Black defended accurately to reach a level position. On board 3 the position opened quickly, leading to complex tactical play. After the minor pieces were exchanged, the position evened out and a draw was agreed. Ian Clarke scored a convincing win after opening the centre with. He weakened white's queen-side pawns and gained material after attacking the king. After moves were sealed in the remaining games, draws were agreed on all three boards, giving Malvern the match. It seems fair to state that Malvern had a distinct advantage on board 6, in a rook and pawn ending with an active rook. Leigh Canham defended accurately on board 4 after his opponent gained a space. Board 1 was unclear, with both players having potential passed pawns on opposite wings in a bishop versus knight ending.

Board	Home team: Halesowen A	Score	Away team: Olton
1 2 3 4 5 6	Nick Arkell Malcolm Hunt Stewart Fishburne John Edge Dale Jackson Don Curry	0 - 1 ½ - ½ 1 - 0 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 0 - 1	Alan Lloyd Mark Cundy Dave Gostelow Gary Hope Rob Wallman Ken Allen
	Totals	3 - 3	Division 1 match played 5 Mar
Reported by Mark Cundy and John Edge. The game on board 2 was adjourned, but a draw agreed on the following day.

Board	Home team: Halesowen B	Score	Away team: Kidderminster A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Dustin Bowcott Andy Ambrose Mark Bethel Manvith Sandhu Silas Bowcott-Terry	1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 0 - 1	Maurive Bissell John Chester Mark Riley David Spowart David Close John Varilone
	Totals	5 - 1	Division 1 match played 7 Mar
Reported by: John Varilone and Dustin Bowcott.

Board	Home team: Worcester City	Score	Away team: Olton
1 2 3 4 5 6	Peter Kitson Ed Osbourn Nick Harris Ray Collett Phil Austin Robin Hayles	1 - 0 0 - 1 1 - 0 ½ - ½ 0 - 1 1 - 0	Alan Lloyd Mark Cundy Richard Liszewski Rob Reynolds Robert Wallman John Asbury
	Totals	3½ - 2½	Division 1 match played 21 Mar
Reported by: Mark Cundy

Board	Home team: Halesowen B	Score	Away team: Worcester City
1 2 3 4 5 6	Finlay Bowcott-Terry Dustin Bowcott Adrian Priest Andy Ambrose Mark Bethel Silas Bowcott--Terry	1 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 ½ - ½ 1 - 0	Peter Kitson Stephen Mellor Ray Collett Phil Austin Tony Shaw Phil Smith
	Totals	2½ - 3½	Division 1 match played 26 Mar
Reported by: Andrew Farthing and Dustin Bowcott. The board 4 game was unfinished on the night, but Halesowen resigned the game without resumption a few days later

Board	Home team: Worcester City	Score	Away team: Malvern
1 2 3 4 5 6	Peter Kitson Ed Osborne Nick Harris Ray Collett Philip Austin Tony Shaw	½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1 ½ - ½ 0 - 1 ½ - ½	Lee Davis Geoff Marchant Brian Turner Leigh Canham Ian Clarke Geoffrey Herbert
	Totals	2 - 4	Division 1 match played 11 Apr
Reported by: Andrew Farthing. Boards 1 and 6 finished first. Collett had an advantage against Canham, but conceded a draw as his opponent’s pieces gained activity. The board 2 game went to the wire with players facing a complicated middle game with seconds to spare and several moves to make for the time control. Both decided to make peace.

Board	Home team: Halesowen A	Score	Away team: Kidderminster A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Nick Arkell Stewart Fishburne Malcolm Hunt John Edge Dale Jackson Don Curry	½ - ½ 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 0 - 1	John Chester Mark Riley David Spowart Maurice Bissell David Close John Varilone
	Totals	3½ - 1½	Division 1 match played 25 Apr
Reported by: John Edge. Kidderminster resigned the adjourned game on board 5 three days later.

Board	Home team: Olton	Score	Away team: Kidderminster A
1 2 3 4 5 6	Phil Holt Mark Cundy Rob Reynolds Rob Wallman Ken Allen Jon Asbury	½ - ½ ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1 0 - 1 ½ - ½	Joseph Friar James O’Dell John Chester David Spowart Maurice Bissell John Varilone
	Totals	2 - 4	Division 1 match played 30 Apr
Reported by: Mark Cundy and John Varilone

 

Division Two 2018-9

Halesowen C win Division 2 title
Stourbridge B are runners-up

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Match Points
Halesowen C	8	7	0	1	28	12	14
Stourbridge B	8	5	1	2	25½	19½	11
Droitwich	8	2	3	3	18	22	7
Kidderminster B	7	1	2	4	15	20	3
Greenlands	6	1	1	4	9½	20½	3
Notes:

 

Team captains:

• Droitwich: Captn & Secy; Arnold Kirkland
• Greenlands: Captn Richard Collett; Secy, Steve Crees
• Halesowen C: Captn Dustin Bowcott; Secy, John Southcote
• Kidderminster B: Captn, Terry Pountney; Secy, David Waud
• Stourbridge: Captn, Paul Sharratt; Secy David Scriven

Navigation on this page. Latest matches at top
	Division 1	Division 2	KO Cup

Navigation on this page. Latest matches at top
	Division 1	Division 2	KO Cup