Summer Winners Bode Well for New Season

Worcester players have done well in summer tournaments. John Clarke (pictures below), below scored his first outright tournament win at Hereford Congress held on the late summer Bank holiday weekend at Aylestone School. John started off with four straight wins. On the final day he drew both games, but they were not 'grandmaster draws'. In the last round game there was a difficult middlegame. Both players had to think carefully, but John used a lot of time on his clock. Spectators thought the game was slipping away from the City player. John entered the last five minutes of his time with the position on the board complicated and with heavy pieces still on. In a flurry of moves, John's opponent missed an important check and lost a rook giving John an undisputed first place in the Minor. For a further report and links to full results of the Hereford Congress see the Herefordshire CA site. The Hereford Times also published a report here.

John Clark in play in a tense final round game. Picture: Ray Collett

John receives winner's cheque from Herefordshire President Nigel Beveridge

Only a few weeks later, Andrew Farthing, Captain of the Worcester Bishops Team, also landed a prize. Competing in the Paignton Intermediate Tournament he finished joint 3rd to 4th with 5 points.