2017-8 season news

Nick Harris 2018 Rapidplay Champion

6 Sep. On the first day back at winter HQ, St Stephen's Church Hall, Nick Harris beat Ray Collett in the 2017-8 Rapidplay Final

Colin Vernon wins grading prize at Coulsdon

24 Aug. In the Jessie Gilbert International tournament, Colin scored 2½ points out of 4 to win the under-100 grading prize and took third place in his section.

Stephen Mellor pipped for county championship

19 Aug. Stephen tied with Malvern player Lee Davis on 4 points at the Worcestershire Closed Championship held at The King’s School Worcester, but was just behind on tie-break. Former Worcester player Phillip Austin won the prize for best ungraded player in his first tournament outing for 20 years. Two Worcester players, Andrew Farthing and Ray Collett, helped organise the event

Team captains gain awards at annual meeting

31 May. Andrew Farthing presented the most improved player award - the Dollin Salver - to John Hesketh (left) and the best performance for the Pawns team to team captain Roger Yates (right)

Senior officer were re-elected: President, Andrew Farthing; hon Secretary and Treasurer, Ray Collett. team captains for 2018-9 season are: Andrew Farthing (City); Jim Keene (Bishops); Roger Yates (Pawns); and John Hesketh (KO). Best team performances were by Peter Kitson (City and Bishops teams), and Roger Yates (Pawns).

New member Alistair Macnaughton wins club championship

21 May. Final played at Droitwich. Ray chose an unusual line in Bishop’s Opening and Alistair soon nulified white's advantage of the move. In an apparently equal and queenless position he found an excellent move to shatter white's pawns. From here, Alistair the new member increased his advantage and won pawns in the exchanges to go into an easily won rook and pawn ending.
10 & 14 May. Semi-final results. New members Alistair and Joe faced each other in the earlier game with Alistair winning on 10 May. In the second semi-final played at Droitwich, Ray beat Nick in a hard fought game.
30 Mar. Championship KO stage Alistair Macnaughton (1st) vs Joe isherwood (player who has played most games and not qualified by score) Nick Harris (2nd) vs Ray Collett (3rd) Rapidplay KO stage Andrew Farthing (1st) vs Ray Collett (player who has played games and not qualified by score) Nick Harris (2nd) vs Rob Sutton (3rd). See details.

Worcester knocked out of Wheatley Cup

10 Apr, John Hesketh reports. We arrived in style in a slightly vintage classic car at Wythall for our team kandicap match. Having done the maths, it worked out that 4-1 would be victory to them, 3½ - 1½ and we would win. Ed Osbourne won his game. All we needed now was a draw to clinch this. I pushed too hard in the early part of the game with a less than cautious development, losing a bishop at the end of exchanges. I pressed on in the hope of recovering, but the opportunity didn't materialise. The results trickled in, our heroes were falling like nine pins. Phil was the last to finish. As it turned out, Phil was defeated by a really strong player. The final result was 4 – 1 to Shirley and Wythall. So with the handicap a victory for them. Congratulations Shirley & Wythall.

Vernon placed second at Coulsdon

31 Mar. Colin took time out from his studies to compete at Coulsdon this weekend. He was joint 2nd in the u1500 competition.

Secretary oversees first Riversides School Chess Championship

28 Mar. Ray Collett helped out at the Riversides School in Spring Gardens at a tournament organised by Todd Reeves. Todd, a new member of staff at the academy, has actively supported the club and a high proportion of the school's senior pupils play the game. The best players competed for the school championship in a series of speed games and Ray was impressed by the quality of their play.

Pawns team's mixed fortunes

22 Mar. Pawns lose to bottom-of-table Kidderminster Rooks. Once again they are likely to come second in the District Division 2 Championship.
15 Feb. A splendid victory over Greenlands redeems the previous week's result. Alistair Macnaughton, Phil Smith and Roger Yates win their games.
7 Feb. Pawns lose heavily to Kidderminster Pawns and new player Robin Hayles gains the team's only win

City team draw away with Olton

20 Mar. The team had a lucky escape from defeat having already conceded a board with a defailt in their away match with Olton. Peter Kitson, and Stephen Mellor won, Peter in double-quick time.

Good wins for Bishops team

15 Mar. A solid win against Redditch powered by wins from Nick Harris and Alistair Macnaughton takes the team to mid-table.
1 Feb. An excellent home win over Redditch A with a full-strength team. Peter Kitson, Stephen Mellor and Nick Harris won their games.
10 Jan. The year began with a draw against Stourbridge A. Peter Kitson won his game.

Pawns team chalk up win in local Derby

14 Dec. A strong Pawns team beat Droitwich 3-1. Rob Sutton and Phil Smith scored wins.

City team have double loss to Malvern

7 Dec & 12 Jan. In first match played at home, the result was close, but in the away match in January, a weak City team went down heavily. Ed Osbourn had a notable win on board 2 against a former county champion to stop a whitewash.

City members have mixed fortunes

4 & 7 Jan. John Hesketh won on board 12 for Worcestershire u120 team against Lincolnshire. Ray Collett, the only club members to enter the Bennett Cup competition lost his first game in 2018 against Malvern's Lee Davis after thinking too long in the middlegame and missing a tactical strike short of time near the end.

Pawns beat Droitwich, but City and Bishops teams lose to Malvern

15 Dec. Bishops team lost 3-1, but Alistair Macnaughton drew on board 1 and Ed Osbourn on board 3.
14 Dec. Pawns, playing at home beat Droitwich 3-1 with wins from Rob Sutton and Phil Smith.
7 Dec. City team lost narrowly 2½-3½. Prodigal son Ed Osbourn returned to the team to win on board 6, our only win of the night.

City team beat Halesowen 1B

28 Nov. Ray Collett standing in for skipper Stephen Mellor led the team to a secure 4-2 win at Halesowen. New player Alistair Macnaughton won and Robin Hayles drew.

Club members in MCCU correspondence team

20 Nov. Rob Sutton playing for the Midlands Chess Counties Union scored a win on board 2 against the National Correspondence Chess Club.

Club teams have mixed fortunes in first matches

31 Oct in District Division 1, the Bishops lost their first match against Redditch A.
17 Oct. District Division 2 the Pawns beat mercia playing away
4 Oct in District Division 2, the Pawns won their away match against Stourbridge. The club's second new Scots signing Robin winning his game in fine style.
28 Sep In District Division 2, the Pawns drew with Redditch B. New signing Alistair achieved a draw on board 2.
21 Sep In Division 1 of the county league, City drew 3-3 with Olton.

Nick Harris wins club rapidplay

6 Sep. Nick Harris beat Ray Collett in the 2018 club rapidplay final making Nick a double champion.

Few changes at 182nd Annual Meeting

25 May. Senior officers were re-elected: Andrew Farthing, President; hon Secretary and Treasurer, Ray Collett and Stepehen Mellor (City), Jim Keene (Bishops), Roger Yates (Pawns) and John Hesketh (KO) were elected team captains. the 2018 club champion was Nick Harris; Summer chess during the summer of 2018 was at the Paul Pry.