2018-9 season news

Nick Harris is double 2019 Champion

31 Oct. The much delayed second-leg Rapidplay final was a draw against Ray Collett, but Nick wins the title with a 1½-½ overall score in the finals. Nick also won the 2019 Club Championship - standard play - at the close of the 2018-9 season back in May. In the first leg of the final played on 26 September, a King’s Indian Sämisch Variation led to a blocked centre and an open c-file. After major pieces were exchanged, there was a balanced minor piece ending, but with time running short, Ray cracked first in a cramped position and lost a pawn and then the game.

Club members score at Worcestershire congress

18 Aug. Peter Kitson won the Worcestershire Senior Champion's trophy at the congress held at The King’s School Worcester and new member Matthew Holmes won the Minor Championship on tie-break from fellow member Rob Sutton. Andrew Farthing controlled the tournament and Ray Collett was the congress organiser. Worcester News published a short illustrated report.

Club Secretary wins Ball Cup

9 Aug. Ray Collett played John Varilone (Kidderminster) at Malvern in the second game of the final. Ray’s opponent had an advantageous middle game and won a pawn, but dropped it as players exchangd pieces to reach a bishops end-game. Objectively the position was drawn, but minor inaccuracies allowed Ray to force a passed pawn and win the game. This is the fourth time Ray has won this competition. His opponent is also a previous champion having won it three times.

At King Charles House 24 Jul. Members wished Adam well on his last visit to the club before going to university in Warsaw. John brought in his finalists' plaque for playing for the county in the national u140 final against Yorkshire. John was a late substitute for a player who was ill and enabled Worcestershire to field a full team.

Honours for club secretary

15 Jun. The Midland Counties Chess Union elected club secretary Ray Collett as a Vice-president. Ray has been the the Publicity Director and web editor for the MCCU for several years. Ray was also nominated as President for Worcestershire Chess Association in May.

Pat Greenow elected life-time member at annual meeting

23 May. Senior officers were re-elected: Andrew Farthing President; Ray Collett Hon Secretary and Treasurer, and Pat Greenow was elected as a lifetime member for his previous service over many years as honorary treasurer and team captain. Nick Harris, the 2019 club champion received the Ranken Cup and Matthew Holmes the Blitz trophy. Ray Collett (City team) Ed Osbourn (Bishops team) and Phil Smith (Pawns team) were best performers for their teams.

Club player draws in county match

18 May. Matthew Holmes played on board 10 for the county in their win over Hertfordshire.

Worcester win Wheatley Cup 20 May, Tony Shaw reports. After a mad scramble to find a fifth player for the Worcester team, new member Matthew Holmes, joined the team that travelled to Greenlands Social Club, Longbridge for their finals match against Shirley & Wythall. The Worcester team were victorious with an overwhelming score. Captain John Hesketh, Philip Austin, Tony Shaw and Matthew all won their games. Picture (Tony Shaw) right shows John receiving cup from Laurence.

Internal tournament results

16 May. Nick Harris wins 2019 Club Championship. In a short game, Nick, playing white against a Kings Indian Defence gained a stranglehold after a poor move by Collett in the opening stage. Nick then benefitted from a disatrous error to win in short order.
9 May. In a rapid play semi-final Ray Collett beat Matthew Holmes in the tie-break Armageddon game.
2 May. Nick Harris and Ray Collett won their semi-final games and meet for the chamionship final on 16 May.
28 Mar, Andrew Farthing reports. In the club championship, Nick Harris has white against Joe Isherwood and Ray Collett has white against Phil Smith. In the Rapidplay Tournament, Ray Collett has white against new member Matthew Holmes and Nick Harris is white against Tony Shaw.

City players entertain player from Échequier Vésinét

	5 May. Tony Shaw, Pat Greenow and Ray Collett met Damien Frier a strong player from the cless club at Le Vésinét, Worcester City’s French twinned town. Ray and Pat had already played at Échequier Vésinét when a party from Worcester Twinning Association had visited Le Vésinét. Our visitor got the best of several rapidplay games against his opponents.

Worcester teams in the County and District Leagues

30 Apr. At the end of the season, Worcester City were placed third in Division 1.
29 Apr. The Bishops team beat Stourbridge 2½-1½ in the District League. Ed Osbourn and Jim Keene won their games.
11 Apr. The City tyeam lost to Malvern and cannot now win the County League.
4 Apr. John Hesketh lead Worcester’s team to victory 3.9-2.5 over Greenlands in the semi-final of the Wheatley Cup competition. Tony Shaw and John won their games.
26 Mar. Scores in the Worcester and Halesowen B match are tied with Phil Austin’s game adjourned. Stephen Mellor and Ray Collett won their games. Phil’sopponent resigned without resumption to give City team victory.
21 Mar. Worcester won the home match against Olton. Peter Kitson on board 1, Nick Harris on board 3 and Robin Hayles on board 6 won their games.
15 Mar. Worcester Bishops beat Malvern away 2½-1½ in the District League.
7 Mar. Although Ray Collett won his game, Worcester Bishops lost to Redditch A i9n the District League.

Members in District individual tournaments

14 Mar. Collett finished with 5 points from 6 games in the Ball Cup setting a difficult challenge for other players. New member William Kemp in his second game beat second seed in the competition and could finish level with Collett.
7 Feb. Collett got off to a good start in both competitions. In the Bennett Cup he drew against last year's winner in January and won his second game tonight. In the Ball Cup he has 2½ points from three games. Colin Vernon beat the second seeded player in the Ball Cup. Tony Shaw has opened his account in the Ball Cup and Will Kemp has yet to play.

Worcester players help Worcestershire teams

2 Mar. Tony Shaw led the u140 county team to a 9-7 victory in the Midland final against Nottinghamshire. Matthew Holmes also played.
23 Feb. Simon Berry won his game on board 9 playing for Worcestershire u120 against Staffordshire. The teams drew 6-6.
16 Feb. Worcestershire u120 team lost 5-7 to Leicestershire. Simon Berry drew his game on baord 9.
8 Feb. Matthew Holmes on baord 6 won his game in the drawn u120 match against Derbyshire.
2 Feb. Worcestershire first team lost 7-9 to Nottinghamshire with Worcester player Peter Kitson drawing his game on board 4.
26 Jan. Matthew Holmes helped Worcestershire u140 team to a 10-6 victory over Lincolnshire on board 7
19 Jan. Pavel Besedin on board 3 and Stephen Mellor on board 10 won their games, but the county frst team lost 6-10 to Warwickshire.

Member plays at Somerset Congress and new grades

13 Jan. Tony Shaw finished on 2½ point in the Somerset New Year u145 Tournament. Phil Austin (156) and Andrew Farthing (135) acquired grades for their games while seven members increased their grades.

Team results in leagues

27 Feb. Worcester Pawns lost 1-3 to Kidderminster Rooks in Division 2 of the District League.
23 Jan. The City team beat Kidderminster away in the county league. Stephen Mellor, Ray Collett, and Phil Austin won their games.
17 Jan. The Bishops team beat Kidderminster Knights in the District League.
7 Dec The City team lost to Malvern with one game unfinished. Ray Collett subsequently lost his adjourned game after 99 moves and Ed Osbourn was the only Worcester winner.
4 Dec. The Pawns team drew playing away at Droitwich. John Hesketh was the only Worcester winner.

Worcester players in county matches

8 Dec. Tony Shaw drew his board 4 game in the u140 encounter with Warwickshire. Worcestershire beat Warwickshire convincingly 4½-11½ .
1 Dec. Pavel Besedin on board 1 was was the only Worcester player to draw in the County First Team match against Lincolnshire which was lost 6½-9½.
24 Nov. Playing at St Stephen’s Church Hall, Matthew Holmes played on board 2 in the u140 county match where Worcestershire beat Staffordshire 9½-6½.
17 Nov. Simon Beryy was one of only two winners when the Worcestershire u120 team played Derbyshire at Longbridge The county lost 4½-7½.
3 Nov. Although the u120 Worcestershire team lost 5-7 against Nottinghamshire, Simon Berry got a draw against his higher graded opponent.

Matthew Holmes wins Blitz tournament 29 Nov. New member Matthew won two points ahead of four former champions.

Mixed results for City league teams in first matches of the season

28 Nov. The Pawns team draw away with Droitwich.
15 Nov. Two home District League matches were played. The Bishops drew 2-2 against Malvern, with Peter Kitson winning his top board game. The Pawns team lost 1-3 to Stourbridge where captain Roger Yates won his game.
1 Nov. The City team beat Halesowen B 4-2. Peter Kitson, Nick harris, and Tony Shaw won their games.
25 Oct. The Pawns team in District Division 2 drew with Kidderminster Pawns. Captain Roger yates won his game and Andrew Farthing, playing as a last minute substitute drew his. Peter Kitson won on baord 1
23 Oct. City team lost a County league away match against reigning champions Halesowen A, but at one stage two players had winning chances in their games.
10 Oct. Bishops draw their District Division 1 away match with Kidderminster Knights.
9 Oct. Pawns beat Greenlands away in their District Division 2 match 2½-1½. Rob SDutton and Phil Smith won their games.
30 Sep. Two matches have been completed. In County Division 1, the City team were lucky to draw with Olton and in the District League Division 2, the Pawns team lost to last year's division champions Redditch B. Already, more rapidplay championship games have been played at the club and the club welcomes three new members: Simon Berry, Matthew Holmes and William Kemp.

Team captains gain awards at annual meeting

31 May. 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).