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Worcester City Chess Club | |
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| Last updated 25 August 2023 | |||||||
24 Aug 2023. Worcester u1650 team won on board count against Longbridge to win the Summer Cup. The u1650 match hinged on the board 1 game between Flynn and Truscott. Seamus had a dubious position and little time onhis clock, but trapped his opponent’s rook. In the competition for the Towers trophy, a match without rating limits for players, Worcester lost 1-3. In the Towers competition, Mellor had a very sharp position against Hosken, but got flagged and lost on time.
10 Aug 2023. Worcester u1650 team won a second semi-final at Longbridge again playing Kidderminster in the competition for the u1650 Summer Cup. Worcester play Longbridge in the final.
3 Aug 2023. Scott Oxtoby led his team to a 3-1 victory over Kidderminster in the semi-final for the Towers Cup held at Longbridge. Worcester play Redditch at Longbridge in the final.
13 Jun 2023. Worcester beat Hereford in their away fixture. Experience trumped youth on board 5 and Aiden scored a quick win on board 7 to give Worcester an early lead. Further wins from Joe and Tony ensured a clean victory.
4 Jun 2023. Worcester lost an online rapidplay Team Battle with Juodasis Rikis (Black Bishops) of Ukmerge, Lithuania, one of Worceter’s twinned cities. The highest scoring 6 players contributed points for their teams and Ukmerge ran out winners 42-28. For cross-table of results click here.
| Summer friendly matches |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board | Worcester City | points | points | Juodasis Rikis |
| 1 | Sutton, Rob | 7 | 10 | Andor1 |
| 2 | Mclean, Scott | 6 | 7 | Savickiene, Virginija |
| 3 | Berry Simon | 5 | 7 | Denpok |
| 4 | Collett, Ray | 4 | 7 | AstVal |
| 5 | Walkowiak, Rob | 4 | 6 | Ogalos |
| 6 | Woodhouse, Stephen | 2 | 5 | LuVal2011 |
| Totals | 28 | 42 | ||
| Other players | Lee, Chris | 2 | 4 | Darkmanitu |
| Oxtoby, Scott | 2 | 4 | LaurisKatinas | |
| Zatorski, Ignacy | 2 | 2 | AdasV13 | |
| 2 | KestutisKatinas2 | |||
| Played 4 June on lichess with a time control of 7 min + 3 sec. Link to view the games of the top 12 players | ||||
1 Jun 2023. In the first summer fixture, a home match with Hereford, Worcester won
6 Apr 2023. The City team lost away to Longbridge 1½-3½.
7 Mar 2023. Playing away to Halesowen the City team lost 2-3.
3 Mar 2023. Playing away to Malvern , the City team lost 4-1. Only Joe Rastall and Rob Sutton avoided defeat.
9 Feb 2023. City drew their home match against Redditch in the Championship League.
12 Jan 2023. Reinforced with Ed Osbourn’s return to the board, Worcester beat Kidderminster 3-2. Team captain, Rob Sutton played the only decisive game winning on board 5.
5 Jan 2023. Worcester lose to Malvern 1-4 with only Stephen and Rob drawing their games.
30 Nov 2022. City beat Kidderminster away. Team captain Rob Sutton writes: "A great result, a 3-2 win! After Tony’s pressure on Dave’s king eventually gave us the point to dent Kiddy’s two-point opening salvo, I had enough craft to push my Q vs 2R and pawns endgame into a victory and as we neared 10:30pm Peter’s knight and four pawns overcame Joe’s stubborn Bishop and lone pawn. We were out-graded on every board and across the team averaged 1772 vs 1836".
19 Oct. City lose away match against Redditch. The team were saved from defaulting by Scott who filled in at very short notice, but was soon overwhelmed by his experienced opponent. The match score was evened by Stephen’s win on board 1. Positions on the remaining boards looked promising: Peter on board 2 was at a disadvantage, Ray had excellent position and was a pawn to the good and Rob was pressing a wing attack against this opponent. On board 3, however, Ray’s opponent got activity and was able to win back a pawn to leave an equal position, Rob on board 4 was unable to crash through and Peter’s position deteriorated on board 2.
6 Oct. City team draw with Longbridge. In the first o-t-b match of the season, City drew. Mellor held his own on board 1, but Kiton on board 2 misjudged a blocked position and his King was ensnared. Collett lost a piece in the early middle game, but victories by Shaw and captain Sutton evened the score.
1 Oct. First match on 6 Oct. Six teams entered and the other teams are: Halesowen, Redditch, Kidderminster, Longbridge, and Malvern. There are ten matches, each team playing the others home and away.
18 Sep Five teams entered: Halesowen, Kidderminster, Longbridge, Malvern, and Worcester.
Worcestershire Championship League |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home team | score | Away team | Standing |
| Thu 6 Oct | Worcester City | 2½ - 2½ | Longbridge | 1st-2nd/6 |
| Wed 19 Oct | Redditch | 3 - 2 | Worcester City | 3rd |
| Wed 30 Nov | Kidderminster | 2 - 3 | Worcester City | 2nd |
| Thu 5 Jan | Worcester City | 1 - 4 | Malvern | 3rd |
| Thu 12 Jan | Worcester City | 3 - 2 | Kidderminster | 4th |
| Thu 9 Feb | Worcester City | 2½ - 2½ | Redditch | 4th |
| Fri 3 Mar | Malvern | 4 - 1 | Worcester City | 4th |
| Tue 7 Mar | Halesowen | 3 - 2 | Worcester City | 4th |
| Thu 6 Apr | Longbridge | 3½ - 1½ | Worcester City | 4th |
| Thu 13 Apr | Worcester City | 2½ - 2½ | Halesowen | 4th |
½ - ½
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Championship 2022-3 | Challengers’ 2022-3 | Worcester & District 2022-3 | Rapidplay 2022-3 |
Wheatley Cup |
4NCL Online Div 5 |
Worcestershire Chess |
16 Mar 2023. The Rooks drew again, this time against Stourbrridge. Joe and Scott won their games.
2 Feb 2023. Following last week’s draw, the team went on to win the home fixture against Kidderminster 3½-½
27 Jan 2023. Worcester Rooks broke their losing streak with a draw away against Malvern.
12 Jan 2023. Worcester lost to Longbridge. Joe Rastall played on top board and was the only Worcester player to win.
21 Dec 2022. Worcester and Redditch turned out their best player for board 1 and that game was a draw. The team went down 1-3. Arnold and Chris drew their games.
15 Dec. The Rooks came a cropper against a youthful Malvern team. Colin Vernon was the only Worcester player to win his game.
23 Nov. The team played their third away match against Stourbridge and lost 1-3. Arnold Kirkland, playing board 1 had a notable victory against Julie Wilson.
9 Nov.
The Rooks scored their first game point with an away draw against Kidderminster. Ray and Chris won their games.
27 Oct. In the first match the Rooks lost to Longbridge. Arnold Kirkland was Worcester’s winner.
18 Sep. Six teams entered: Kidderminster, Longbridge, Malvern, Redditch, Stourbridge and Worcester
| Worcestershire Challengers’ League For detailed match results, click on the score in the results column. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home team | score | Away team | Standing |
| Thu 27 Oct | Longbridge | 2½ - 1½ | Worcester Rooks | 4th/6 |
| Wed 9 Nov | Kidderminster | 2 - 2 | Worcester Rooks | 3rd/6 |
| Wed 23 Nov | Stourbridge | 3 - 1 | Worcester Rooks | 5th/6 |
| Thu 15 Dec | Worcester Rooks | 1 - 3 | Malvern | 6th/6 |
| Wed 21 Dec | Redditch | 3 - 1 | Worcester Rooks | 6th/6 |
| Thu 12 Jan | Worcester Rooks | 1 - 3 | Longbridge | 6th/6 |
| Fri 27 Jan | Malvern | 2 - 2 | Worcester Rooks | 4th/6 |
| Thu 2 Feb | Worcester Rooks | 3½ - ½ | Kidderiminster | 4th/6 |
| Thu 2 Mar | Worcester Rooks | 2 - 2 | Stourbridge | 5th/6 |
| Thu 16 Mar | Worcester Rooks | Redditch | ||
| In this league, players on boards 2, 3 and 4 must be rated below 1850. A player rated above 1850 may play on board 1 only. | ||||
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Championship 2022-3 | Challengers’ 2022-3 | Worcester & District 2022-3 | Rapidplay 2022-3 |
Wheatley Cup |
4NCL Online Div 5 |
Worcestershire Chess |
20 Apr. Worcester, at home, lost to Redditch.
16 Feb. Worcester beat Longbridge 3-1 at home. This result means that tthe Bishops will be placed first in the league even if they lose the remaining match.
8 Dec. Worcester beat Longbridge. Scott chalked up another away victory.
2 Nov. Clean sweep at Redditch. In their first outing the bishops had a 4-0 victory, a notable coup for newly appointed team captain, Scott Oxtoby.
18 Sep. Three teams entered: Longbridge, Redditch, and Worcester
| Worcester & District League For detailed match results, click on the score in the results column. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home team | score | Away team | Standing |
| Wed 2 Nov | Redditch | 0 - 4 | Worcester Bishops | 1st/3 |
| Thu 8 Dec | Longbridge | 1½ - 2½ | Worcester Bishops | 1st/3 |
| Thu 16 Feb | Worcester Bishops | 3 - 1 | Longbridge | 1st/3 |
| Thu 20 Apr | Worcester Bishops | 0 - 4 | Redditch | 1st/3 |
| In this league, the three clubs competing have agreed that all players should be rated below 1650. | ||||
| Back to Top |
Championship 2022-3 | Challengers’ 2022-3 | Worcester & District 2022-3 | Rapidplay 2022-3 |
Wheatley Cup |
4NCL Online Div 5 |
Worcestershire Chess |
26 Apr 2023. Redditch win first leg 4-0 in their fixture against Worcester, but then dropped their guard and list the secongd leg 1-3.
23 Mar 2023. Worcester Knights drew against Stourbridge in the home fixture winning the first leg and losing the second.
23 Feb 2023. The Knights were comprehensively beaten by Kidderminster.
8 Feb 2023. In the away fixture against Stourbridge Worcester drew the first leg and won the second.
16 Nov 2022. It was all sqauer in both legs of the second fixture against Kidderminster.
1 Oct. First match away on 10 Nov. At the end of the first leg of the match, Worcester Knights appeared to be on the ropes. The team rallied and edged a win in the second leg.
18 Sep. Four teams entered: Longbridge, Redditch, Stourbridge and Worcester
23 Aug. Worcestershire Chess Association agreed to establish a rapidplay league at its annual meeting.
| Rapidplay League For detailed match results, click on the score in the results column. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home team | score 1 | score 2 | Away team | Standing |
| Thu 10 Nov | Worcester Knights | 0 - 4 | 2½ - 1½ | Redditch | 3rd |
| Wed 16 Nov | Kidderminster | 2 - 2 | 2 - 2 | Worcester Knights | 2nd |
| Wed 8 Feb | Stourbridge | 2 - 2 | 1½ - 2½ | Worcester Knights | 2nd |
| Thu 23 Feb | Worcester Knights | 1½ - 2½ | 0 - 4 | Kidderminster | 2nd |
| Thu 23 Mar | Worcester Knights | 2½ - 1½ | 1½ - 2½ | Stourbridge | 2nd |
| Wed 26 Apr | Redditch | 4 - 0 | 1 - 3 | Worcester Knights | 2nd |
| In this league, players on boards 2, 3 and 4 must be rated below 1850. A player rated above 1850 may play on board 1 only. At each fixture, each player has two games, the second with colours reversed. The fixture’s results are scored as two matches. | |||||
| Back to Top |
Championship 2022-3 | Challengers’ 2022-3 |
Worcester & District 2022-3 | Rapidplay 2022-3 |
Wheatley Cup 2022-3 |
4NCL Online Div 5 |
Worcestershire Chess |
18 May 2023. Worcester were the home team and Redditch fielded the higher rated team with a handicap of 2.1 to overcome.
25 Sep 2022. Worcester has suggested that the final for the Cup is played near the end of the season and Redditch have suggested that they will be prepared to play at Worcester because their venue will not be available in May.
18 Sep 2022. Only two clubs entered: Redditch and Worcester. These teams will play a final.
| Back to Top |
Championship 2022-3 | Challengers’ 2022-3 |
Worcester & District 2022-3 |
Rapidplay 2022-3 |
Wheatley Cup 2022-3 |
4NCL Online Div 5 |
Worcestershire Chess |
7 Dec. Wolfpack lose final match of the season against Dundee City E. The teams were evenly matched, but it was first blow to Dundee when Tony’s king was caught in the centre and his position was hopeless in spite of gamely playing on for another twenty moves. Stephen's game reduced to a N+P ending within 25 moves and a draw was agreed after his opponent missed a hard-to-spot chance. Robin faced a positional sacrifice of the exchange in a queenless middlegame. Although Stockfish judged the sac to be "inaccurate", the position was blocked and Robin had a bad Bishop. The only break-through was difficult to see and a far from obvious pawn sac to open up the position when Robin’s rooks, with best play would have had chances to win. After manoeuvring for a further thirty moves, players agreed a draw. Colin won a pawn in the opening, but it was difficult to hold and he overlooked an indirect defence allowing his opponent to equalise material and gain space on the king side. Knowing that Tony was in dire straits, Colin refused a draw in a deteriorating position in case his opponent slipped up when there would be chances of drawing the match.
22 Nov. Worcester beat Barnet Knights D. Worcester achieved a convincing win against Barnet’s youthful team, but the initial prospects were poor. Robin and his opponent set off at a brisk pace and during the process Stephen won a pawn in the early middle game and obtained a pin on the back rank to net a further pawn and there was no reply to a steam roller of queen flank pawns in the ensuing minor piece ending. Robin overlooked double attack that lost him a piece. The pace did not slacken and eventually Robin’s opponent returned the favour and a draw was agreed in an equal R+P ending. Tony’s game was equal all the way to a double rook ending when his opponent did not see the best defence and lost a pawn and then failed take advantage of an inaccuracy before resigning in a position where he was two pawns down, but with plenty of scope for either player to go wrong in fast play. Colin won a piece in the opening, but returned it a few moves later. In the queenless middle game Colin won overwhelming material witha discovered attack.
8 Nov. Worcester lose hard-fought battle against Farnham B. Arnold had to step in at short notice because Phil's internet was dodgy. Stephen got shunted into an unfamiliar French by his young opponent and had to drop a piece. Tony had a balanced game until his opponent's knight jumped all over his position and was lucky to escape with a draw. Rob played a Petrov and was a pawn down in the middle game, but his opponent lost his way in the ending and Rob got a deserved win, the last game to finish. Arnold was out-played in a tough middle game but had some chances of winning on time, but fell to a fork in a poor position under acute time pressure.
25 Oct. Worcester beat Lerryn Clowns. 25 Oct. Worcester played a Cornish team Lerryn Clowns. Board one was drawish throughout and on board 4 Vernon allowed his queen to be trapped early in the middlegame. Rob Sutton in his first appearance for the team played a slid game and won the R+P ending. Tony Shaw was the star player. Playing slowly he was 15 minutes down with a poor middlegame position before his counter offensive began. Tony steadily outplayed his opponent and was a pawn up and had an active rook in a R+P ending, which he won in style making the final score 2½-1½.
11 Oct. Worcester beat Farnham C. Captain Collett spent the afternoon finding a fourth player for the team and Phil Austin stepped in at short notice. In the end the effort was not essential because Farnham had a default when the team lists were published. Worcester players claimed easy wins and scored a 4-0 victory.
27 Sep. Wolfpack swallowed by Charlton Cobras. A disappointing night with the team losing 4-0 against Charlton Cobras C. Stephen obtained a promising middlgame on board 1 with pressure against a backward c-pawn, but an injudicious knight move allowed his opponent to win a key central pawn and free his game. Black exchanged to a R+P ending that offered chances of a draw and an inaccurate further exchange to a K+P ending made a draw more probable. In the end, Stephen's opponent promoted a pawn first and competently navigated the Q+K vs K+P on the seventh forcing mate. On board 2 Robin, playing black, missed an early chance to get a knight on e6 in a Sicilian Defence. His opponent won a pawn after an inaccuracy in the middlegame, but lost it from a blunder a few moves later. In a complex Q+R ending white gained a further pawn and exposed Robin's king to relentless checks that led to mate or loss of the queen. Colin played the white side of the Sicilian Defence and launched a king side attack. White overlooked a black central pawn grab and black’s pawns sprung into action forcing material gains. On board 4, Arnold held out the longest. Playing his trademark Philidor Defence. In a queenlass middle game black allowed a knight to become stranded on the edge of the board and white’s rampant bishops controlled the board. White then won a piece, but failed to see Arnold could regain it to reach an equal R+P ending. In quick play there were mistakes on both sides putting Arnold a pawn down and a draw was possible with both players having unstoppable advanced pawns and Arnold’s king nearer the remaining pawn. Unfortunately with little time left, his opponent promoted first and won Arnold’s rook.
13 Sep. Wolfpack beat Watford Juniors. In the first round of 4NCL Online, Worcester Wolfpack beat Watford Juniors B 4-0. Manager Ray played the club’s new signing Stephen Woodhouse on board 1 Other members of the team were: Robin Hayles, Tony Shaw and Colin Vernon. Tony had the toughest game. He mishandled the middle game resulting from a Queen’s Pawn Opening and lost a pawn. His opponent played some suboptimal moves allowing Tony to equalise and then win the exchange before cementing his victory.
| Worcester Wolfpack Captain: Ray Collett 4NCL Online Season 6 Division 5 Sep to December 2022 For detailed match results, click on the score in the results column. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home team | score | Away team | Standing |
| Tue 13 Sep | Watford Juniors B | 0 - 4 | Wolfpack | 5th/34* |
| Tue 27 Sep | Wolfpack | 0 - 4 | Charlton Cobras C | 19th/36 |
| Tue 11 Oct | Farnham C | 0 - 4 | Wolfpack | 7th/36 |
| Tue 25 Oct | Wolfpack | 2½ - 1½ | Lerryn Clowns | 5th/36 |
| Tue 8 Nov | Farnham B | 2½ - 1½ | Wolfpack | 9th/36 |
| Tue 22 Nov | Wolfpack | 3½ - ½ | Barnet Knights D | 6th/36 |
| Tue 6 Dec | Dundee City E | 3 - 1 | Wolfpack | 6th/36 |
| The event is a seven round team Swiss Tournament with Dutch pairing. *Two teams joined after round 1. | ||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | MP | GP | Final ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heffalump Hunters | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 24½ | 1 |
| Bromley | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 17 | 2 |
| Dundee City E | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 3 |
| East Kilbride Wanderers | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 4 |
| Farnham B | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 15½ | 5 |
| The Hemel's Gambit | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14½ | 6 |
| Charlton Cobras C | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 7 |
| Dundee City F | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 16½ | 8 |
| Colchester JFF A | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 15½ | 9 |
| Worcester Wolfpack | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 16½ | 10 |
| Breage Bruisers | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 15½ | 11 |
| Barnet Knights C | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 12 |
| Beckenham | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 13½ | 13 |
| Bishop Knights | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 12½ | 14 |
| Wells Globetrotters 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 15 |
| Nimrod | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14½ | 16 |
| Warwickshire Bears B | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14½ | 17 |
| Ashton 2 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 18 |
| Lerryn Clowns | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 19 |
| Telepost Dark Knights 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 20 |
| Wessex Some Stars G | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 21 |
| Telepost Dark Knights 2 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| Wessex Some Stars H | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 23 |
| Bude Beach Surfers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 24 |
| Hertford 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10½ | 25 |
| Farnham C | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 26 |
| Barnet Knights D | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7½ | 27 |
| Charlton Cobras D | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12½ | 28 |
| Chess Challengers A | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11½ | 29 |
| Colchester JFF B | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9½ | 30 |
| Collyer’s VI | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 31 |
| Chess Challengers B | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10½ | 32 |
| Colchester JFF C | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8½ | 33 |
| Barnet Knights E | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 34 |
| Manaccan Maulers | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9½ | 35 |
| Watford Juniors B | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7½ | 36 |
| Back to Top |
Championship 2022-3 | Challengers’ 2022-3 |
Worcester & District 2022-3 | Rapidplay 2022-3 |
Wheatley Cup |
4NCL Online Div 5 |
Worcestershire Chess |
All rights reserved. For comments or corrections please contact Ray Collett