The Michael Adams Simul at Norton Canes in celebration of the FIDE Centenary and World Chess Day was a successful event and Adams won all 44 games.
For a fuller description of the event and photos please see the Norton Canes Chess Club Website.
2024 Staffordshire Junior Championship
The 2024 Staffordshire Junior Championship will be held on Sunday 1st December at Stafford Grammar School, Burton Manor Road, Stafford, ST18 9AT. It will be 6 rounds of rapid play with not only cash prizes but the opportunity to become the County Champion at each age group. The entry fee is £15. For further details and the Entry form please see the Staffordshire Junior Chess website.
MCCU, Steve Smithson becomes Championship Controller and Open Team Required
Following a productive Midland Counties Chess Union (MCCU) meeting, it was agreed, in order to increase participation in the MCCU Championship that each county would prioritise an Open/Minor Counties team and representation at Under 1650 level. Entry at the other rating limits; Under 1450, Under 1850 and Under 2050 is permitted but an opponent cannot be guaranteed.
Next season's championship with be governed by Stephen Smithson of Lichfield Chess Club who was elected to the post of MCCU Tournament Controller following the honourable retirement of the previous incumbent Peter Sherlock.
Applicants to play in either the Open or Under 1650 should initially contact Peter Evans.
Under 1850 Team in the ECF Counties Championship
Staffordshire’s Under 1850 team's progress in this season’s championship came to a halt against a strong Yorkshire team at the Sheffield Chess Centre. Against a much more highly graded team we only managed one win and five draws, losing 12.5 to 3.5.
A late
withdrawal due to illness caused captain, Peter Evans a scramble for players
and he would like to thank the two debutants, Glen Clouds of Stafford and Mycle
Scheuer of Fenton who stepped forward at short notice. Indeed, Glen was our sole
victor.
Peter Evans
would like to thank the all the players and drivers who participated in both
this match and in the qualifying stages. The Staffordshire players represent
the following clubs: Fenton, Alsager, Newcastle under Lyme, Stafford, Rugeley,
Lichfield, Norton Canes and Brewood.
For the final
scores you may check the LMS
Please read
a witty account of proceedings from the perspective of Stafford Chess Club’s
Ken McNulty.
Burntwood Rapid Play
For those of you who enjoyed the Cannock League Anniversary Rapid Play and those others who were unable to play in the event there is another local rapid play in June. Staffordshire's own International Arbiter, Matthew Carr is organising a rapid play event at Burntwood. The event is on Saturday 1st June at Burtwood Memorial Institute, Rugeley Rd, Burntwood, Lichfield, Staffs, WS7 9BE. For an entry form and further details please see this link.
Kevin Moore RIP
Walsall Kipping Chess Club have announced that Kevin Moore who represented them from 1996 until 2023 has died at the age of 87. His funeral will held at Mercia Forest Crematorium, Broad Lane, Essington, Wolverhampton, WV11 2RJ. on Friday 8th March 24 at 12.00 hours (noon).
Kevin represented the county at Under 125 and Under 100.
Please see this tribute from his teammate Peter Nixon.
Kevin was a longstanding member of the club since 1996. He turned up regularly to play most Thursday nights to play league and social chess. In my opinion he was the most dependable player that a captain could have. He played in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley and the Cannock leagues during his time at the club and also played for Staffordshire in the national county competitions.
Outside of chess he was a keen swimmer, swimming regularly every week. But at the club he was known for being a keen angler. It was his Angling that probably inspired his unique sartorial style, he would turn up in the winter months with a hooded fleece, scarf and waterproof jacket on. Nothing unusual in that, until you looked down below where he was barefoot in open toed sandals and sported shorts that would put most posties to shame.
He will be fondly remembered by me and everyone who knew him through chess.
It is believed that one of his club matches was published by Raymond Keene in a Times Column.
Under 1850 MCCU Championship Final
The Staffordshire Under 1850 Team faced a strong Lincolnshire side in the MCCU Under 1850 Championship on Saturday 17th February. After a bit of a last minute scramble a team of sixteen players was assembled and made the journey to the Leicestershire village of East Goscote. The team included two senior debutants to Staffordshire Chess, Bill Kimberely of Lichfield and Michael Andrews of Fenton. Its never too late to represent the county.
The match was a 8-8 draw with several of the games nearing the time limit. As a champion had to determined the Championship was awarded to Lincolnshire on board count. With Staffordshire winning on boards 14 and 16, that result was inevitable.
Captain Peter Evans would like to thank all the players and the match details may be seen here.
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