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May 12 2008
More victories for Moorlands chess
club
There
were three wins and a draw in an unbeaten round of matches for
Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club in the North
Staffs & District League.
The C team moved itself into equal
second in Division Two with this draw away to a strong Macclesfield side
through the wins of Simon Crowley, from Congleton, and Rob Moruzzi, from
Leek, plus the draw of Chris Simpson, from Weston Coyney.
The D side ended its season on a
high note with a whitewash of runaway Division Three winners Alsager A via
the victories of Keith Brownlee, from Mayfield, Vlade Luzajic, from
Smallthorne, Rob Moruzzi and David Hallen, from Cheddleton.
The
default by Alsager C ensured the H team stretched its lead at the top of
Division Four.
The
two points from the victory over Fenton C crowned the H side as Division
Four Champions through the wins of Vlade Luzajic and Nick McLean, from
Stoke, and the draw of Chris Baxter, from Eccleshall.
The
club, which offers coaching at all levels, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm
at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
April 28 2008
Moorlands chess club wins top N
Staffs KO Cup again
Staffordshire
Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club last week retained the top
KO Cup in the North Staffs & District League and consolidated its
position at the top of Division Four but lost another KO Cup Final.
The club easily overcame Newcastle
in the Final to win the 8-Board Open KO Cup yet again which, coupled with
having already won the Division One title again, justified its position as
top club in the league.
Wins for Alan Smith, from
Stockport, Dave Buxton, from Cheddleton, Jason McKenna, from Dove Holes,
and Simon Crowley, from Congleton, were added to by draws by Rob Shaw,
from Buxton, and Simon Edwards, from Bradeley, to ensure the victory.
Unfortunately,
the club was not so lucky in the Under-135 Grade KO Cup Final where,
despite the best efforts of all the players, it lost to Macclesfield with
the draws of John Yee, from Congleton, Vlade Luzajic, from Smallthorne,
Chris Baxter, from Eccleshall, and Nick McLean, from Stoke, not being
enough.
The G team kept itself in second
spot in Division Four after drawing away to Newcastle E through the win of
Matthew Wyza, from Leek, and the draws of Ian Vaughan, from Leek, and Nick
McLean.
The
H side extended its lead at the top of Division Four through its defeat of
Alsager C by the wins of Vlade Luzajic, Nick McLean and Robert Milner,
from Cheddleton.
This
week the club plays Stafford in the Final of the County 6-Board Open
Hickman KO Cup, the A team visits Stafford A in Division One, B is at home
to Newcastle C in Division Two and, in Division Four, F welcomes Newcastle
E, G is at Hassell and H is away to Fenton C.
The
club, which offers coaching at all levels, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm
at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street,
Leek.
April 21 2008
Moorlands chess club wins
Championship again
It
was an excellent, but very busy, week for Staffordshire Moorlands’
Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League
as it retained its Division One Championship, won Division Two again, also
won Division Four again and won through to its fourth KO Cup Final
In
a match that was much closer than the scoreline suggests, the club reached
the Final of the 8-Board Open KO Cup after beating Holmes Chapel in the
Semi Final through the wins of Alan Smith, from Stockport, Rob Shaw, from
Buxton, Dave Buxton, from Cheddleton, Jason McKenna, from Dove Holes, Nick
Cunningham, from Cheadle, and Simon Edwards, from Bradeley.
The
first five boards of the 8-Board KO Cup Semi Final against Holmes Chapel
were taken as the A team’s Division One match against Holmes Chapel A
and the whitewash ensured the points to retain the Championship.
Alsager
has defaulted its remaining matches in Division One, but the A team had
already won the title before this happened.
The
B team retained the Division Two title for the club after the victory over
Holmes Chapel B with the wins of Simon Edwards and Phil Birks and Paul
Shelley, both from Leek, and the draw of Bill Armstrong, from Leek.
The
C side moved into third spot in Division Two after taking both points from
Holmes Chapel B in an unbeaten performance of wins by Simon Crowley, from
Congleton, Mark Greenwood and Rob Moruzzi, from Leek, Chris Simpson, from
Weston Coyney, and the draw of John Yee, from Congleton.
Despite putting up a strong fight,
the D team went down badly to Newcastle D in Division Three with just the
draws for Vlade Luzajic, from Smallthorne, and Keith Brownlee, from
Mayfield, to show for all the effort.
Unfortunately,
the E team could only obtain a draw against Meir B in Division Three
through the wins of Peter and David Hallen, from Cheddleton.
The point gained from Kidsgrove B
kept the G side in second place in Division Four after Colin Abell, from
Endon, and Nick McLean, from Stoke, both won.
The
wins of Chris Baxter, from Eccleshall, and 16 year old Ebrahim Arshad,
from Stanley Moor, gained a point for H against Hassell, from Newcastle,
to leave it in second in Division Four.
The
two points obtained with the unbeaten victory over Meir C by the win of
Nick McLean and the draws of Chris Baxter, Ebrahim Arshad and Frank Bruce,
from Stockton Brook, moved the H team back to the top of Division Four,
leaving the three club teams to fight for the title.
This
week, the club is at home in three KO Cup Finals – the 8-Board Open
versus Newcastle, the Under-135 Grade against Macclesfield and the new
Under-90 Grade with Kidsgrove the opponents while, in the league, the C
team goes to Macclesfield in Division Two and, in Division Four, G visits
Newcastle E and H is at Alsager C.
The
club, which offers coaching at all levels, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm
at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
April 14 2008
Fifty-fifty week for Moorlands chess
club
It
was a fifty-fifty week in the North Staffs & District League for
Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club as it won one
match and lost the other.
The
A team, the defending league Champions, extended its lead to four points
in Division One, with two matches in hand, after its overwhelming defeat
of Stafford A.
Rob
Shaw, from Buxton, Jason McKenna, from Dove Holes, 13 year old Craig
Whitfield, from Scot Hay, and Simon Edwards, from Bradeley, all won while
Dave Buxton, from Cheddleton, took a draw with his side victorious.
This outing for the F side kept it
in third place in Division Four despite losing heavily away to Meir C with
just the win for Nick McLean, from Stoke, to show for the visitors.
This
week, the club visits Holmes Chapel in the Semi Final of the 8-Board Open
KO Cup, the A team plays Holmes Chapel A in Division One, B receives Homes
Chapel B in Division Two, D is at home to Newcastle D in Division Three
and, in Division Four, G goes to Kidsgrove B and H welcomes Meir C.
The club, which welcomes players at
all levels, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm at Leek United Building
Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
April 7 2008
Four victories for Moorlands chess club
Staffordshire
Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club had quite a good week in the
North Staffs & District League last week in winning four matches,
drawing one and losing one.
Cheddleton C consolidated its fourth place in Division Two after
beating Holmes Chapel B in a tough match through the wins of Dave Buxton,
from Cheddleton, John Yee, from Congleton, and Ebrahim Arshad (16), from
Stanley Moor, and the draw by Nick McLean, from Stoke.
The
D team lost heavily to Stafford B in a closely fought Division Three
encounter with just the draws of Keith Brownlee, from Mayfield, and Pete
Tomczak, from Leek, to show for all the efforts.
The
F side strengthened its third spot in Division Four after overcoming
Alsager C by a defaulted board, the win of David Rose, from Waterhouses,
and the draw of Megan Moruzzi (16), from Leek.
The first outing for Cheddleton G
last week saw it move to equal first in Division Four after an unbeaten
performance against Fenton C via the wins of Nick McLean and Calum Young
(16), of Stanley Moor, and the draws of Colin Abell, from Endon, and Ian
Vaughan, from Leek.
The
draw by the G side against Newcastle E in its second match of the week saw
it move a point clear at the top of Division Four due to the win of
Matthew Wyza, from Leek, and the draws of Peter Hallen (17), from
Cheddleton, and Ian Vaughan.
Nick
McLean’s third unbeaten outing of the week saw his win help the H team
remain in second place in Division Four after defeating Alsager B with the
win of Frank Bruce, from Stockton Brook, and the draw of Chris Baxter,
from Eccleshall, ensuring the points.
This
week, the A team is at Stafford A in Division One, C visits Holmes Chapel
B in Division Two, D is at home to Alsager A and E welcomes Meir B in
Division Three and, in Division Four, F goes to Meir C and H receives
Hassell.
The
club, which particularly offers training to juniors, meets every Friday
from 7.30 pm at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman
Street, Leek.
March 31 2008
Four out of five wins for Moorlands chess club
It
was a better week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek
Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League last week with
victories in four out of the five matches played.
This
victory by the C team over Newcastle B, through the wins of John Yee, from
Congleton, and Karol Grzybowski, from Stoke, and the draws of Craig
Whitfield, from Scot Hay, and Nick McLean, from Stoke, ensured the B side
stayed four points clear at the top of Division Two and C moved into
fourth place.
The D team’s victory over
Kidsgrove A moves it to fifth place in Division Three caused by the wins
of Vlade Luzajic, from Smallthorne, and Keith Brownlee, from Mayfield,
plus the draw of Paul Shelley, from Leek.
Unfortunately
the E side stayed in equal third in Division Three after losing to a
strong Newcastle D with just the draws for Philip (17) and David Hallen,
from Cheddleton, to show for the best efforts of all the team.
The wins of Nick McLean and Rory
Corden (14), from Leek, plus the draw by Karol Grzybowski ensured both
points were taken from Hassell to move it back to third place in Division
Four.
The
G team moved back to equal first with the H side in Division Four after
beating Fenton B through the win of Nick McLean, the draw of Ian Vaughan,
from Leek, and a defaulted board.
The
club had two players in the Under-150 Grade match against Leicestershire,
with Simon Edwards, from Bradeley, winning on board two and, with the
scores level and just the top board to finish, 13 year old Craig Whitfield
in time trouble promoted his pawn to queen in a king versus king and pawn
ending to win the match.
This
week, in Division Two, B is at home to Newcastle B and C welcomes Holmes
Chapel B while, in Division Four, F is at Alsager C, G is at Fenton C and
later in the week receives Newcastle E and H goes to Alsager B.
The
club, which offers coaching at all levels, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm
at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street,
Leek.
March 24 2008
Poor week for chess club but individuals shine
Last week was a quiet but poor week in the North Staffs & District
League for Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club as it lost the only match
played but there were individual successes for club members in Congresses.
A
weakened B team lost to Macclesfield, with just the win for Simon Edwards,
of Bradeley, and the draw of Nick McLean, from Stoke, to show for all the
players’ efforts, but remains four points clear at the top of Division
Two.
This
week, the A team is at home to Holmes Chapel A in Division One, the C side
is at Newcastle B in Division Two, D welcomes Kidsgrove A and E travels to
Newcastle D in Division Three, while F goes to Hassell and G receives
Fenton B in Division Four.
A
number of players took part in the Newcastle Mini Congress with the best
results being Craig Whitfield winning the top Under-165 Grade section,
Roger Walker coming equal second in the middle Under-120 Grade section and
Nick Mclean winning the Under-90 Grade section.
In
the Under-165 section, 13 year old fourth seed Craig Whitfield, from Scot
Hay, was unbeaten on 4/5 while Simon Edwards was equal third on 3/5.
Fourth seed Nick McLean was unbeaten on 4½/5 in the Under-90 section.
Roger
Walker, from Belper was seeded sixth in the Under-120 section but finished
equal second on 3½/5, while Karol Grzybowski, from Stoke, finished equal
fifth on 2½/5.
At
the Bolton Congress, Craig Whitfield finished third in the Major section,
unbeaten with three wins and two draws on 4/5, while Nick McLean got the
Under-80 Grading Prize with 3/5.
The
club, which offers coaching and practice, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm
at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
March 24 2008
UK Chess
Challenge News
During
this term the members of the school chess club (which operates as the
Junior section of Cheddleton and Leek Chess Club) have been taking part in
the first stage of the UK Chess Challenge.
After 7 hard-fought rounds of competition the winners have now been
decided.
Three people shared first place on points- Liam Dimmick, Danny Graham and
Joe Jackson (now at Westwood College).
Careful application of the tiebreak rules resulted in Liam becoming
Champion with Joe second and Danny third.
The club enters enough pupils to get two trophies so; since Joe is
no longer at St Edward’s, Liam and Danny each received a trophy.
School
Champion
Liam Dimmick
Top Y10 Boy
Joe Jackson
Top Y9 Girl
Philippa Hall
Top Y8 Girl
Beth Haigh
Top Y8 Boy
Thomas Bestwick
Top Y7 Boy
William Foster
Top Y6 Girl
Rhiannon Mathias
Top Y6 Boy
Danny Graham
Top Y5 Girl
Candice Griffiths
Top Y5 Boy
David Kay
Top Y4 Girl
Hannah Burton
Top Y3 Girl
Tilly Griffiths
These all qualify for the County Final called a ‘Megafinal’ and held
at this school on May 17th.
The following pupils also achieved the qualifying score for the Megafinal:-
Alex Cimino, Mathew Knight, Nathaniel Crawford, James Nicol, Robert
Middleton, Peter Aston, Bradley Hannan, Mark Cooper, Rory Knipe, George
Bestwick, George Hamilton, Danny Wood, Jack Birch, Callum Dawson and Robyn
Collier.
County
Chess News
Seven pupils from St Edward’s CE(A) Junior High School played in the
Staffordshire under 11 County team in a tournament last Saturday.
They all gained useful experience of playing at that level.
Particular mention should be made of David Kay (Y5) who won all
three of his games and Rhiannon Mathias (Y6) with two out of three.
The other players from St Edward’s were; Peter Aston, Bradley
Hannan, Danny Graham, Rory Knipe and Nathaniel Crawford.
March 17 2008
Good week for Moorlands’ chess
club as it reaches another KO Final
With
two wins from four matches played in the North Staffs & District
League plus progressing to the Final of the Staffordshire County Hickman
Trophy, it was another positive week for Staffordshire Moorlands’
Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club.
Cup
holders Cheddleton & Leek won a closely fought contest over Walsall
Kipping in the Semi-Final of the Staffordshire County KO Open Hickman
Trophy, played in an extended playing time of two and a half hours per
person.
Bill
Armstrong, from Leek, was the first home player to win to keep the scores
level, a position kept by Alan Smith, from Stockport, with his draw before
Jason McKenna, from Dove Holes, won to put his team in the lead.
Then
it was nail biting tension with all eyes on the last two boards, which
seemed too close to call, but then, after nearly five hours, Dave Buxton,
from Cheddleton, won his game and the match to put his club in the Final.
Cheddleton B moved six points clear
at the top of Division Two with this victory over Meir A through the wins
of Bill Armstrong and Phil Birks, from Leek, and a board defaulted by Meir.
The
C team remained in fourth place in Division Two after losing at home to
Holmes Chapel C, despite the best efforts of all the team, with just the
win for Simon Crowley, from Congleton and the draws of John Yee, from
Congleton, and Chris Simpson, from Weston Coyney, to show.
Again, despite the best efforts of
all the players, this time it was the D team that lost this time away to
Newcastle D in Division Three with only Vlade Luzajic, from Smallthorne,
getting a win and Rob Moruzzi, from Leek, getting a draw.
The
F side regained third spot in Division Four after defeating third place
Meir C through the excellent win of David Rose, from Waterhouses, and that
of 16 year old Megan Moruzzi, from Leek, and the draw of newcomer Jonathan
Tang, from Congleton.
This
week there is only one match - the B team is at Macclesfield in Division
Two.
The
club, which offers training and coaching, is closed on Good Friday, March
20, but meets every other Friday from 7.30 pm at Leek United Building
Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
March 10 2008
Another five wins for Moorlands
chess club
It
was another winning week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton &
Leek Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League with just one
loss to blot the picture as the other five of the six matches played were
won.
Defending
League Champion Cheddleton A continued its relentless path towards another
Division One title as it overwhelmed second placed Newcastle A and moved
four points clear with two matches in hand.
Jason
McKenna, from Dove Holes, led the way with his win to be followed not long
after with the win by Alan Smith, from Stockport, and the draw by Dave
Buxton, from Cheddleton, to ensure a share of the points before Martin
Olsson, from Buxton, got the victory with his win.
Cheddleton B also moved four points
clear at the top of a division, this time Division Two, as it demolished
Newcastle C through the wins of Phil Birks, from Leek, Simon Edwards, from
Bradeley, and Nick McLean, from Stoke, plus the draw of Peter Tomczak,
from Leek.
In
Division Three, Cheddleton E moved into equal second after a good unbeaten
victory over Kidsgrove A with the win by Roger Edwards, from Chell Heath,
and the draws of Peter Hallen (17), Martin Gee (17) and David Hallen, all
from Cheddleton.
Cheddleton
F slipped to fourth place in Division Four after losing to Kidsgrove B
with only the win by David Rose, from Waterhouses, and the draw by Ian
Spry, making his debut for the club, also from Waterhouses, to show for
the night, despite the best efforts of all the team.
Matthew
Wyza, from Leek, and Frank Bruce, from Stockton Brook, got the wins and
Colin Abell, from Endon, the draw to take both points against Alsager B
and remain in second place in Division Four.
Cheddleton
H moved two points clear at the top of Division Four after taking both
points against Newcastle E with the wins of Chris Baxter, from Eccleshall,
Roger Walker, from Belper, and Nick McLean.
This
week, B is at home to Meir A and the C team welcomes Holmes Chapel C in
Division Two, D travels to Newcastle D in Division Three and F receives
Meir C, G goes to Fenton C and H visits Alsager C, all in Division Four.
The
club, which has welcomed a number of newcomers recently, meets every
Friday from 7.30 pm at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House,
Strangman Street, Leek.
March 10 2008
One win, one loss for
Cheddleton-Pointon in national chess league
It was very much a game of two
halves as Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton-Pointon team easily won
the first of the fourth round of matches in Division Two of the 4NCL
National Chess League and the Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club team,
sponsored by John Pointon & Sons, was as heavily defeated in the
second.
Cheddleton-Pointon
was gifted three boards by bottom team Hilsmark Kingfisher 2 when there
were no opponents for Pat Bennett, from Northwich, German Woman FIDE
Master Regina Berglitz and Jersey Candidate Master Matthew Simmons.
From
then on it was all uphill as wins by International Master Robert Bellin,
from Walsall, Alan Smith, from Stockport, and Jason McKenna, from Dove
Holes, ensured both points and the draw by FIDE Master Rob Shaw, from
Buxton, just extended the lead.
The next match against third placed
Pride & Prejudice, which has more female than male players, was
totally different and Cheddleton-Pointon was lucky to get anything from it
as the players were outgraded on every board – in some cases massively.
Paul Wallace, from Lichfield, got
an exceptional draw against Grand Master Aaron Summerscale as did Regina
Berglitz against Romanian Woman Grand Master Adina Hamdouchi, while the
very good draws by David Hamblin, from Ramsgate, and Simon Edwards, from
Bradeley, was all the side could muster to leave it in ninth place.
The final three matches, in May,
are against top team White Rose, Oxford 1, which is three places above,
and second from bottom Kings Head.
March 3 2008
Unbeaten week for Moorlands chess
club
It
was another unbeaten week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton &
Leek Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League with three wins,
one by default, and a draw leaving it clear at the top of three of the
four divisions.
This
victory by Cheddleton B over strong former Division Two leaders Newcastle
B moved it three points clear at the top through the wins of Phil Birks,
from Leek, and Simon Edwards, from Bradeley, and the draws of David Hallen,
from Cheddleton, and Nick McLean, from Stoke.
Also
in Division Two, The C team’s victory over Meir A moved it into clear
second spot following good wins by John Yee, from Congleton, Molly (17)
and Rob Moruzzi, both from Leek, plus the draw by Chris Baxter, from
Eccleshall.
A
draw by the D side at home to Meir B did nothing to improve its Division
Three position after the win by Peter Tomczak, from Leek, and the draws of
Vlade Luzajic, from Smallthorne, and Keith Brownlee, from Mayfield.
This
week, Cheddleton A is at home to Newcastle A in Division One, the B team
is at Newcastle C in Division Two, the E side visits Kidsgrove A in
Division Three and, in Division Four, F welcomes Kidsgrove B, G visits
Alsager B and H receives Newcastle E.
The
club, which welcomes visitors of any standard, meets every Friday from
7.30 pm at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman
Street, Leek.
February 25 2008
Moorlands chess club reaches another
Cup Final
It
was a quiet, but very good, week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton
& Leek Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League as it
progressed to another KO Cup Final and consolidated its lead in Division
Two.
The
club easily won its Semi Final in the league’s new Under-90 Grade KO Cup
against league newcomers Hassell, from Newcastle, and progressed to its
second KO Cup Final in April.
Allan
Beaumont, from Chester, and Peter Tomczak and Matthew Wyza, both from
Leek, supplied the wins to make sure of the victory.
In
an excellent victory over Newcastle C by Cheddleton C in Division Two, the
team moved itself into equal third in the division but, more importantly,
ensured that the B team now heads the division by two clear points over
Newcastle B.
Rob
Moruzzi, from Leek, had an early win to put his side ahead before, after a
series of tough games, the win by Dave Buxton, from Cheddleton, plus the
draws of John Yee, from Congleton, and Nick McLean, from Stoke, ensured
both points.
In
the other divisions, at roughly half way through the season, the A team,
the defending champions, are joint leaders with three matches in hand, the
E side is equal third in Division Three and, in Division Four, H, G and F
are respectively first, second and third.
This
week, A is at home to Stafford A in Division One, B goes to Newcastle B
and C visits Meir A, both in Division Two, and D welcomes Meir B in
Division Three.
The
club, which sees a growing interest in the area, welcomes newcomers and
meets every Friday from 7.30 pm at Leek United Building Society’s
Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
February 18 2008
Unbeaten week for Moorlands chess
club
It
was an unbeaten week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek
Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League, with the club
clocking up three wins and a draw.
A Division Two
match against bottom club Holmes Chapel C was tougher than the scoreline
suggests but the end result puts the B team two points clear at the top of
the division.
Eventually, after some close chess, the wins for Bill Armstrong, from
Leek, Simon Edwards, from Bradeley, and Phil Birks, from Leek, were enough
to ensure both points, while the draw by David Rose, from Waterhouses,
extended the scoreline favourably.
The F team kept
third spot in Division Four after beating Fenton B following Fenton’s
default of a board and wins by club juniors Megan Moruzzi (16) and Rory
Corden (14), both from Leek.
Meir C brought a
strong team as it tried to break into the top three in Division Four, but
the G side held on to second place with this drawn match through the win
of Ian Vaughan, from Leek, and the draws of Colin Abell, from Endon, and
Matthew Wyza, from Leek.
Alsager
B is another team wanting to climb up the Division Four table, and brought
a team looking to do so, but league leader Cheddleton H was too strong for
it on the night, with an unbeaten performance to take both points.
Through
the early wins of Nick McLean, from Stoke, and Frank Bruce, from Stockton
Brook, plus the hard fought draws of Chris Baxter, from Eccleshall, and
Roger Walker, from Belper, the H side extended its lead at the top.
This
week the club goes to Hassell in the Semi Final of the new Under-90 Grade
KO Cup and, in Division Two, the C team welcomes Newcastle B.
Frodsham
Weekend Chess Congress
Sixteen local
players took part in the annual Frodsham Weekend Tournament last week
which was a great success once again. The joint winners of the Major
Section were Richard Bryant of Telepost Shrewsbury and Chris Doran of
Chester with 4 points out of 5. There were four players in equal
third position. No local players took part.
In the
Intermediate Section, the winner was 14-year old Nathan Talbot of St.
Helens with 4½ points with four players in joint second place. Club
member Carl Gartside was in equal sixth place with 3½ whilst Roger
Walker
scored 2½ with seven more players from the local League competing.
The winner of the
Minor Section was Harry Brooks of Great Lever with 4½ points with 10-year
old George Fortune of Great Lever and 16-year old Jade Stirrup in joint
second place. Club member Nick McLean was in joint sixth place with
3 points with Matthew Wyza in joint ninth place with 2½ and five other
local League players taking part.
The
club, which welcomes players of
all levels, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm
at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
February 11 2008
Unbeaten week for Moorlands chess
club
Last
week was a quiet, unbeaten week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton
& Leek Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League with just
three matches - one won and two drawn - to keep it top of three divisions
and third in the fourth.
League
Champions Cheddleton A dropped its first point of the season away to
Newcastle A but remains joint top of Division One with two matches in
hand.
Rob
Shaw, from Buxton, and Alan Smith, from Stockport, were the winners on the
night with the draw by Jason McKenna, from Dove Holes, with one minute to
go, ensuring the point.
The
E team stayed in joint third in Division Three after drawing away to
Fenton A through the win of Roger Walker, from Belper, and the draws of
Roger Edwards, from Chell Heath, and David Hallen, from Cheddleton.
The
H side jumped back to the top of Division Four, with the G and F teams in
second and third respectively, after this unbeaten victory away to fifth
placed Kidsgrove B.
Chris
Baxter, from Eccleshall, Nick McLean, from Stoke, and Frank Bruce, from
Stockton Brook, were the winners on the night while Allan Beaumont, from
Chester, took a draw with the match won.
This
week the B team is home to Holmes Chapel C in Division Two and, in
Division Four, F is at Fenton B and G and H receive Meir C and Alsager B
respectively.
The
club, which warmly welcomes new players, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm
at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
February
4 2008
Moorlands
chess club reaches KO Cup Final
It
was a poor week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek Chess
Club as it crashed out of two KO Cups and lost the only North Staffs &
District League match played but won through to another KO Cup Final and
won a league match by default.
The
club travelled to Lichfield for the Staffs Under-151 Grade KO Cup
Semi-Final and put up a strong fight, despite being outgraded on every
board, but could only manage three draws through Simon Edwards, from
Bradely, Simon Crowley, from Congleton, and Vlade Luzajic, from
Smallthorne, and lost the match.
This
good win over a strong Holmes Chapel side puts the club through to the
Final of the N Staffs Under-135 Grade KO Cup after a default and wins by
John Yee, from Congleton, and Rob Moruzzi, from Leek, plus the draw by
Molly Moruzzi (17), from Leek.
A
strong Fenton team was too much for the club’s N Staffs Under-110 Grade
KO Cup side and, despite the best efforts of all the players, were dumped
out at the Semi-Final stage with only draws by Chris Baxter, from
Eccleshall, and David Rose, from Waterhouses, to show for the effort.
The
E team travelled to Alsager A for a Division Three match and came away
with no points and just the one win for Roger Walker, from Belper, despite
all the team fighting hard.
Alsager
B was unable to raise a team for its Division Four match at Cheddleton G
and defaulted, giving both points to the home side and moving it one point
clear at the top of the table.
The
club, which welcomes players of all standards, meets every Friday at 7.30
pm at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street,
Leek.
Great
results for Moorlands chess club players
While
Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club teams were having poor results locally
last week, three individual players were having very good results in
different tournaments at the same time.
International
Master Robert Bellin, the club’s board one in its 4NCL National Chess
League Division Two Cheddleton-Pointon team, was in Gibraltar for the
Gibtelecom 2008 Masters Congress where he obtained a Grand Master
‘norm’, of which you need three to become a Grand Master (GM).
Starting
from a lowly 66th ranking in the tournament, which attracts a
large number of Grand Masters from all over the world, Bellin, from
Walsall, eventually finished in equal 37th position and fourth
highest England player scoring 6/10.
Along
the way, Bellin brilliantly beat two Grand Masters and drew with four
others, as well as beating two other players, and finished with a
tournament playing grade of 2570, which gave him his GM ‘norm’,
compared with his own FIDE grade of 2385.
Also
in Gibraltar, this time for the Gibtelecom 2008 Challengers Congress, was
the club’s leading junior, 12 year old England international Craig
Whitfield, from Scot Hay, who started in 70th position and
finished equal 29th.
Obviously,
everyone Whitfield played was graded higher than him and his two wins and
a draw were excellent results ending on 2½/5 and finishing with a
tournament playing grade of 2084 compared with his current 1728.
While
all this was happening abroad, the club’s Great Britain visually
handicapped international, Bill Armstrong, from Leek, was taking part in
the first English Senior Championships, held locally at Dovedale, where,
starting from 26th position, he finished equal 7th.
With
one exception, Armstrong played people graded higher than him, soundly
beating one and drawing with two, to finish on 3/5, sharing a grading
prize, and ending with an ECF tournament playing grade of 178 compared
with his own 155.
January
28 2008
Moorlands chess club now top of
three divisions
It
was two wins and two draws for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton &
Leek Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League last week,
leaving it now top of three of the four divisions.
Sharing
the points with Meir A through the win of Simon Edwards, from Bradeley,
and the draws of Bill Armstrong, Ian Vaughan and Matthew Wyza, all from
Leek, moved Cheddleton B to equal third in Division Two.
The
B team’s next match, against Cheddleton C, took it to joint top of
Division Two after a rather one-sided victory, despite the best efforts of
all ten players, and leaving C three points adrift of the top.
A
very good, unbeaten victory over Fenton C through the wins of Karol
Grzybowski, from Stoke, and David Rose, from Waterhouses, plus the draws
of Megan Moruzzi (16) and Rory Corden (14), both of Leek, brought the F
team up to equal second with the G side in Division Four.
The
hard fought draw by the H team against Fenton B was enough to take it one
point clear at the top of Division Four thanks to the wins of Roger Walker
and newcomer Norman Parkin, both from Belper.
This
week, apart from Alsager A v Cheddleton E in Division Three, is KO Cup
week with the club at Lichfield in the Staffs County Under-151 Grade Cup,
at home to Holmes Chapel in the North Staffs Under-135 Grade Cup and
receiving Fenton in the Under-110 Grade Cup.
The
club, which welcomes newcomers of all standards, meets every Friday from
7.30 pm at Leek United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman
Street, Leek.
January
21 2008
Moorlands
chess club tops two divisions
In
a good week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek Chess
Club, it was unbeaten in any match against other clubs in the North Staffs
& District League.
The
A team put out its weakest side so far this season but it was too much for
Holmes Chapel A as the league Champions comfortably took both points to
ensure it stays joint top of Division One, but with two matches in hand.
Simon
Edwards, from Bradeley, was the first to finish followed not too long
after by Simon Crowley, from
Congleton, before Rob Shaw, from Buxton, and Dave Buxton, from Cheddleton,
finished almost simultaneously ensuring the victory.
An
excellent victory by the C team over Newcastle C moved it to equal third
in Division Two through wins by Chris Simpson, from Weston Coyney, Rob
Moruzzi, from Leek, and Roger Walker, from Belper, plus Dave Buxton’s
draw.
Despite
not being one of its better performances, the F side moved to equal third
in Division Four after drawing with Alsager C following wins by Karol
Grzybowski, from Stoke, and 14 year old Rory Corden, from Leek.
Following
a rather one sided result in the H versus G team match, the H side has
moved up to share equal top spot with the G team in Division Four.
This
week, B is at Meir A and C is at Holmes Chapel B in Division Two, D
receives Stafford B in Division Three while H goes to Fenton B, F is at
home to Fenton C and G hosts Alsager B in Division Four.
Cheddleton-Pointon
win both matches in national chess league
Cheddleton
& Leek Chess Club’s Cheddleton-Pointon team had its best weekend in
Division Two of the 4NCL National Chess League when it won both its
matches and moved itself to ninth in the table, just three points off a
promotion place.
Starting
a board up because of Kings Head’s default, draws from International
Master Robert Bellin, from Walsall, International Master Charles Lamoureux,
from France, Paul Wallace, from Lichfield, and Gerald Acey, from Stone,
kept the team one board
ahead.
But
it was the wins by FIDE Master Rob Shaw, from Buxton, and John Sharp, from
Hertfordshire, that ensured the team got its first victory of the season.
The
best result of the weekend came in beating third placed Oxford 1, which
started well with draws again by Robert Bellin, Charles Lamoureux and Paul
Wallace on the top three boards but then the next two were lost to leave
the team trailing badly.
The
bottom three boards, all heavily outgraded, then buckled down and slowly
results came with wins by David Hamblin, from Ramsgate, and Andrew
Butterworth, from Mexborough, to bring the score level before one hour
later Simon Edwards, from Bradeley, ensured the victory and the two points
with his win.
The
next two matches, against bottom placed Hilsmark Kingfisher 2 and fifth
placed Pride and Prejudice, take place in March.
The
club, which welcomes beginners, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm at Leek
United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
January
14 2008
Good
week for Moorlands chess club
It
was a good week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek Chess
Club in the North Staffs & District League last week, with just one
loss for the six teams in action.
The
C team put in a good performance against second place Division Two
Macclesfield, which was playing in Division One last season, to take a
share of the points and move off the bottom of the division.
An
excellent win by John Yee, from Congleton, was backed up by solid draws by
Simon Crowley, from Congleton, Chris Simpson, from Weston Coyney, and Rob
Moruzzi, from Leek, to earn the draw.
The
D side came up against Division Three joint leaders Fenton A and, despite
a strong performance by all the players, came away with no points and just
a win for Pete Tomczak, from Leek and a draw for Keith Brownlee, from
Mayfield.
Stafford
B brought a strong team for a Division Three match but an unbeaten
performance by the E team brought both points and moved it to joint top of
the division.
A
very good win by Peter Hallen (17), from Cheddleton, was backed up by good
draws by Roger Edwards, from Chell Heath, David Hallen, from Cheddleton,
and Ian Vaughan, from Leek.
It
was all square in the meeting of the H and F teams in Division Four with
the draw moving H up to equal second and F moving up to equal fourth.
The
G side moved two points clear at the top of Division Four with this fine
victory over Alsager C through wins by Colin Abell, from Endon, Matthew
Wyza, from Leek, and Nick McLean, from Stoke.
This
week, the A team visits Holmes Chapel A in Division One, C welcomes
Newcastle C in Division Two, E goes to Alsager A in Division Three and, in
Division Four, F receives Alsager C and H and G play each other.
The
club, which welcomes newcomers, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm at Leek
United Building Society’s Norbury House, Strangman Street, Leek.
January
7 2008
Good
week for Moorlands chess club
It
was a very good week for Staffordshire Moorlands’ Cheddleton & Leek
Chess Club in the North Staffs & District League even though two of
the three matches played were between club sides.
This
excellent performance by all the E team players against strong opposition
by the D side ensured that E has moved to equal second in Division Three.
This
hard fought draw between the G and F teams ensured that, at that point, in
Division Four, G moved one point clear at the top and F moved into equal
fourth.
This
superb win by the H team over then joint Division Four leaders Fenton C
leapfrogged the home side one point clear of the G team to make it the new
division leader.
The
two points were gained through fine wins by Chris Baxter, from Eccleshall,
Nick McLean, from Stoke, and Frank Bruce, from Stockton Brook.
This
week, C is at home to Macclesfield in Division Two, D visits Fenton A and
E welcomes Stafford B in Division Three and, in Division Four, G goes to
Alsager C.
The
club, which welcomes newcomers, meets every Friday from 7.30 pm at Leek
United Building Society’s Norbury house, Strangman Street, Leek.
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