2015-6 season news

Nick Harris is 2016 Club Champion

6 Oct. The 2015-6 season was wrapped up after delays caused by holdays and illness. The first game between Nick Harris and Alaric Stephen was played on 5 September and was drawn. The play-off, was scheduled for late September but was called off because of illness of one of the finalists. At the re-scheduled date on 6 October, veteran player Nick Harris beat former Worcestershire Junior champion Alaric Stephen to win the 2016 championship.  Nick Harris said: “I’m very pleased to be champion at the age of 79. The final replay was a tense game.  I had to fight hard against a strong attack by my rapidly improving opponent, who slipped up only late in the contest.”

Members raise funds for Maggs day centre

25 Aug. City members collected over £60 for Magg's Day Centre - local charity for the homeless - at their summer HQ King Charles House in the summer Festival chess event.

Ray Collett wins the Stoulton handicap rapidplay tournament

16 July. Ray won this event organised by Terry Radford for Droitwich players. After losing the exchange to a knight fork in the early middlegame and grafting away to get a draw in the first round, the winner never looked back.

Annual meeting

26 May.There were only two changes of officers: Stephen Mellor takes over from Rob Sutton as captain of the City team in Worcestershire Chess League Division 1 and Andrew Farthing takes up the post of competitions secretary. Awards were made to: Rob Sutton, the Rapidplay Champion; Stephen Mellor, the Blitz Champion; Ray Collett, best performance in the City team; Peter Kitson, best performance in the City team; Phil Smith, best performance in the Pawns team and Alaric Stephen most improved player. The final of the club championship is between Alaric Stephen and Nick Harris.

Worcester B losing finalists in Wheatley competition

24 May. Worcester B team lost on handicap to Mercia in the final of the competition for the Wheatley Cup at Greenlands social Club, Longbridge.

Junior member makes mark

15 May. Newest member Will Fry (The King's School Worcester/Worcestershire Junior Chess Academy) scored 3 points at the Worcestershire Megafinal of the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge, Benjamin Fuller (Worcester Sixth Form College/Worcestershire Junior Chess Academy) won the under-18 Spremo title.

Stephen Mellor Blitz champion

13 May. The annual Worcester City Blitz tournament was played for the first time at King Charles House in the centre of town. In the final, Stephen Mellor beat David Roberts. Third placed was Nick Harris.

Worcestershire Chess Association annual meeting

12 May. Club members Ray Collett (Secretary) and Jim Keene (Correspondence Team Captain) were re-appointed to their positions at the meeting at Droitwich.

Rob Sutton Rapidplay champion

5 May. In the semi finals for the Worcester City Rapidplay championship Rob Sutton beat Ray Collett and Nick Harris beat Phil Smith. The final was played later in the evening and Rob Sutton beat Nick Harris.

Worcester B finalists in Wheatley Cup

28 Apr. Worcester B beat Redditch to go to final for the Wheatley knock out Cup. The final will be played at Greenlands Social Club, Longbridge on 24 May 21 Apr, Both semi-finals were short games concluded by blunders: Stephen (w)1-0 Collett and Smith 0-1 Harris. 14 Apr, Ray Collett (w) ½-½ Alaric Stephen fought to a draw after losing a pawn.

Chub championship draw

11 Apr, Rob Sutton reports: The draw has been made and players toss for colours Championship semi-final: Nick Harris - Phil Smith and Ray Collett - Alaric Stephen Rapid play championship semi-final: Nick Harris - Phil Smith and Rob Sutton - Ray Collett The final for the club championship is scheduled for 19 May and all games for the Rapidplay are scheduled for 12 May.

Worcester's double win

7 Apr. Worcester had double home fixtures against Redditch teams in the Worcester & District League. In Division 1, the Bishops team won 3-1 and in Division 2 the Pawns came to life and won 4-0. This was the Pawns first 4 nil victory since 2013 and should ensure they do not finish last after a disappointing 2015-6 season. The Bishops have one match left, against Malvern for the League Championship.

Pawns lose away Worcester A edge to semi-final of Wheatley Cup

16 Mar. The Pawns team lost 1-3 to Kidderminster Pawns.

Worcester A edge into semi-final of Wheatley Cup

18 Feb. Worcester drew with Droitwich in their quarter final match and progression to the semi finals was decided by the toss of a coin. This was captain Colin Vernon's first trial as captain. In early March Worcester B play Redditch in this competition.

City team latest

17 Feb. City draw 3-3 with Kidderminster in their away match and will need to see whether Halesowen, already assured of the championship, can beat Kidderminster to keep our team off the bottom.
26 Nov. City draw against Halesowen
3 Dec. City beat Malvern

Bishops team draw with Kidderminster Knights

10 Feb. In an exciting match, Peter's home preparation paid dividends on board 1.

Worcester Pawns draw with Mercia

1 Feb. In their first match against the new team in Worcester & District League, the Pawns drew 3-3.

Pawns team worsted by Stourbridge

12 Nov. In their first match of the season in Division 2 of the District League, the Pawns lost away.

Bishops gain first league match points

19 Nov. Bishops beat Kidderminster Knights. Ray Collett became the first District player to beat Kidderminster's Joe Watson who had been undefeated in his league games last season.
4 Nov. Jim Keene's Bishops team scored a convincing win over Kidderminster Rooks away 3½ - ½.

Championship games underway

29 Oct. Members were able to use modern digital clocks in all games from this week on with the club's purchase of new equipment. Standard tournament DGT 2010 are available for or all club matches and one hi-vis Saitek Competition Game Pro were purchased from London Chess Centre.
22 Oct. The first internal championship games were played with one game in the championship preliminary stage and one in the Rapidplay championships.

Worcester have bad start to season

20 Oct. The Bishops team lost away against Redditch A in the District league.
15 Oct. An outgraded and under-strength City team lost to Kidderminster in the County league.
1 Oct. In an early-season ungraded 4-board friendly match, Worcester hosted Droitwich who avenged their home defeat last year. The match score was 1½-2½: 1. Colin Vernon ½-½ Arnold Kirkland; 2. Max Deering 0-1 Terry Radford; 3. Roger Yates 0-1 David Cleak; 4 Phil Smith 1-0 Tom Parkes

Summer Festival Chess

20 Aug. Members collected over £64 for Maggs Day Centre for the homeless at its Summer Chess Worcester Festival event kindly hosted by King Charles House in the centre of the city.

City players at the British

5 Aug. Andrew Farthing and Ray Collett travelled to Warwick to wish John Edge (Halesowe) and Keith Arkell (Stourbridge) good results in the championship and enjoy the free commentary. We met former member Andrew Taylor, who has been maintaining his chess on the Internet. Colin Vernon's best result was in a weekender scoring 3/5.

180th Annual meeting

28 May. After several years as secretary Andrew Farthing retired from the post and Ray Collett takes over. A newcomer to the executive was Colin Vernon who takes over the captaincy of the knock out team. The treasurer reported a deficit on the year and members approved increases in subscriptions for 2015-6 season. Team captains reported the City team ended in third position in Division 1 of the County League; the Bishops team was third in Division 1 of the District league; the Pawns team shared first position in Division 2, and are likely to share the Division 2 title with Stourbridge; and the knockout team were losing finalists in the Wheatley Cup competition.