Worcestershire Chess Association

Worcestershire Chess

Introduction

Worcestershire Chess Association (WCA) is a federation of clubs and members who promote the game within the old boundaries of Worcestershire that include Dudley and district. The association does this by fielding county teams in over-the-board and correspondence chess, organises the Worcestershire League for club matches, runs an annual Worcestershire Open congress in the summer, and organises junior chess within the county. Use the "About" menu button on the left for more information.

Teams. Worcestershire have three teams in the Midlands Counties Championships and one correspondence team. You can play for Worcestershire if you: were born in the county; are currently resident in the county; you are attending full-time education in the county; you are a member of a chess club affiliated to the county. Use the Open, under-140 or under-120 Team menu buttons on the left for more information about over-the-board county play and the "Corres Chess" button for correspondence chess.

Worcestershire chess leagues

The leagues associated with worcestershire are below:

Worcestershire Chess League. The league is an integral part of the association and has two divisions. Use the "League" menu button on the left for more.
Worcester & District Chess League. The district league was founded in 1932. Although it is independant of the county association, honorary secretary and treasurers are shared with the county association.
Dudley & District League. This league operates in the north of the old county within Dudley and south Birmingham.
Birmingham & District League. One of the oldest and largest chess leagues in England straddling Staffordshire and Warwickshire as well as Worcestershire.

Worcester Open Chess Congress. This event has grown in popularity since it was first run in 2009. It has been held at the University of Worcester in the weekend preceding the Britsh Championship and the Open section winner receives the Worcestershire Open trophy. Use the "Open Congress" menu button on the left for more.

Juniors. Worcestershire hosts the Worcestershire Chess Academy at Worcester and organises the Worcestershire Megafinal of the UK Chess Challenge. Use the "Juniors" menu button on the left for more information.

The Woodcock Prize. This is awarded at the annual meeting to the winner of the most enterprising game.

About Worcestershire Chess Association. The General Secretary is Maurice Bissell (Kidderminster) and President is Peter Kitson (Worcester). Use the "About" button on the left hand side menu for more.

Chess Clubs. Use the menu button on the left for more Information about Worcestershire Clubs.

Links. For links to details of upcoming chess congresses, websites of local, regional and national chess organisations.

Upcoming

Worcestershire Chess Association AGM. Maurice Bissell, County Association Honorary Secretary, has sent out notices for the AGM to be held at Claines Institute starting 9:30 in the morning of Saturday 26 May. This meeting is likely to be more contoversial than the agend appears to suggest because the association will have to decide how to recover the much increased game fees from players who do not decide to join the English Chess Federation. All players who have played for the county and members of clubs affiliated to the county association are entitled to attend and participate in decisions. It is understood that the current Captain of the under-120 team, and the Junior Organiser wish to step down this year and if you are interested in fulfilling either of these roles, please contact Maurice Bissell

Worcestershire Megafinal of UK Chess Challenge. On Sunday 27 May at the University of Worcester.

Recent chess news

15 May. Halesowen Club AGM celebrated several trophy wins and the club said farewell to Jorge Zavaleta, visiting young Mexican player, who donated a board to the club.

13 May. Congratulations to Giles and the Under-140 team who beat Yorkshire convincingly at Nottingham.

12 May. James Friar (Hagley) won the Worcester Junior Chess Academy qualifying tournament for the Worcestershire Megafinal.

11 May. With results from adjourned games now in, Halesowen II confirm their Division II championship win and making Halesowen double champions holding both league and Division II titles.

10 May. Opening of Gelfand-Anand World Championship Match today in Moscow The opening ceremony is today and play will continue until the end of May unless the match is very one-sided. Information and results are on the match website. As part of the build up to the event, RT.com television broadcast a downloadable interview with 14th champion Vladimir Kramnik this morning.

7 May. In the World Schools Championship in Iasi Under-15 Open, Joseph Friar (Hagley, Worcs) was placed 27-31st on 4 points from 9 games. After an unrewarding start, he showed true grit to win two games in succession and finished mid-table.

Joseph Friar scores at Iasi (1 May). In the Individual under-15 Schools Championship in Iasi, Romania, Joseph Friar (Hagley) was placed 5-8th in the Blitz under-15 Open with 4½ points.

Halesowen trophy cupboard requires upgrade (28 Apr). Stewart Fishburne reports that Halesowen teams have won Dudley & District Division 2, Birmingham & District Division 4, as well as the earlier reported Worcestershire League Championship. The club are also on the way to winning Worcestershire League Division II because they lead 2 - 1 in their match with Kidderminster II.

Joseph Friar selected for England in Romanian tournament (12 Apr). Hagley junior star plays in the under-15 World Schools Individual Chess Championship in Lasi 28 April to 26 May

County u140 team through to England quarter-finals (12 Apr). Captain Giles Stanton reports that his team is paired against Yorkshire in the quarter finals.

Halesowen in running for up to seven trophies this season (9 Apr). Stewart Fishburne reports that the club's teams have already bagged the Wolverhampton & District League's Division 2A title and are in the running for a further six.

Halesowen are League Champions (4 Apr) Halesowen destroyed Worcester City in Division I of the county league to win the Championship - their first since 2006 - with two matches to spare.

Fallowfield brothers in British Blitz (24 Mar) Nick and Jeremy scored 6 from 11 and were the best placed Worcs players in this tournament held at Quinton, Birmingham. The field included 6 FIDE titled masters and GMs. For full results see English Chess Forum.

Steve Crockett wins Minor at High Wycombe (24 Mar) Steve continued his winning streak with 4½ points from 5 games.

Under-140 County team retain Midlands title (10 Mar) After last weekend's win for Warks over Notts, Worcestershire can't now be caught.

Halesowen Promoted in Wolverhampton League (7 Mar) Stewart Fishburne reports that their first team in the WDCL will be promoted to the first Division next season.

Redditch net Townsend Trophy in BDCL (6 Mar) Michele Clack reports that Redditch are on a bit of a roll at the moment. Giles Stanton's team in Birmingham League Div 4 won the final of the Townsend Trophy last night against Mutual Circle 4a.

Redditch players score in Warwicksire Congress (4 Mar) Redditch players Tom Robinson, Andrew Wiggins, Giles Stanton, Michele Clack, and Stephen Crockett won both team and individual prizes at the Warwickshire Congress held at Arden School, Knowle, Solihull. Other county players who were in the prize lists were Ray Collett and Rob Sutton from Worcester City. Full results are on the MCCU web site.

Some members of the winning Redditch team: Tom Robinson, Steve Crockett,
Michele Clack and Andrew Wiggins (Photo Ray Collett)

Halesowen sure of promotion from BDCL Div 4 (1 Mar) Windsor Peck reports that his team will go up a division in Birmingham & District next year.

Stourbridge reach Terrill Final in Birmingham League (18 Feb) For the first time since 1991, Stourbridge have reached the final of Birmingham & District League's prestigious Frank Terrill Memorial Trophy knock out team championship. Dave Scriven reports that the match will be at a neutral venue during the week commencing 5 March.

Stourbridge Chess Club News (18 Feb) The multi-storey car park opposite the Stourbridge venue is now closed ahead of its demolition. Visiting teams will need to use the road side parking available in High Street, Lower High Street and Market Street. The venue will then be a 2 minute walk. Please note each of these streets is one-way and can not be accessed using the multi-storey exit from the ring-road. If you need help with directions please contact Dave Scriven (01384 423642).

Worcestershire's u-120 team beat Notts (11 Feb) The county side won 7-5 at home keeping their 100% record for the season, but must beat Staffs Terriers to retain their Midlands title.

ECF releases January Grading list (28 Jan) Pavel Besedin (Worcester City & Latvia) is the county's highest graded player at 191.

Worcestershire lose Minor Counties' tussle with Leicestershire (28 Jan) going down 7-9 to a side headed by a GM and including three players graded over 200. The Minor counties team has an outside chance to net the championship.

Worcestershire u-140 team (21 Jan) walkover Derbys, that were unable to field a side.

Worcestershire u-120 team (7 Jan) beat Staffs Bulldogs maintaining their 100% record.

For older news items, use the "News" menu button on the left.