First hurdles too high

Aspirations of matching last year's performances in the Terrill and Townshend Trophies were dashed on Tuesday night as Redditch 4 fell to Lichfield 6 on handicap and Redditch 2 were left facing defeat against Olton 2.

With several key players unavailable, Redditch 2 was forced to promote players from the Division 4 team for their Terrill Trophy match. New player Daniel Lambourne had been registered in time, however, and marked his debut on top board with a draw. Graded 180, Daniel is likely to be a significant asset to the club. Dave Spowart also picked up a good draw and Steve Crockett transferred his recent rapidplay form to the standardplay format with an outstanding win over Trevor Holt - an opponent graded 14 points higher. Andrew Wiggins and Michele Clack both succumbed to higher rated opponents after being in initially good positions, however, leaving Redditch trailing by three points to two. Derek Abraham's game has been adjourned after it was still incomplete at the end of the session. According to Michele, Derek had the better of it against an opponent who outgraded him by 33 points but may have missed an opportunity to exchange down to a won endgame. However, even if Derek should win, Redditch face elimation on board count.

With several players unavailable for Redditch 4 through promotion to Redditch 2 and absences, Redditch 4 were also forced to field a weakened team for their match against Lichfield 6. Coupled with Lichfield being given a 1.5 point headstart for being two divisions lower this was always going to be a tought task for Redditch and so it proved. Johns Holmberg and Harrison both fell to defeats and Richard Turner and Ian Clack had to settle for draws after looking to have a good advantage. It did not go completely Lichfield's way, however, as Giles Stanton managed to pin a knight to his opponent's queen to win a piece and the game with an overwhelming attack. David Smith also marked his Redditch debut with a victory over experienced opponent Roy Smith. This left the score at 3-3 but Lichfield go through 4..5-3 on handicap.

Both teams have the consolation of entering trophies for first round losers with Redditch 2 dropping into the Homer Trophy and Redditch 4 into the Barrington Trophy. Meanwhile, best wishes must be offered to Olton and Lichfield in their campaigns.

League campaigns get underway this week with a visit to Droitwich in Divsion 2 of the Worcester and District League on Monday before hosting Warley Quimborne in Division 2 of the Birmingham League on Tuesday.


Closing thought: "Don't be afraid of losing. Be afraid of playing and not learning something." - Dan Heisman

Crockett at the double

Fresh from taking second place in Leamington, Steve Crocket went one better last Saturday (15th) by finishing joint first in the U130 Docklands Rapidplay before going one better again the next day by winning the U100 section of the Richmond Rapidplay outright.

Steve scored 4.5/6 at Docklands to share first place with Tony Bynnersley of West London. Any tournament win is one to celebrate, but to win an U130 tournament with grades of 97 and 113 for Steve and Tony respectively deserves attention. Steve lost the individual encounter between the two champions but did claim a victory over Richard Leaper of Mutual Circle, alebit in somewhat fortuitous circumstances when Richard's time expired with Steve's king facing imminent execution! He also scored a victory over young star Iyessa Bin-Suhayl. Aged just eight, Iyessa is already graded 124 in rapid chess and scored 5/6 in a previous tournament at Richmond in July before following it up with 3.5/6 in the U150 section of the Essex Rapidplay . It is great to see such interest and a young talent at chess, although that may be tempered with heartbreak for older and more experienced players who've had to sit there while he's outplayed them!

After seeing his rapid grade plummet from 122 to 97 in July, Steve himself acknowledges he's undergraded at rapid chess and Sunday's tournament at Richmond certainly didn't disprove that as Steve romped home with a score of 5.5/6. The only blemish on Steve's card came with a draw against youngster Stephen Darby, but Steve later took it out on Stephen's father - over the board of course! Steve also beat (yet another!) young star in Benjamin Headlong. As impressive as last weekend was for Steve, one can only hope he doesn't singlehandedly discourage juniors!

Redditch commence their team matches this season on Tuesday with both Birmingham teams in cup action. Redditch 2 are away against Olton 2 as they look to improve on least season's semi-final exit in the Terrill Trophy, while Redditch 4 commence their defence of the Townshend Trophy at home against Lichfield 6.


Closing thought: "The highest art of the chessplayer lies in not allowing your opponent to show you what he can do." - Garry Kasparov

Tom Robinson is quickplay champion

Fresh from taking second place in his section at the Leamington Rapidplay, Tom Robinson went one better in Redditch's Phil Church Quickplay. Victories against Ian Clack, Michele Clack, Andrew Wiggins, Dave Spowart and Peter Seeley secured first place for Tom with a perfect score of five points from his five matches. Andrew took second place with four points from four victories and a single defeat against Tom and Dave Spowart took third place with three win, a draw against Peter and a defeat to Tom. A special mention should also go to David Smith with three points. David only joined the club this summer after playing chess online and is already giving the other players a good game and should be a very useful addition to the club.

Standings: (Position - Player - Points)

1 Tom Robinson 5
2 Andrew Wiggins 4
3 Dave Spowart 3.5
4= Ian Clack 3
4= David Smith 3
6 Giles Stanton 2.5
7= Michele Clack 2
7= John Harrison 2
7= Peter Seeley 2
7= Richard Turner 2
11 John Holmberg 1

Competitive club matches begin in two weeks with knockout trophies in the Birmingham and District League. The Division Two side will be looking to better last season's semi final finish in the Terrill Trophy while the Division Four side will aim to retain the Townshend Trophy after winning it last season. Their campaigns this season commence away against Olton 2 and at home against Lichfield 6 respectively.

With no club matches next week, it will be a regular club evening of friendlies or members may choose to play in the club's all-play-all league. Players are given 75 minutes to make thirty moves and the clocks are then moved back 15 minutes to play until the end of the game. Internal games aren't graded, allowing players the choice of whether to stick with their tried and trusted systems or to experiment with something new. The big question in this league is whether or not Steve Crockett will retain his title from last season.


Closing thought: "Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf" - Cecil Purdy

Double seconds in Leamington

Two Redditch members - Steve Crockett and Tom Robinson - entered the Leamington Rapidplay tournament today with both finishing second equal in their sections (Steve in the U110 and Tom in the U170) with scores of 4.5/6. The similarities didn't end there either as both achieved their results through three wins and three draws. Tom's results included a victory over Quinton Lip and Steve picked up a fantastic win over section winner and rising young star Robert Ashworth. Further details should ultimately be found on http://www.leamingtonchessleague.org.uk/

Redditch's own opening quickplay begins on Tuesday with the traditional season-opening Phil Church tournament. The club will open from 7:15 at the address in this blog's header. We saw three joint winners last season in Irina Amelkina, Rob Mitchell and Dave Spowart. With Irina and Rob having departed the club, will Dave retain the trophy outright? All will be revealed on Tuesday!


Closing thought: "My opponent left a glass of whisky 'en prise' and I took it 'en passant'." - Henry Blackburne

Welcome!

Welcome to the Redditch Chess Club page! We are looking forward to the new season and are entering teams in Divisions 2 and 4 of the Birmingham League and Divisions 1 and 2 of the Worcester & District League. In addition, both of these leagues run individual and team knockout competitions. We are reigning champions in one of the Birmingham team trophies and one of our members is the reigning champion in a Worcester & District League trophy.

We also run an internal all-play-all competition and have a quickplay competition as an annual curtain-raiser. This season, we will commence a quickplay competition to take place on a series of evenings for which all scores will be totalled.

The option to play socially also exists and new members are always welcome and more experienced members will be available to play friendlies.

This blog will cover reports from our team matches and internal quickplay evenings. It may also include updates on our internal all-play-all competition and the exploits of members in individual tournaments, be that in these leagues or in congresses. You can also follow our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RedditchChessClub

Next Tuesday marks the start of the season and we will be running the Phil Church quickplay competition. This consists of five rounds so any newcomers will be guaranteed games against multiple people. All interested are welcome. Games will take place at St John the Evangelist Church Hall, Greenlands Avenue, Greenlands, Redditch, B98 7PZ from 7:15.


Closing thought:
"Without error, there can be no brilliancy" - Emmanuel Lasker