Peter Kitchen

Bid to create “FA Cup of chess” as sport enjoys an unprecedented boom

Team knockout competitions will be moved into the regular season in a bid to create the “FA Cup” of the Shropshire chess calendar. The opening rounds of both the Cox Trophy and Minor Knockout will be played between Shropshire Chess League fixtures before Christmas, with the semi finals during the spring and the finals at …

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Club faces a fight for its future as urgent search for venue stepped up

One of Shropshire’s oldest and most decorated chess clubs is at severe risk of folding unless a new venue can be found over the summer, it has been revealed.  Shrewsbury Chess Club officials have issued a rallying cry for help after it was revealed that the club’s existing venue the Nerdy Cafe will close in …

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Shropshire trio compete in national championships

Three Shropshire players have made their mark on the national stage by competing in the English Championships. Shrewsbury’s Nathanael Paul and Maddocks’ Athar Ansari were in the field for the English Open Championships, while Telepost’s Kate Walker was among the 22 competitors in the English Womens’ Championship. Both events were held in Kenilworth over the …

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Maddocks seal a league double on night of high drama

Shropshire Chess League champions Maddocks A have done the double after adding the rapidplay league title to their trophy cabinet – in the most dramatic circumstances. The Oakengates side came out on top in a thrilling-three way fight for the Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League division one title, eventually lifting the crown with a one-point margin …

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A woeful weekend in Warwick – but Shropshire still avoid the drop

Shropshire’s national league team endured a final weekend of the season to forget as they finished bottom of their division – but were still spared from relegation. An under-strength Shropshire & Friends side lost all three of their Four Nations Chess League division three west fixtures at Warwick, meaning they ended the season 12th and …

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Whitewash win hauls Oswestry A to the brink of safety – but Telepost B are down

Oswestry A took a huge step towards securing their safety in the top flight of Shropshire Chess League with a thumping 5-0 win over midtable Telepost A. Charles Lowick Higgie’s side have now moved four points clear of the division one relegation zone with just three matches left to play. The result has also officially …

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New junior chess clubs springing up amid latest boom in popularity

Schools and communities across Shropshire are enjoying a boom in the popularity of chess – to the delight of those running the game in the county. New groups for aspiring junior players have been established at Highley Primary School and Lacon Childe School in Cleobury Mortimer, as well as a junior club at Market Drayton …

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