Peter Kitchen

A newly-promoted team is in danger of losing its only Shropshire Chess League division one victory of the season due to a dispute over the circumstances around a defaulted board. Maddocks B defeated Oswestry A 3-2 on November 10, due in no small part to Oswestry defaulting top board. On the night, Oswestry’s Rudy van […]

It’s forever been a game that has struggled to dispel its traditionally stuffy image. Even today, when people think of chess clubs many will conjure up images of middle-aged men sitting in the corners of social clubs huddled over chess boards in near silence. And while there’s no denying that the game retains many of

Nigel Ferrington is the chess champion of Shrewsbury for a record-breaking fifth time after coming out on top in a tense four-way playoff. Ferrington, who plays for the county town’s Telepost club, defeated tournament surprise package Stephen Priestley of Shrewsbury in his playoff tie, while fellow contenders Matthew Clark (Telepost) and Dan Lockett (Shrewsbury) fought

The blue riband event of the Shropshire chess calendar will make a return in the new year – three years after it was last held. The 2023 Shropshire Chess Congress will be held at Wrekin Housing Trust’s headquarters in Telford over the weekend of January 6 to 8, organisers have confirmed. It will be the

One of Shropshire’s oldest chess clubs is on the lookout for a new home – for the second time in the space of a year. Shrewsbury Chess Club has announced it will leave the Nerdy Café in Mardol at the end of the 2022/23 season, where it currently meets every other Friday. The club, which

A four-way playoff will be held to decide the next chess champion of Shrewsbury, it has been confirmed. Telepost duo Nigel Ferrington and Matthew Clark and Shrewsbury pair Dan Lockett and Stephen Priestley will be the contenders after all four finished Shrewsbury Town Championship with four points out of a possible five. Priestley’s performance has

They’ve endured a difficult couple of years – but members of one of Shropshire’s traditionally strongest clubs at last have something to smile about. Telford A have won the 2021/22 Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League division two title, coming out on top after a fierce and closely fought battle with Telepost B and Newport B. The

Telepost Dark Knights enjoyed a dream start to life in the national online chess league as their two teams recorded thumping 4-0 opening day wins. The Abbey Foregate side’s first team defeated Bishop Knights in their 4NCL Online League division five clash, while the second team whitewashed Bude Beach Surfers. Matthew Clark, Rob Nield, Nick

Phil Bull roared to victory at a hugely competitive Newport Chess Club blitz tournament. Bull, who plays most of his chess for Wolverhampton, won six of his seven matches to take the top prize, half a point clear of Maddocks’ Andy Grillage. The only blemish on his record was a defeat to Newport’s Thalia Holmes