Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Members analysis session by FM Ezra Kirk, 4th June
Jan has kindly offered to sponsor an analysis session for club members on 4th June. It will be given by Ezra who will be looking at any games people bring. The session will be free to members and will run from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Don't forget to bring your most interesting/confusing games!
Monday, May 25, 2015
McArthur cup final 2015
Hastings & St Leonards were to host Brighton & Hove for the 2015 final. Geoffrey James was to renew a rivalry that stretched back to 1969 when he faced John Sugden. Their opening was a Caro-Kann defence. Geoffrey won an exchange and soon after the game. Brighton & Hove took the lead. Brian Denman was paired with Howard Tebbs. Their game was a Slav defence. This was to end in a draw. Simon Wilks was to play Sussex County Chess Association president Robert Elliston. The game was a Catalan with Simon playing the black side. This ended peacefully in a draw. Julien Carron making his debut for the club was to face Francis Rayner, who has represented Wales apparently. The opening was an Open Sicilian. At the end of a joint time scramble it became apparent Francis had made one move to few. The game was won by the Brighton & Hove player. My game finished next. It had been a Bird's opening. My opponent offered the draw and i accepted. Brighton & Hove now had 3.5 points and could not be caught. Callum Brewer, a promising young player, was playing Rasa Norinkeviciute who has a WFM title. The opening had been a Sicilian defence. Callum won a pawn and with seconds to spare on Callum's clock, Rasa resigned, although mate was inevitable. So the final score was Hastings & St Leonards 1.5 Brighton & Hove 4.5. Brighton & Hove had won the match and retain the McArthur cup.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Hastings 1st Weekend Chess Tournament
Hastings&St Leonards Chess Club are hosting their first weekend chess tournament 30/31st May.
At the the moment four members of the club are hoping to attend.
Full details can be found from their web-site or from our link.
At the the moment four members of the club are hoping to attend.
Full details can be found from their web-site or from our link.
Tournaments
Please can all tournament players ( apart from OT ) arrange to play their remaining games as soon as possible so that all games are completed by 30th June 2015. Many thanks.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Brighton &Hove 1 v Eastbourne 1 and League report
Our last match of the season was against Eastbourne 1. John Henshaw was the first to finish, winning against the Semi-Slav. I drew against John Herbert. Callum Brewer drew a game which had transposed to an Old Indian line. Geoffrey James was next to finish, winning as black against an English set up. Last to finish was Brian Denman drawing in a Sicilian against Oliver Froom. We won this match by 3.5 points to 1.5 points.
This last match victory enabled us to finish as runners up in Division one. Our overall performance was only slightly worse than previous years.Which was not totally disappointing. Luke Rutherford, a key player was unable to play any part in the season's campaign. We faced formidable opposition this season in a strengthened Worthing team. Both Michael Nicholas and Donald Macfarlane were to prove useful recruits to the Worthing club. Looking at the positives the club gained a strong new player in Simon Wilks. His results this season were very encouraging. On paper we were perhaps a little weaker than last season, but we still threatened for first place. In previous years, this season's
performance from the club, might have clinched the title. This season however it proved to be not quite enough. A strong Worthing side ran out winners and i think justly deserve their title.
This last match victory enabled us to finish as runners up in Division one. Our overall performance was only slightly worse than previous years.Which was not totally disappointing. Luke Rutherford, a key player was unable to play any part in the season's campaign. We faced formidable opposition this season in a strengthened Worthing team. Both Michael Nicholas and Donald Macfarlane were to prove useful recruits to the Worthing club. Looking at the positives the club gained a strong new player in Simon Wilks. His results this season were very encouraging. On paper we were perhaps a little weaker than last season, but we still threatened for first place. In previous years, this season's
performance from the club, might have clinched the title. This season however it proved to be not quite enough. A strong Worthing side ran out winners and i think justly deserve their title.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Brighton and Hove win Knock Out final
A grading difference of 62 meant we needed 2½ to win the match (a drawn outcome is not possible in the KO, any more than unfinished games). Knock out matches usually go to the stronger team, in spite of the grading handicap - this year's results bear this out with only one upset in seven games. So 62 grading points - we were expecting more - was still enough to wipe us out. Most of the difference was on board one where Callum took on Feliks as black with a board difference of 43. Feliks was already struggling and two pawns down when the snatch of a particularly poisoned pawn led him into a trap and his queen was cornered. Robin narrowly lost a tricky and time-pressured ending on board two with a 20 point difference. Paul S. drew on board three, Michael H. lost on four and Jan won on five. We had 2½. A great result for Callum who is fast becoming one of our strongest players.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone who's played in the KO this year. As well as last night's team that's Michael C., Terry, Rob, Mustapha and Seb (and me).
PS The results posted below from the MSCL website use last year's grades which makes the grading difference 74 (with 49 on board one), whereas the results form is preset using the January grades. Rule changes to clarify this are apparently being sought at the MSCL AGM.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone who's played in the KO this year. As well as last night's team that's Michael C., Terry, Rob, Mustapha and Seb (and me).
* * * * *
PS The results posted below from the MSCL website use last year's grades which makes the grading difference 74 (with 49 on board one), whereas the results form is preset using the January grades. Rule changes to clarify this are apparently being sought at the MSCL AGM.
| 14 May | Brighton | Haywards_Heath | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 163 | Brewer, Callum D | 1 | - | 0 | Kwiatkowski, Feliks J | 212 |
| 2 | 163 | Jones, Robin A | 0 | - | 1 | Boardman, Jeffrey | 180 |
| 3 | 161 | Selby, Paul R | ½ | - | ½ | Cole, Vivian J | 169 |
| 4 | 152 | Hamilton, Michael J | 0 | - | 1 | Faulkner, Martin J | 161 |
| 5 | 129 | Ten Sythoff, Jan | 1 | - | 0 | Fitzgerald, Neil A | 120 |
| grade diff: | -74 | 2.5 | 2.5 | ||||
| Required to win: | 2.5 | 3 |
Thursday, May 14, 2015
MSCL results and final game of the season
The end of the season is nigh and results are in. Paul's first team came second to Worthing this year, due in part to a couple of Knoll Knights having trotted over to support Worthing when their team disbanded last year. Robin's second team won division two by three game points so will be facing tough opposition in division one next season. Jan's third team looks like slipping back into the third division, where they will be joined next season by Michael's fourth team coming up, having won the fourth division with ease winning every match bar one. Andrew's fifth team held a respectable centre position in the fourth division on four out of eight. So particular congratulations to the second and fourth teams who are this year's winners in the see-saw fortunes of the Mid-Sussex League.
Meanwhile the keenly-awaited final of the Knock Out Competition - the absolute last match of the season - will be held at Brighton and Hove this evening as we take on last year's winners and KO favourites, Haywards Heath. An exciting match is anticipated where our rising talent take on the heavyweights of Mid-Sussex - all games to be finished on the night by quickplay.
Meanwhile the keenly-awaited final of the Knock Out Competition - the absolute last match of the season - will be held at Brighton and Hove this evening as we take on last year's winners and KO favourites, Haywards Heath. An exciting match is anticipated where our rising talent take on the heavyweights of Mid-Sussex - all games to be finished on the night by quickplay.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Kevin AWOL
Hello fellow members,
It's a shame I haven't seen much of you all lately but life has been busy (in a good way) with a newish job and moving house . I won't be available for chess matches until mid-May, so I'll schedule my remaining PK matches between then and the end of June.
NB For the moment my landline number is suspended, I am hoping to get the same number when I move house but that's not certain yet. In the meantime, my e-mail address and mobile number are still correct as per the club contact list.
Cheers, Kevin.
It's a shame I haven't seen much of you all lately but life has been busy (in a good way) with a newish job and moving house . I won't be available for chess matches until mid-May, so I'll schedule my remaining PK matches between then and the end of June.
NB For the moment my landline number is suspended, I am hoping to get the same number when I move house but that's not certain yet. In the meantime, my e-mail address and mobile number are still correct as per the club contact list.
Cheers, Kevin.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
1st Weekend Hastings Chess Tournament
Dear Chess Players,
This link will provide you with the details of a new venture by the Hastings Club to provide regular weekend chess tournaments for local players (and anyone else of course), provided there is interest from chess players in the region.
The ambiance of our renowned chess club, using chess sets for the most part with over a hundred years of history (still in good condition!), the relative ease of access to the club and reasonable cost of entry may be something that local chess players will be able to take advantage of. We do hope that players from all over Sussex, and elsewhere, will be able to have an enjoyable weekend of chess at our club on a fairly regular basis.
With my best wishes,
Jeremy H
This link will provide you with the details of a new venture by the Hastings Club to provide regular weekend chess tournaments for local players (and anyone else of course), provided there is interest from chess players in the region.
The ambiance of our renowned chess club, using chess sets for the most part with over a hundred years of history (still in good condition!), the relative ease of access to the club and reasonable cost of entry may be something that local chess players will be able to take advantage of. We do hope that players from all over Sussex, and elsewhere, will be able to have an enjoyable weekend of chess at our club on a fairly regular basis.
With my best wishes,
Jeremy H
Friday, April 3, 2015
No more Wednesdays and NB Saturdays
Please note that our Wednesday evenings have come to an end and we are back to just Thursdays and Saturdays.
Also if you are still at the club after 6:00 on a Saturday please check there is a keyholder present - if not you run a slight risk of being locked in until Monday. (Current keyholders are Andrew, Geoff, Rob and Sue. At least one keyholder is normally present and will warn you if they are leaving.)
Also if you are still at the club after 6:00 on a Saturday please check there is a keyholder present - if not you run a slight risk of being locked in until Monday. (Current keyholders are Andrew, Geoff, Rob and Sue. At least one keyholder is normally present and will warn you if they are leaving.)
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Weekend activities
There're still plenty of internal club tournament games left to play but, if you fancy going further afield, there's a
Time Handicap Tournament at Hastings this weekend
and an Easter Long Play Congress at Coulsden next weekend.
Time Handicap Tournament at Hastings this weekend
and an Easter Long Play Congress at Coulsden next weekend.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Tough match for first team against Worthing 1
Last Thursday we entertained a strong Worthing side in the Mid-Sussex League. The Worthing juggernaut had been mowing down all the opposition this season sometimes by a large margin and we knew that we would face a stern test. Worthing were without Donald Macfarlane for the match, but they had a good substitute in Peter Larwood.
Geoffrey James was our best player on the night and he won a positional game against Chris Jones. The other game to finish that evening saw Paul Batchelor lose against Peter Larwood.
That left three unfinished games which all ended in draws. David Graham missed a win against me and Mike Nicholas appeared to be much better at one time against Simon Wilks. John Henshaw's game against Keith Homeyard was the last to be declared drawn. The two players had previously only played each other once and that was as long as 39 years ago!
The match was therefore drawn, though we would have to admit that, if Worthing had taken their chances, we would have lost. We have now 6.5 points out of 8, while Worthing have the same number of points from 7 games. Our last match is against Eastbourne, but, even if we run out winners, we are unlikely to win the league.
Geoffrey James was our best player on the night and he won a positional game against Chris Jones. The other game to finish that evening saw Paul Batchelor lose against Peter Larwood.
That left three unfinished games which all ended in draws. David Graham missed a win against me and Mike Nicholas appeared to be much better at one time against Simon Wilks. John Henshaw's game against Keith Homeyard was the last to be declared drawn. The two players had previously only played each other once and that was as long as 39 years ago!
The match was therefore drawn, though we would have to admit that, if Worthing had taken their chances, we would have lost. We have now 6.5 points out of 8, while Worthing have the same number of points from 7 games. Our last match is against Eastbourne, but, even if we run out winners, we are unlikely to win the league.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
First team win against Horsham 1
Last Tuesday we gained an excellent 3.5 to 1.5 win against Horsham first team. Horsham has a vibrant club, which can always be relied upon to provide stern opposition. Wins were obtained by Paul and me, while Simon, Geoffrey and John drew their games. This means that we have now won five and drawn two of our seven games. Although this is a good sequence of results, it has been eclipsed by the performances of the strong Worthing team, who have won every match so far. We play Worthing next week which match could decide the league. However, unfortunately it is likely that matters are not entirely within our hands and, even if we were to win our last two matches, we might still miss out on retaining our title.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Brighton players win at Bexhill
Six of us had a really fun time in Bexhill at the weekend - the results of three winners can be seen here. The event, at 39, was one entrant short of break-even, but more will follow - perhaps with hot dinners - and is worth supporting if we want local tournaments to happen post-e2e4. Congrats to Mustapha, Simon and Seb who - apart from the 13 year old girl who won it - took the top spots.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Bexhill chess last call
Well it's never the last call actually but just a reminder about the five round tournament coming up this weekend.
Three sections U2200, U1900 and U120 ECF.
Juniors can play for £20 and there is £5 off for local club members.
Thirty entries so far so a decent attendance will ensure some worthwhile and fun chess.
Entries at
http://www.sussexweekendchess.blogspot.co.uk/p/latest-entries.html
Ne le manquez pas!
Jeremy Hudson
Three sections U2200, U1900 and U120 ECF.
Juniors can play for £20 and there is £5 off for local club members.
Thirty entries so far so a decent attendance will ensure some worthwhile and fun chess.
Entries at
http://www.sussexweekendchess.blogspot.co.uk/p/latest-entries.html
Ne le manquez pas!
Jeremy Hudson
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
End of the junior tuition classes
Attendances at the junior tuition classes have dwindled since Christmas and for the last two sessions there were more organisers present than students. I have therefore decided reluctantly to end the classes about a month earlier than originally intended. I should like to thank Sue, Andrew and Robin for the help that they have given me.
NB Wednesdays are still available to adult members but there will no longer be a guaranteed presence for anyone just turning up. Still useful for arranging your tournament games though and still some league matches to be played. Sue
NB Wednesdays are still available to adult members but there will no longer be a guaranteed presence for anyone just turning up. Still useful for arranging your tournament games though and still some league matches to be played. Sue
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Wednesday rooms
This Wednesday 18th there will be a meeting in the through room (not ours) and any tournament players should use the poker room. There aren't any team matches being played.
Next Wednesday 25th is the KO semi-final which will be held in the match room - i.e. the back room, now set up with our match tables - and any tournament games can be played at the front. The poker room will be being used by overflow bridge players.
In both cases the library can be used as the analysis/friendly room.
Next Wednesday 25th is the KO semi-final which will be held in the match room - i.e. the back room, now set up with our match tables - and any tournament games can be played at the front. The poker room will be being used by overflow bridge players.
In both cases the library can be used as the analysis/friendly room.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Ezra's coaching sessions
Ezra gave eight of us an enjoyable free analysis session on Wednesday. He plans to start a regular group session in about a month if there is enough interest. The cost per person will depend on the numbers interested but it will be drop-in each time - Wednesdays in March, reverting to Thursdays after Easter. He will also be available for individual coaching @ £20 an hour. If you are interested in either or both please email Ezra directly. (The group coaching is for club members only - join for £25 after Easter.)
1st team wins against Horsham 2
Yesterday we won our Mid-Sussex League fixture against Horsham 2 by the score of 3.5 to 1.5. 14 year old Callum Brewer made his debut for the first team and gained an impressive win. John and Paul also did well to win. I drew my game and Geoffrey lost. This means that we have now won four and drawn two of our six games. To stand a chance of retaining our league title we would probably have to win all three of our remaining matches and this involves playing against some very strong opposition.
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