Shrewsbury B have moved nine points clear at top of Shropshire Online Chess League division two – with the finishing line in sight. Their latest triumph was a 3-0 victory over mid-table Oswestry C – a 10th victory in 13 undefeated league games. Telford’s surprise loss to Newport A has helped the B’s increase their lead at the top of the table. They are nine points clear with just three games to play – but Telford do have three games in hand and the top two sides will face each other before the end of the season. The battle of the Smiths on top board was won by Shrewsbury captain…

Shrewsbury’s over-the-board team will look to end a difficult campaign on a high note tomorrow night (Friday) – after it was mathematically confirmed the side will finish bottom of the Shropshire Chess League division one table. Newport A’s 3-2 win over Oswestry on Tuesday night means Shrewsbury cannot overhaul Oswestry, even if they win their final match against Newport at the Nerdy Café. New member Will Apted is in line for a competitive debut for Shrewsbury, which would make him the club’s third debutant of the season following in the footsteps of Robin Nayman and Richard Vernon. Club officials hope that the experience gained by new members this season in…

Peter Kitchen writes: A Lazarus-style escape from Francis Best helped Shrewsbury’s over-the-board clinch a crucial point en route to moving into second place in Shropshire Rapidplay League. Best was involved in a bizarre finish against Shane Greenwood on board two of the opening match against hosts Newport, where both players left the kings en prise in the time scramble at the end of the game. First, Best left his king in check while facing what looked like a potentially lethal attack from his opponent, and both players stopped, believing the game to be over. They even briefly discussed a possible variation until they realised that Best’s penalty was not to…

Shrewsbury B took another step towards clinching the Shropshire Online League division two title – without a move being made. The B’s were awarded a 3-0 default win over Newport Juniors – one of their closest rivals who were unable to raise a team on the night of the match. It means Mark Smith’s side remains seven points clear with four games left to play – and the clash with nearest challengers Telford in late June is already looking like a pivotal one. Telford have three games in hand and victory in all their remaining seven matches would see them overhaul the B’s. But it wasn’t such a great week…

Peter Kitchen writes. Shrewsbury Chess Club is delighted to welcome Nathanael Paul – one of the county’s strongest players – as a new member. Nathanael has joined the club to enable him to attempt to defend his Shrewsbury Town Championship title, which he won last Summer while registered with our town rivals Telepost.Nathanael was one of the key figures for Newport A during their recent domination of Shropshire Chess League division one, proving to be the strongest board two in the league. On current ECF ratings, he is the county’s number three player behind Nick Rutter and Nigel Ferrington with a grading of 2142. He has been taking a break…

Shrewsbury B moved seven points clear at the top of Shropshire Online Chess League division two with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over struggling Newport A. Despite captain Mark Smith being beaten on top board by Ian Jamieson, wins for Stephen Priestley and Ivor Salter made it 11 games unbeaten for the B’s. With closest rival Newport Juniors held to a draw by Oswestry C, the B’s extended their lead at the top of the table. It is a healthy lead with five games left to play – but both Newport Juniors and Telford A – themselves 3-0 victors this week – have games in hand. It was a tough week…

Two welcome victories against opposition from Telepost have helped the cause of Shrewsbury’s teams at both ends of Shropshire Online Chess League division two. Shrewsbury B made it 10 matches unbeaten and went six points clear at the top of the table thanks to a 2-1 win over Telepost D. It was the first time the team line-up had changed with captain Mark Smith playing for the first team over the board – but it didn’t prevent the B team from clinching their seventh win of the season. Meanwhile, Shrewsbury C ended a run of five games without a win by defeating Telepost C 2-1. It helped the Cs move…

Shrewsbury’s over-the-board team looks almost certain to finish bottom of Shropshire Chess League division one after a narrow 3-2 defeat at Newport. The result leaves Shrewsbury two points adrift of Telepost A and Oswestry with a vastly inferior “goal” difference – and they could be mathematically consigned to the wooden spoon before they play their final fixture at home to Newport on May 27. It comes despite a battling display away at Newport, which included as huge upset win for Peter Kitchen over one of the county’s elite Nick Rutter on top board.The match – which was the first “hybrid” match Shrewsbury have been involved in with one of the…

Shrewsbury A have secured the runners-up spot in Shropshire Online Chess League – several weeks after their last match. Oswestry A’s 3-1 victory over clubmates Oswestry B secured the title for them – and ensured Shrewsbury A finished above Oswestry B on points difference. It marks a significant improvement for the A’s, who last year finished bottom of the table with one draw and 13 defeats from 14 matches. This time around they have finished on 50 per cent with three draws and three losses from six matches, and were top of the table at Christmas. While the club can still only put out one team in over-the-board competition due…

Shrewsbury Chess Club has issued an urgent player appeal ahead of Tuesday’s crunch Shropshire Chess League division one clash away to Newport. The club is struggling to fill all five boards for the match due to a combination of illness, player unavailability and wariness over playing over the board due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Club officials are keen to give someone the chance to play competitive chess at division one level rather than default a board and deprive someone of a match. An appeal has already been made to the club’s existing players and the net has been cast wider by a call to arms on social media via the…