It was certainly a chastening start. Riding the crest of a wave after winning division three last season, newly-promoted Shrewsbury B travelled to Oswestry B for their opening division two game full of optimism. And why not? Not only had the Bs pipped an on paper stronger Newport B outfit to the third division title, but they were playing a team that had finished in the division two relegation zone the previous season. However, trips to Oswestry are never that straightforward for Shrewsbury sides – and this was no exception. One 5-0 defeat later, and the team was heading back down the A5 with their tails between their legs and…

Shrewsbury A made sure they moved off the bottom of the Shropshire Chess League division one table in time for Christmas – but captain Dan Lockett was left rueing “a missed opportunity” after his side drew with Darwinian Knights A. Shane Greenwood rescued a point for the hosts with a coolly-taken victory over Cesar Pileggi in the final game to finish on bottom board – but Lockett admitted the Darwinian derby was one he had hoped his side could win to help them gain ground on the midtable pack. Lockett himself had been defeated by Darwinian’s rising junior star Rudi Bedford on board two, but Shrewsbury disappointingly failed to make…

Olusegun Ilesanmi picked up three wins out of three as opening night hosts Shrewsbury A made a solid start to the new Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League season. On a night when the club welcomed Maddocks A, Oswestry A and Darwinian Knights A to Cromwell’s for the season curtain-raiser, “Dr Ile” defeated Munroe Morrison on board two against Maddocks in the opening fixture before chipping in with important victories on board three in the next two rounds. His efforts helped Shrewsbury pick up their first points of the season in the final round of the night with a 2.5-1.5 win over town rivals Darwinian Knights, writes Peter Kitchen. The hosts found…

Shrewsbury Pirates have confirmed they will compete in the next season of the 4NCL Online in the new year. Club officials are in the process of signing up the Pirates for season 13 after an encouraging maiden campaign which has given several of the club’s new players a chance for their first taste of competitive chess. The Pirates finished their inaugural season on the national stage in 23rd place out of 29 teams following a disappointing 4-0 loss in the final round at the hands of Colchester JFF B. The Essex-based side, which appears to be heavily linked to Colchester Junior Chess Club, were far too strong for a Pirates…

Shrewsbury B have moved into midtable after securing a second successive victory, this time away to Maddocks B. Richard Vernon’s side won the battle of two teams who were struggling at the wrong end of the Shropshire Chess League division two, returning back down the A5 with the points courtesy of a 3-2 triumph, writes Peter Kitchen. Fred Bennett and Ben Howells gave Shrewsbury a 2-0 lead with wins on the bottom two boards, before Vernon’s draw with the experienced George Viszokai on board three put the visitors on the brink of victory. The final two boards to finish were long and tense affairs – but despite Ivor Salter being…

Shrewsbury A will go into this week’s local derby with Darwinian Knights A in desperate need of some festive cheer – after captain Dan Lockett admitted there were “no real positives” to take from a 3-2 loss at Maddocks A last time out. While the defeat in Oakengates was determined by the final – and only decisive – game of the night, in truth Shrewsbury rarely looked like winning a board and could gave few complaints at the final outcome, writes Peter Kitchen. It meant a fourth loss in a row for the As, and they are now a couple of points adrift of the midfield pack in Shropshire Chess…

Team effort helps C team to an unbeaten week Shrewsbury C emerged from last week’s gruelling fixtures without tasting defeat as the side continues to edge its way up the Shropshire Chess League division three table. Ben Howells’ side drew 2-2 away to the division’s bottom side Newport Junior C on Tuesday night before achieving the same score 24 hours later in a local derby at home to Darwinian Knights D, writes Peter Kitchen. The results – in their final two league fixtures before the Christmas break – have helped the Cs move up to fifth place in the eight-team division, although some of the teams below them do have…

Debutants Patrick Fitch and Chris Warrilow enjoyed nights to remember as their two stylish victories helped Shrewsbury Pirates to only their second win of the season. On a night where Shrewsbury fielded three players making their competitive bow for the club across two matches, Fitch and Warrilow were the first pair two finish as the Pirates crushed Wessex J 4-0 in 4NCL Online division four. Old stagers Tony Purser and Ivor Salter finished the job off with victories of their own on the top two boards, helping the pirates move up to 21st in the 29-team table, writes Peter Kitchen. While a place in the end-of-season promotion playoffs is mathematically…

Shrewsbury B hope their first league win of the season can be the springboard to being competitive in every Shropshire Chess League division two match for the remainder of the season. Vice-captain David Edwards said the aim was to be competitive on all boards, and said despite facing higher quality opposition following last season’s promotion from division three, he was hopeful the team could pick up some more wins along the way, writes Peter Kitchen The Bs ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Newport Junior B 3.5-1.5 last time out – which also ended a rotten recent run of results for the club’s teams at Newport’s Royal British Legion…

Shrewsbury C this week had two opportunities in the space of 24 hours to build on their first Shropshire Chess League division three victory of the season. The Cs travelled to face bottom-of-the-table Newport Junior C on Tuesday (November 18) before hosting a local derby against Darwinian Knights D the following night, writes Peter Kitchen. It is the second time in the space of a few weeks that the C team has unusually been asked to play two nights running – but captain Ben Howells is looking forward to the challenge. Last time out saw the C team defeat Newport Knights 2.5-1.5 to pick up their first points since the…