Controller Matt Best has published the draw for the 3rd round of this season’s Club Championship. The cross table is below, and pairings are available to view on the Club Championship page on the website. Matt requests that all games be completed by Friday 7th March.

Shrewsbury B picked up a point away to Telford B to move up to third in the Shropshire Chess second division after a tense finale having recovered from 2-0 down. With captain Matt Best able to field a full team for the visitors, the welcome return of Windsor Peck provided the hosts with a stronger line-up than in recent weeks to match up. Indeed, things were looking a little worrying for Shrewsbury when Daniel Lockett and Norman O’Connor failed to arrive at the start of the match, eventually arriving – after Sat-nav issues – at around 8 o’clock. When they eventually did arrive the pair wasted no time in restoring…

Things didn’t look good for Shrewsbury’s A team fixture against Priorslee Lions A on Monday 20th January, when captain Francis Best received a call over the previous weekend that regular, Peter Kitchen, was under the weather and unlikely to be able to play.  Knowing that other core players Jamie Hopkins and Ed Goodwin would also be missing, Francis had to call upon the services of reserve players from the B and C teams in the shape of Ivor Salter, Norman O’Connor and Ian Davies.  In the event, the stand-ins put up some very creditable performances, although it was always going to be a tough match overall. The game of the…

Shrewsbury B recorded their first win in three matches with a critical victory over Newport B. In an incredibly tight second division, Matt Best’s side went into the game lying in the top half of the table, but – scarcely believably based on their league position – only out of the relegation zone on game points, the narrowest of margins. With Telford, Wellington and Newport all joining Shrewsbury at the “B Team 7 point convention”, victory for Matt Best’s side was absolutely pivotal to pull away from the drop zone and start looking back at the top which, despite being in relegation trouble, was only 4 points away and with…

Shrewsbury’s A Team endured a torrid night as they were thrashed by Condover and Church Stretton A on the same night as their C Team moved into the promotion places in the third division with a win over Oswestry B. Francis Best’s side had secured a 4-1 victory over their opponents earlier in the very first game of the season, but the visitors got their revenge with an emphatic win that proved a significant blow to Shrewsbury’s title chances. With Telepost A and Newport A both winning earlier in the season, Shrewsbury needed a win to return to the top spot which they had occupied over Christmas. However, despite missing…

Shrewsbury Chess Club enjoyed/endured an impressive array of results with its three teams recording a win, draw and loss between them in the final round of fixtures. Shrewsbury A ensured they top the tree at Christmas, whereas the B Team’s position more closely resembles a present (yes, I mean near the bottom. Just go with my weak extended metaphor) – probably hand-knitted socks – after a disappointing result away to Ludlow combined with surprising results elsewhere that leave them precariously perched above the drop zone, despite a deceptively high placement in 4th. The C Team, meanwhile, recorded yet another draw to keep their promotion hopes plodding along. For the A…

Matt Best’s B Team suffered a blow to their hopes of promotion from the second division with a frustrating 3-2 defeat at home to strugglers Wellington B. Despite having a grading advantage on every board (although admittedly board 5 was slightly dubious, with Wellington’s Rob Nayman only having an ELO rating which is roughly equivalent to an ECF grade of 100), the hosts were left empty-handed when a win would have lifted them clear at the top of the table. In the first game to finish, Ivor Salter’s commanding position and two-pawn advantage on board 3 dissipating after Colin Mace found some neat resources, leading Ivor’s King position to become rather…

The A team faced Wellington A on Wednesday 20th November at the Sir John Bailey Club.  A victory would have cemented Shrewsbury’s place at the top of the division and, on paper, this looked perfectly possible. Things started badly, though, when Francis Best lost to Toby Neal in the first game to finish.  In a double-edged position, Best opened up the centre too early, allowing black plenty of activity for his bishop on b7.  The pressure against the white king intensified and Neal finished the game with a powerful queen centralisation, winning material or mating the king.  1-0 to Wellington. Things went from bad to worse when David Everington overlooked…

Shrewsbury B recorded a comfortable victory at home to strugglers Telepost C to move into second place in the second division, and in doing so create a pleasing chronology with the top six teams in the division whereby leaders Telepost B have 8 points, then Shrewsbury B in second with seven, then Ludlow with 6, Oswestry A with 5, Newport B with 4 and Wellington B in 6th place with 3 points. Sadly, the pattern stops there, but it’s certainly an unusual occurrence! Skipper Matt Best was able to field a full strength team for only the second time this season (with the prior occasion coming in a draw with…

Shrewsbury Chess club enjoyed a successful (and busy) week, with the A Team and C Team (twice!) in action. Early on in the week, Ian Davies’ C Team secured a 4-0 victory over Newport Juniors, before Newport A and C game to visit their Shrewsbury equivalents on Friday. Newport A, the reining 1st Division and Cox Trophy champions, have the strongest team in the league on paper – meaning it was always going to be a tough task for Francis Best’s Shrewsbury A. With Jamie Hopkins taking a short break from league chess and Peter Kitchen unavailable, B team duo Matt Best and Mark Smith stepped in to fill the…