Shrewsbury A have been handed a reprieve from relegation – meaning the club will continue to be represented in the top flight of Shropshire Chess League for another season. Dan Lockett’s side had been expecting to line up in division two this coming season having finished second bottom in division one last season with just four points, writes Peter Kitchen. But with Maddocks B having declined promotion from the second tier, Shrewsbury have been offered – and accepted – the chance to keep their place at the top table. The club also hopes to announce some new signings very shortly to help bolster the squad for the coming season, with…

Peter Kitchen and Stephen Priestley have been named joint winners of this year’s Club Championship. Priestley will share the trophy for the second successive year, while for Kitchen this ends 13 years of hurt – this is the third time he has won the tournament but the first since 2011. Both players finished a tense and closely-fought tournament on 4/5, with Priestley’s final round win over David Edwards enabling him to catch long-time leader and top seed Kitchen, who drew a fascinating struggle with second seed Olusegun Ilesanmi. The two players had drawn a tight game in round two, and tournament organiser Tony Purser this week declared the pair as…

Shrewsbury Chess Club is delighted to confirm it has secured a new town centre venue as its home. The club will hold league matches and club nights at Cromwell’s Tap House, effective immediately. Members will continue to meet at 7.30pm on Wednesdays for the immediate future, with ideas in the pipeline for further activities to increase local interest in the game during the summer months. People of all ages and abilities are being actively invited to attend club nights, starting from this Wednesday (May 29), where a warm welcome will be assured. The move follows the recent club extraordinary general meeting, called after it emerged our previous venue Albert &…

In the online league this evening, Shrewsbury C managed to snatch a draw at the death against table-toppers Oswestry C writes Rob Green. With regular Board 1, Norman O’Connor unavailable, captain Richard Vernon drafted in Robert Green to top board.  Vernon’s game with Alf Evans was first to finish.  Playing the white side of a Sicilian, Vernon found himself suffocated for space early on, but recovered to give himself long term prospects with a pawn majority on the queenside.  Evans, though, took advantage of Vernon prematurely bringing his king into the game, a flurry of exchanges leading to a Rook versus Queen endgame, which Vernon resigned. On board 1, Green…

Shrewsbury A are the early frontrunners in Shropshire Online Chess League after getting their campaign off to the perfect start with victory over promoted Telford A. Stephen Priestley, Dan Lockett and Richard Vernon all won their games to a seal a 3-1 triumph over last season’s online division two champions, writes Peter Kitchen. Francis Best lost his game on top board against Mark Keady, but it proved no more than a consolation for Telford. With the two Oswestry sides drawing their club derby, it puts Shrewsbury at the top of the four-team division ahead of their Halloween clash against defending champions Oswestry B. Priestley continued his fine online form from…

Shrewsbury B are competing over-the board in Shropshire Chess League once again – and claimed a hard-earned point from their opening division three match. Making their first OTB appearance since a 3-2 division one defeat to Telepost A in March 2020 – just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic – the B team claimed a 2-2 draw against fellow returnees Church Stretton A in their first ever match at the club’s Albert & Co @ Frankville home. A lot has changed for the team in the three-and-a-half years since its last fixture. It has a new captain in the form of Richard Vernon, and it is hoped playing in…

Shrewsbury A’s Shropshire Chess League division one campaign started with a narrow loss at home to Newport A. The hosts recovered from going behind early on to pull level thanks to Stephen Priestley’s win over Danny Griffiths on bottom board, writes Peter Kitchen. But new captain Dan Lockett lost the final game of the night against Joe Greenwood to condemn Shrewsbury to a 3-2 defeat against last season’s runners up. It was a frustrating start for the A team in what looks likely to be a transitional season. Lockett’s team lined up without Nathanel Paul following his departure and switch back across town to Telepost, while regular first teamer Peter…

Nathanael Paul and Stephen Priestley have been named as the joint winners of Shrewsbury Chess club Championship – after a three-way playoff to decide yet another fiercely-contested tournament. The pair both scored 1.5/2 in the playoff, drawing with each other and both defeating fellow finalist Dan Lockett, writes Peter Kitchen. The pair will share the trophy for six months each, and were presented with it at a recent ceremony at a club night at Albert & Co @ Frankville. All three players had scored 4/5 during the regular tournament, with long-time leader and top seed Paul caught by Priestley and Lockett in the final round. Paul drew with the white…

It is the news everyone at Shrewsbury Chess Club has been hoping for – we have a new home and our future has been secured! Music venue Albert & Co Frankville, which lies in the shadow of Theatre Severn opposite the Welsh Bridge in Frankwell, will be the club’s new venue for the foreseeable future, writes Peter Kitchen. The club has already held its first match at its new home – Shropshire Chess League champions Maddocks A were welcomed for a Cox Trophy semi final tie, details of which can be found here. The move means the club will once again have a weekly club night, although this will probably…

Shrewsbury A’s fine run in the Cox Trophy was ended at the semi-final stage by Shropshire Chess League champions Maddocks A. Francis Best’s side went into the match buoyed by it being the first at the club’s new Albert & Co Frankville venue and coming on the back of a fine 3-1 win away to league runners up Newport A in the quarter final, writes Peter Kitchen. But despite welcoming back Peter Kitchen to strengthen the team on board two, the hosts were outclassed on the night and went down to a 3-1 defeat. It means that dreams of a treble are still well and truly alive for the all-conquering…