Trio of new signings unveiled to boost the ranks
Shrewsbury Chess Club is delighted to confirm the signing of three new players for the new season.
Shropshire & Friends 4NCL captain Charles Lowick Higgie has joined the club from Oswestry and will bolster the A team’s top order in division one of Shropshire Chess League.
Meanwhile, Shane Greenwood and Nick Holmes have both joined the club from local rivals Telepost and will be available for all of the club’s over-the-board, rapidplay and online teams.
It is a major boost for the club as it looks to grow its membership and be more competitive in all competitions, writes Peter Kitchen.
Marquee signing Higgie approached the club earlier in the summer after leaving Oswestry and seeing the opportunity to move to another Shropshire club fall through.
He has been playing chess for more than six decades and has been heavily involved in the local chess scene for the past decade or so, including being the current controller of Shropshire Online Chess League.
He also boosts the club’s links with the Four Nations Chess League, as his new teammate Peter Kitchen plays for Celtic Tigers, and said he was “honoured” to join the club.
Charles said: “I learned to play chess aged six, so I have been playing for 60 years now. I played for my school – King’s School, Chester, 1973-5 and and Sheffield University 1975-8, where I knew Tony Miles. I was Cheshire and North Wales Chess Champion 1980 and 1990 (over the board).
“I have played both Nigel Short – when he was an up-and-coming youngster, in a quickplay tournament – and Garry Kasparov when he took on the entire Cheshire & North Wales side simultaneously. I was once offered the chance to play something like board 20 for the Wales team against Ireland.
“I gave up competitive chess in 1992 on the birth of my daughter and started it again in 2010 when she went to university. She is now a mother herself and my greatest joy is looking after my grandson and granddaughter.
“I am currently player-captain of Shropshire 4NCL sides over-the-board and online sides. I am league controller for Shropshire Online League. I run my own little chess club at the Bishop Heber High School Library.
“I am honoured to be asked to play for Shrewsbury to replace Francis Best as their over-the-board board one. It is a hard act to follow, but I will do my best!”
Holmes joins the club after a decade at Telepost and made his league debut for the club in Shrewsbury B’s opening day 3-1 Shropshire Chess League division three victory over Telford C.
Speaking about his own chess experiences, he said: “I played a little bit at school, captaining our team on the basis I could organise the tea and biscuits, rather than any chess prowess!
“I started again about ten years ago, joining Telepost and remaining with them until the club was sadly and unnecessarily fractured earlier this year. I played in all divisions across the years, captaining a couple of teams, and ran the club website until the split, and I am also a regular congress player. “What I love most about chess is that it’s a ‘flow’ activity that marries the logic and method of science, the competition and camaraderie of sport and the intuition and beauty of art.
“This season I’m looking forward to getting to know my new club mates and hopefully having a season lacking in chess politics!”
Greenwood first played in Shropshire for Newport before the Covid-19 pandemic and again makes the move following the split between his most recent club Telepost and Darwinian Knights.
He said: “I’m from Cumbria and played there for a dozen years mainly as a junior.
After a 30-year break from chess (!) I started playing again when I moved to Shropshire. Firstly at Newport in 2019, then at Telepost from early 2023.
“When the club split recently I thought I’d join Shrewsbury, and I’m looking forward to playing for the club this season.
“What do I love about chess? That it’s way too difficult for humans, so at least most chess players must be eternal optimists!”