Shrewsbury Chess Club

Eye-catching victories for summer signings Shane Greenwood and Nick Holmes halted the march of their old club Telepost – and helped Shrewsbury A to a vital Shropshire Rapidplay League division one point. Greenwood defeated Fred Bench on board three and Holmes was victorious against his old second-in-command Vinnie Crean on bottom board to help Shrewsbury A claim a 2-2 in the night’s final round of matches, writes Peter Kitchen. The point against the reigning rapidplay league champions was a welcome filip for Shrewsbury, who were hosting the league’s opening round of fixtures at Cromwell’s Tap House. It ensured they didn’t end the night up against exalted company empty-handed on a…

Another valiant effort went unrewarded as Shrewsbury A slipped to a 3.5-1.5 defeat at Oswestry A – leaving them bottom of the table and still seeking their first win of the campaign. After the first three boards to finish ended as draws, Charles Lowick Higgie and Shane Greenwood lost their games after long struggles. It means Dan Lockett’s side are danger of being marooned in the bottom two of Shropshire Chess League division one, with a gap starting to develop between Shrewsbury and Darwinian Knights A in the drop zone and the midfield pack, writes Peter Kitchen. Oswestry has traditionally not been one of Shrewsbury A’s favourite hunting grounds in…

Shrewsbury B remain in the top two of Shropshire Chess League division three – despite having to settle for a draw against local rivals Darwinian Knights C. Wins for captain Richard Vernon and Nick Holmes had helped the hosts turn the match around after David Edwards lost to Zac Herd on board three. But Steff Gornall ensured both sides went home with a point by beating Shrewsbury’s Ivor Salter on top board, writes Peter Kitchen. In truth, it was a match neither side deserved to lose, and leaves both placed handily in the table behind early season pacesetters Newport B. The hosts made just one change from the convincing win…

Spectacular 18-move wins for Tony Purser and David Edwards helped the newly-formed Shrewsbury 2 team to victory in their opening Shropshire Online Chess League division two match of the season. The Shrewsbury team – playing just days after being admitted as a late entry to the league – defeated Shropshire & Friends 3 2.5-0.5, with the destination of the points swiftly decided, writes Peter Kitchen. Firstly, Purser defeated the experienced Peter Crean on top board, trapping his opponent’s queen after just 11 moves and then forcing resignation on move 18 with checkmate unavoidable. A truly fantastic start! That was followed up by Edwards on bottom board. Playing the white side…

Shrewsbury A picked up their first point of the season – but are still waiting for their opening win of the campaign after being held to a draw by county town rivals Darwinian Knights A. In a first derby against the newly-formed club, Shrewsbury edged ahead after three draws when Stephen Priestley defeated James Holyhead on board three. But captain Dan Lockett was beaten by Kate Walker on board two in the final game to finish, leaving the scores tied and Shrewsbury still bottom of the Shropshire Chess League division one table, writes Peter Kitchen. It marks a frustrating run of three games without a win for Shrewsbury A –…

Shrewsbury lost their opening fixture of the Shropshire Online Chess League 3-1 to a strong Oswestry side on Thursday October 10.  The only winner was Charles Higgie on Board 1 who had the white side of a Spanish Opening. His opponent Adrian Bailey allowed a fork that won piece for pawn. Adrian managed to complicate by Charles kept a cool head to win. On board 2 Stephen Priestley played a King’s Indian Defence against Rudy van Kemenade who opened 1. Nf3. An exciting battle ensued with players castling on opposite sides. Rudy’s attack gave him a material advantage which he converted to a win in an ending. On Board 3…

Shrewsbury A’s frustrating start to the season continued with a narrow 3-2 loss in the big county town derby away to reigning champions Telepost A last Wednesday. Despite Stephen Priestley’s fine sacrificial kingside attack against Keith Tabner on bottom board giving Shrewsbury the lead, the match turned on boards two and three. Peter Kitchen suffered a dispiriting loss with the white pieces versus Fred Bench on board three, before Charles Lowick Higgie’s decision to win an exchange rebounded on him as he fell to defeat against Dan Hilditch-Love. That left the remaining players with a little too much to do. Olusegun Ilesanmi smoothly converted a rook ending against John Westhead…

Shrewsbury B are the new leaders of division three of the Shropshire Chess League after a comfortable 4-0 win against Newport Junior B. Shane Greenwood, Nick Holmes, Ivor Salter and David Edwards all won their games again at their youthful opponents to clinch a second win in three matches, writes Peter Kitchen. For Salter it heralds a remarkable start to the season as he has now got three wins out of three matches. The result elevated Richard Vernon’s side to the top of the standings – albeit having played a game more than the chasing pack – while their young hosts are still chasing their first board point of the…

Two debutants and the return of top board Jamie Hopkins were not enough to stop Shrewsbury A slipping to an unfortunate 3.5-1.5 defeat away to Maddocks A in their opening Shropshire chess League division one match of the campaign. Defeats for Stephen Priestley and Shane Greenwood proved decisive, as the remaining three games ended in draws and Shrewsbury left Oakengates empty-handed, writes Peter Kitchen. But despite last season’s problem of not winning boards rearing its head on a night the A team fired blanks, there were plenty of encouraging signs for captain Dan Lockett and his players to take away. All three of the new signings included in the line-up…

A loss on the final board to finish sentenced Shrewsbury B to defeat in a tense clash at home to Newport B. David Edwards was the unfortunate man to lose – making an error in opponent Lewis Clarke’s time trouble that proved to be the decisive moment in their board three encounter. It meant the Bs slipped to a 2.5-1.5 home defeat – but Richard Vernon’s side can take great encouragement from a competitive display against a side expecting to be challenging for honours in Shropshire Chess League division three, writes Peter Kitchen. Having fallen behind on a night where most of the games went close to the distance, Shrewsbury…