Posted by Lewis on February 9, 2018
The Northumberland Chess League is the premier local chess competition for players in Newcastle, Northumberland and Tyneside. In 2017-18 the league has 33 teams of five, representing twelve clubs, with over 150 players regularly taking part. Our season runs from October to April, but new players may join in at any point. For more information on getting involved please see our Clubs page, or email info@northumberlandchess.com.
Curious how a chess league works? You can now follow @ncaleague on Twitter.
To see your favourite team’s results, click on the filter below with the team you want to see results from. The page you’re looking at now displays the results for all teams in the order they were submitted – so the most recent result will be immediately below this notice.
Northumberland Chess Team Captains
To submit results, use the Submit Result button, where you will find further instructions. The website will now automatically update the results and league table when you submit a result. If you make a mistake, email info@northumberlandchess.com and it will be corrected as soon as possible.
Posted by Tim Wall on June 10, 2018
It is with great sadness that we record the passing of Les Whittle on the 9th June, 2018, after a long illness.
Les was a former President of the Northumberland Chess Association and subsequently an honorary Life Vice President. He was a stalwart of the Morpeth Chess Club and its secretary for decades. He also played international chess for the Braille Chess Association for several years, was the County Captain of Northumberland from 1984-91 and played correspondence chess for the Braille Chess Association and for Northumberland.
The Morpeth club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006, and Les was always passionate and prominent in fighting Morpeth’s corner in chess.
He will be greatly missed by his many friends throughout the chess community.
Les’s other interests included listening to music, the sound-recording of birds and tending his allotment.
Our sympathies are with his sister Moira, with whom he lived in Morpeth.
The funeral service for Les is to be held on Tuesday 26th June, 2:30pm at Blyth Crematorium, Cowpen Road, Blyth, Northumberland NE24 5SZ.
(The above picture shows Les being presented with his prize at a Braille Chess Association tournament in 2010. Photo courtesy of the BCA.)
The following game, from the International Braille Chess Association’s Team Championships, shows Les’s steady play under pressure. He withstands a sharp piece sacrifice and goes on to successfully exploit his advantage in the endgame.
White: Les Whittle (England) 1
Black: Louis Van Duuren (The Netherlands) 0
IBCA Team Championships, July 2016
Posted by Lewis on May 30, 2018
Game 1 – David Walker 1-0 James Moreby
Game 2 – James Moreby ½-½ David Walker
So I’m pleased to be able to announce that the winner of this years Zollner and County Champion for the year is David Walker. Well done, David!
This concludes this years County Championships. Thanks to all for competing and watching!
Posted by Lewis on May 21, 2018
All of the games from the 7th and final round of this year’s County Championship have now been played. An interesting statistic this season is that around 90% of those of you that played in the previous year entered again. And the other 10% had understandable reasons for not entering this year such as the arrival of babies!
This season we welcomed a collection of new players to these competitions that haven’t played in the last few years: David Walker, Paul Robson, Paul Bielby, Kevin Rowden, Ian Rook, Brendan Glasper and Joe Miller. These new players injected a significant level of further competition and helped to continue the year on year improvement in the playing strength of each section.
All of the sections within this year’s County Championship progressed in reasonable alignment with the tournament schedule and we would like to thank each and everyone of you for enabling this to be achieved.
A final thank you to Kurt Moreby for organising the county championship this year. Well done for organising another successful year.
Results
Both the Sell and Gilroy have been won by octogenarians. The Sell was dominated by Paul Bielby who scored an impressive 6.5 out of 7. The Gilroy was won, yet again, by Bill Noble after a last round victory against Eddie Czestochowski. This year’s Zollner is not yet concluded with James Moreby and David Walker both finishing on 5 points.
Here are the Final Ranking Tables (after the application of tie-break rules (BH score below) so that you can all see exactly where you finished).
| 2.1 Northumberland County Championship Zollner 2017-18 | | Final Ranking after 7 Rounds | | | | | Rank | SNo. | Name | Rtg | Pts | BH. | | 1 | 3 | Moreby James | 206 | 5 | 27 | | 2 | 1 | Walker David | 213 | 5 | 25½ | | 3 | 5 | Dargan Paul | 195 | 4½ | 27 | | 4 | 2 | Wall Tim | 208 | 4 | 28½ | | 5 | 9 | Han Yichen | 178 | 4 | 27 | | 6 | 4 | Coathup Roger | 197 | 4 | 26 | | 7 | 7 | Henderson David | 191 | 4 | 22½ | | 8 | 6 | Boyd John | 191 | 3½ | 25 | | 9 | 10 | Riding Mick | 172 | 3½ | 25 | | 10 | 8 | Zhang Zheming | 184 | 3 | 25 | | 11 | 13 | Robson Paul | 161 | 3 | 20 | | 12 | 11 | Trevelyan Andy | 169 | 2½ | 18½ | | 13 | 12 | Skelsey Stuart | 166 | 2 | 23 | | 14 | 14 | Arora Manoj | 144 | 1 | 22½ | | | | | | | | 2.2 Northumberland County Championship Sell 2017-18 | | | Final Ranking after 7 Rounds | | | | | Rank | SNo. | Name | Rtg | Pts | BH. | | 1 | 2 | Bielby Paul | 167 | 6½ | 25½ | | 2 | 15 | Clarke John | 141 | 5½ | 28 | | 3 | 1 | Laws Darren | 168 | 5 | 27½ | | 4 | 5 | Smith Mike | 153 | 4 | 29 | | 5 | 12 | Smith Christian | 145 | 4 | 21½ | | 6 | 14 | Walshaw David | 144 | 3½ | 26½ | | 7 | 4 | Marsh John | 154 | 3½ | 24 | | 8 | 9 | Rowden Kevin | 147 | 3½ | 24 | | 9 | 7 | Younger Mark | 150 | 3½ | 23 | | 10 | 8 | Wall (Jnr) John | 148 | 3½ | 22 | | 11 | 6 | Mitcheson Robert | 152 | 3½ | 20½ | | 12 | 10 | Burnell Steve | 146 | 3 | 20 | | 13 | 13 | Arora Manoj | 144 | 2 | 27½ | | 14 | 11 | France John | 145 | 1½ | 22 | | 15 | 3 | Robson Paul | 161 | 1½ | 21 | | | | | | | | 2.3 Northumberland County Championship Gilroy 2017-18 | | Final Ranking after 7 Rounds | | | | | Rank | SNo. | Name | Rtg | Pts | BH. | | 1 | 6 | Noble William | 126 | 5½ | 25½ | | 2 | 5 | Rook Ian | 128 | 4½ | 28 | | 3 | 2 | Czestochowski Eddie | 134 | 4½ | 28 | | 4 | 7 | Baird Jeff | 123 | 4½ | 26½ | | 5 | 3 | Moreby Kurt | 131 | 4 | 27½ | | 6 | 11 | Gunasekera Asanga | 102 | 4 | 24 | | 7 | 10 | Johnson Stan | 111 | 3½ | 24½ | | 8 | 1 | Cox Kevin | 136 | 3½ | 24 | | 9 | 9 | Xu Weiming | 113 | 3½ | 21 | | 10 | 14 | Miller Joe | 80 | 3½ | 20 | | 11 | 8 | Heyman Bob | 120 | 3 | 23½ | | 12 | 12 | Appleby Rob | 93 | 2½ | 24 | | 13 | 13 | Glasper Brendan | 84 | 2 | 22 |
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Posted by Lewis on May 15, 2018
Zollner
| Bo. | No. | | Name | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | | Name | Rtg | No. |
| 1 | 3 | | Moreby James | 206 | 5 | 0 – 1 | 3½ | | Dargan Paul | 195 | 5 |
| 2 | 1 | | Walker David | 213 | 4 | 1 – 0 | 4 | | Wall Tim | 208 | 2 |
| 3 | 7 | | Henderson David | 191 | 3½ | ½ – ½ | 3 | | Riding Mick | 172 | 10 |
| 4 | 8 | | Zhang Zheming | 184 | 3 | 0 – 1 | 3 | | Coathup Roger | 197 | 4 |
| 5 | 13 | | Robson Paul | 161 | 3 | 0 – 1 | 3 | | Han Yichen | 178 | 9 |
| 6 | 12 | | Skelsey Stuart | 166 | 2 | 0 – 1 | 2½ | | Boyd John | 191 | 6 |
| 7 | 11 | | Trevelyan Andy | 169 | 1½ | 1 | | | bye | | |
Sell
| Bo. | No. | | Name | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | | Name | Rtg | No. |
| 1 | 14 | | Walshaw David | 144 | 3½ | 0 – 1 | 5½ | | Bielby Paul | 167 | 2 |
| 2 | 12 | | Smith Christian | 145 | 3 | 1 – 0 | 5 | | Laws Darren | 168 | 1 |
| 3 | 15 | | Clarke John | 141 | 4½ | 1 – 0 | 4 | | Smith Mike | 153 | 5 |
| 4 | 8 | | Wall (Jnr) John | 148 | 3 | ½ – ½ | 3 | | Mitcheson Robert | 152 | 6 |
| 5 | 9 | | Rowden Kevin | 147 | 3 | ½ – ½ | 2½ | | Burnell Steve | 146 | 10 |
| 6 | 7 | | Younger Mark | 150 | 2½ | 1 – 0 | 1½ | | Robson Paul | 161 | 3 |
| 7 | 4 | | Marsh John | 154 | 2½ | 1 | | | bye | | |
Gilroy
| Bo. | No. | | Name | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | | Name | Rtg | No. |
| 1 | 6 | | Noble William | 126 | 4½ | 1 – 0 | 4½ | | Czestochowski Eddie | 134 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 | | Moreby Kurt | 131 | 4 | 0 – 1 | 3½ | | Rook Ian | 128 | 5 |
| 3 | 7 | | Baird Jeff | 123 | 4 | ½ – ½ | 3 | | Johnson Stan | 111 | 10 |
| 4 | 11 | | Gunasekera Asanga | 102 | 3 | 1 – 0 | 3½ | | Cox Kevin | 136 | 1 |
| 5 | 8 | | Heyman Bob | 120 | 2½ | ½ – ½ | 3 | | Miller Joe | 80 | 14 |
| 6 | 13 | | Glasper Brendan | 84 | 1½ | ½ – ½ | 2 | | Appleby Rob | 93 | 12 |
| 7 | 9 | | Xu Weiming | 113 | 2½ | 1 | | | bye | | |
Posted by Lewis on April 27, 2018
A final reminder that entries are being taken for the Forest Hall Weekend Congress and FIDE-rated Blitz (27-29 April, 2018, at Forest Hall Ex-Servicemen’s Institute) up until and on the day of the events. To enter, Weekend tournaments include: Open, Major (U170), Intermediate (U135), Foundation (U100) sections. The FIDE-rated Blitz runs 5pm-7pm on Sunday 29th April and is open to all. Late entry fees have been waived, but entrants are asked to register as soon as possible. Visit Forest Hall Chess Club’s website and/or contact Tim Wall: 0750 372 2366, timpeterwall@gmail.com.
Posted by Lewis on April 23, 2018
Now that the season has finished I can announce the 2017-18 Season Results. I’m not sure how many times this has happened in previous seasons but the same club has came first in every division. Well done Gosforth.
Division 1
With an impressive 9 wins, 1 draw and no defeats Gosforth Empire have claimed the title for division one with 19 Match Points. The team preventing them from a perfect score was their own Gosforth Salters. In second place Forest Hall Admirals who ended on a respectable 14 Match Points. Well done to Gosforth Empire for their victory. See below for division 1 standings.
| Team Name | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Game Points | Match Points |
| Gosforth Empire | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 19 |
| Forest Hall Admirals | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 14 |
| Durham City | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 31.5 | 13 |
| Forest Hall Brigadiers | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 12 |
| Morpeth A | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 11 |
| Jesmond Knights | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 9 |
| South Shields A | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 22.5 | 9 |
| Tynemouth A | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 21.5 | 8 |
| Leam Lane Aces | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 23 | 7 |
| Gosforth Salters | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 7 |
| Tynedale Tans | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 15.5 | 1 |
Division 2
Gosforth Regents have claimed first place in the second division. They ended their season with 16 Match Points with 8 wins and 2 losses. Morpeth B have placed second with 6 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss. Well done to Gosforth Regents for winning division 2. See below for full division 2 standings.
| Team Name | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Game Points | Match Points |
| Gosforth Regents | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 29.5 | 16 |
| Morpeth B | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 30.5 | 15 |
| Forest Hall Chieftains | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 29.5 | 12 |
| Tynemouth C | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 27.5 | 11 |
| Gosforth Ivy | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 26.5 | 11 |
| South Shields B | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 25.5 | 10 |
| Tynemouth B | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 25.5 | 10 |
| Newcastle University | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 18.5 | 8 |
| Tynedale Reivers | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 7 |
| Alnwick A | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 6 |
| Gateshead | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 4 |
Division 3
Coming first in the third division is Gosforth V. They ended with 8 wins, 2 draws and no defeats which left them on 18 Match Points. Lean Lane Bullets followed closely behind on 16 points with 8 wins and 2 losses. Well done Gosforth V. See below for division 3 standings.
| Team Name | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Game Points | Match Points |
| Gosforth V | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 18 |
| Leam Lane Bullets | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 34.5 | 16 |
| Forest Hall Ensigns | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 13 |
| Forest Hall Dragoons | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 12 |
| Tynemouth D | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 27.5 | 12 |
| South Shields C | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 11 |
| Leam Lane Comets | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 9 |
| Morpeth C | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 8 |
| South Shields D | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 20.5 | 7 |
| Forest Hall F | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 19.5 | 4 |
| Forest Hall G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10.5 | 0 |
Well done everyone who played in this season and good luck for the next!
Posted by Lewis on April 21, 2018
David Ramsey 1-0 Patrick Pearson
Harry Robinson 1-0 Oliver Wall
Bernie Crowther 1-0 Tanvi Manchineni
David Watson 0-1 Morgan French
Andrew Levy ½-½ Feitong Wu
David Armstrong 1-0 Frankie Foster
Friday 20th April 2018
Posted by Tim Wall on April 20, 2018
Entries are being taken for the Forest Hall Weekend Congress and FIDE-rated Blitz (27-29 April, 2018, at Forest Hall Ex-Servicemen’s Institute) up until and on the day of the events. To enter, visit Forest Hall Chess Club’s website and/or contact Tim Wall: 0750 372 2366, timpeterwall@gmail.com.
Weekend tournaments include: Open, Major (U170), Intermediate (U135), Foundation (U100) sections. The FIDE-rated Blitz runs 5pm-7pm on Sunday 29th April and is open to all. Late entry fees have been waived, but entrants are asked to register as soon as possible.
Posted by Lewis on April 19, 2018
Brian Towers ½-½ Ian Mackay
Ian Maughan ½-½ Steve Larkin
Eddie Czestochowski 1-0 Derek Blair
Chris Sayers 1-0 Dave Humphreys
Asanga Gunasekera 1-0 Default
Thursday 19th April 2018
Posted by Lewis on April 18, 2018
Gary Cornwall ½-½ Brian Towers
Christian Smith 1-0 Kevin Rowden
John Morton ½-½ Colin Campbell
Lewis Self ½-½ Asanga Gunasekera
Joe Murray 0-1 Jay Steel
Tuesday 17th April 2018
