News – 2018–19

Items on this page are in reverse chronological order (i.e. the most recent items are at the top). For the very latest news, visit the home page.

South Lakes Congress (29th Jun)

The South Lakes Congress took place on 7-9 June in Kendal. Chris Fraser (West Bridgford) came equal first in the Minor section with a score of 3½/5. He won £56.25 in prize money.

News for juniors (29th Jun)

Issue 18 (July / August 2019) of the newsletter is now available.

New venue for Nottingham Central Chess Club (29th Jun)

Message from Andrew Sutton (Club Secretary)

The club has changed venues. We are now at The Embankment Pub in Nottingham. The venue is excellent, with very quiet playing conditions, good beer, parking, lots of buses but unfortunately no disabled access. Importantly the venue allows juniors in the playing area.

The Embankment Pub
282-284 Arkwright Street
Nottingham
NG2 2GR

I am hoping that we will be able to hold events - such as blitz tournaments and rapidplays in the very roomy playing room, and our first event will be a grand opening/house warming event hopefully in July.

Executive Committee meeting minutes (29th Jun)

The minutes for the Executive Committee meeting held on 12th April are now available to view on the website.

Annual General Meeting (20th Jun)

The AGM will be held at 7:30pm on the 8th July at the Wolds pub, West Bridgford.

Chess in Notts - Future Developments Survey (19th May)

A discussion paper has been created with the aim of highlighting and considering a range of different ideas that NCA members may want to support to improve competitive chess in the County. After reading the paper you are invited to complete a survey questionnaire.

Letter to primary school leavers (19th May)

The Junior Committee of the Nottinghamshire Chess Association is sending letters to Year 6s and their parents to advise them on how they can continue playing chess when they move to secondary school. The letter is available to download.

Notts Correspondence Chess (6th May)

After the success of last season the Nottinghamshire team have been promoted to Division 2 of the County & District Correspondence Chess Championship (C & DCCC). Phil Morgan looks at the progress of the team so far. Full Report

Notts League Season Review 2018-19 (6th May)

As the season comes to an end Phil Morgan looks at how well the teams have done in each of the divisions. Full Article

NCA Best Games and Swindle Prizes (6th May)

Message from Steve Burke

I invite you to send me your best games played under NCA auspices this season (since the end of May 2018). This means any game played in the Notts League, the County Championship, the Nottingham Congress or Rapidplay, or for a County Team. (Given that computer assistance is allowed, correspondence games are excluded. Although, if you’ve played a good one, I’d be happy to publish it with the other entries). Games played at the 4NCL Congress in Nottingham are also acceptable.

As usual, there is an Open prize and an U140 prize. There is also a Best Swindle prize, which is open to all. The prize for each is £15.

Please email entries to me by the end of May, preferably in PGN or ChessBase format, but photocopied score-sheets or typed up games are acceptable too. You can include comments and/or analysis if you wish.

I look forward to seeing your games.

The Presidents XI (28th Apr)

The eleven individuals who have been President of the Association and are still active in Notts chess, taken at the congress

Presidents

Top row: Michael Barnes, Tim Walker, John Swain, Brian Hayward, David Levens
Bottom Row: Neil Graham, Andrew Walker, Ray Sayer, Shane Bhayat , Robert Richmond
Inset : Michael Nailard

News for juniors (28th Apr)

Issue 17 (May 2019) of the newsletter is now available.

News for juniors (6th Apr)

Issue 16 (April 2019) of the newsletter is now available.

Nottingham Congress (6th Apr)

IM Alan Merry (4NCL Barbican) won the Open section with a score of 4½/5. Stefan Walentowicz (West Bridgford) won the Major section with a score of 4½/5. There was a four way tie for first place in the Intermediate section between Neal Fisher (Peterborough), Alan Ruffle (Swadlincote), Andrew Allen (Worksop) and William Egan (Scunthorpe), all scoring 4/5. Leonard Barham won the Minor section with a score of 4½/5. Full Results

Executive Committee meeting minutes (23rd Mar)

The minutes for the Executive Committee meeting held on 7th December are now available to view on the website.

Blackpool Congress (18th Mar)

The Blackpool Congress took place on 8-10 March. Anita Somton (West Notts) won the junior prize in the Major section with a score of 3½/5. Robert Taylor (Ashfield) won a grading prize in the Intermediate section with a score of 3½/5. Here are the results for all the Notts players who took part in the competition (all scores out of 5):

Steve Bak (11th Mar)

Tribute by Phil Morgan

The Club has been informed today of the recent sudden death of club member, Steve Bak. Steve died on the 6th, February as a result of a massive cardiac event. His death was very quick and very painless.

Trevor Lewis wrote that the news of Steve's death is a huge shock and sadness. Steve has been a club member for 5 years and was a third team regular. Steve's last game was on the 16th January, when he told Trevor of his decision to give up League chess. Trevor was sorry to hear this as Steve was a fine , attacking chess player who was achieving some excellent results. It seems incredible that he should have died just 3 weeks later.

Trevor has passed on to the family his and our club's condolences for their sad loss.

Steve set up our current Club website. It was entirely his creation, a product of his brains and I.T. expertise. The puzzles on the home page and anything other than text were put on by Steve. The site provides a fitting, living memento of this aspect of Steve's contribution to our Club.

View games

With this game (Steve Bak v Alex Webster 16/1/19) Steve bowed out from League chess on a very good note.

In 2018-19 he played 7 League games for Ashfield, with 3 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. He played in the Isle Of Man International Tournament in October scoring 4/7. In previous years he played in the London Chess Classic.

He had a full life outside of chess and loved trips to Scotland and spending time with his grandchildren. He will be much missed.

Nomads Chess Club - Temporary New Venue (11th Mar)

Message from David Griffiths

With immediate effect! until the end of this season, Nomads venue will change from The Organ Grinder pub to the Overdraught pub. We havn't moved far, next door but one to be precise. But all remaining matches and club nights will now be hosted at the Overdraught. The Organ Grinder will be closed shortly until late April due to a complete refurbishment, which will hopefully provide us with a brand new function room (with lights!) for next season. Further details / updates will be posted on Nomads website.

News for juniors (11th Mar)

Issue 15 (March 2019) of the newsletter is now available.

Doncaster Congress (11th Mar)

The Doncaster Congress took place on 22-24 February. In the minor section David Dunne (Nomads) and Chris Fraser (Radcliffe & Bingham) both finished equal 2nd with a score of 4/5 and won approximately £41.66 each. Here are the results for all the Notts players who took part in the competition (all scores out of 5):

Nottingham Congress - accommodation availability for titled players (3rd Mar)

Do you have a spare room and be willing to give accommodation? I would organise and pay for anything else that is required.

Feel free to pass on this request to anyone else, who would be interested.

Currently there are three GMs that are interested in playing.

Contact Marcel Taylor
Email: mvtaylor61@gmail.com
Mobile: 07941 397 103

Nottingham Congress - Free entry and accommodation for titled players (3rd Mar)

Free: entry to the Nottinghamshire Chess Congress. Conditionally, on request, there may be free: accommodation, food and local transport.

Contact Marcel V. Taylor
Email: mvtaylor61@gmail.com
Mobile: 07941 397 10

Inter-County U160 Championship: Nottinghamshire 7-8 Manchester (3rd Mar)

There were only two teams that entered the U160 Championship. The winner of the match would win the championship. Nottinghamshire lost 8-7 to Manchester. Both teams qualify for the national stages. Full Results

Inter-County U140 Championship Round Up (3rd Mar)

At the start of the new year the U140 team suffered a surprising loss to Lincolnshire. They then bounced back with a comfortable win against Leicestershire. The final match was the decider for the championship. Nottinghamshire lost 9-7 to Worcestershire and finish in 2nd place.

12 Jan Nottinghamshire 7½-8½ Lincolnshire Full Results
23 Feb Leicestershire 6-10 Nottinghamshire Full Results
8 Dec Nottinghamshire 7-9 Worcestershire Full Results

News for juniors (3rd Feb)

Issue 14 (February 2019) of the newsletter is now available.

Nottingham Rapidplay (31st Jan)

Ameet Ghasi (Warwickshire) won the open with a perfect score of 6/6. Full Results

Rapidplay £5 late entry fee (15th Jan)

The date for the late entry fee on the entry form is from January 17th. However the on-line system adds the fee from January 15th. On-line entries on January 15th & 16th will be refunded the late fee on the day. My apologies for the inconvenience.

Robert Richmond

News for juniors (14th Jan)

Issue 13 (January 2019) of the newsletter is now available.

Inter-County U140 Championship Round Up (14th Jan)

The U140 team won their first 3 matches of the season to enter the New Year on maximum points.

10 Nov Derbyshire 5½-10½ Nottinghamshire Full Results
24 Nov Warwickshire 7½-8½ Nottinghamshire Full Results
8 Dec Nottinghamshire 11-5 Staffordshire Full Results

Nottinghamshire Primary Schools Chess Association (29th Dec)

Please see the NPSCA website for details of Saturday morning coaching sessions, tournaments and matches for U11, U9 and Girls teams.

Teachers running chess clubs in their schools and chess clubs with promising juniors in Years 2-6 who would benefit from what the NPSCA has to offer should make their recommendations to the Secretary, John Crawley

Notts League Mid-Season Review (29th Dec)

Phil Morgan looks at the league tables mid way through the season to see which teams are doing well. Full Article

Inter-County Minor Championship (29th Dec)

In their opening match of the season Nottinghamshire drew 8-8 against Lincolnshire, the current Midlands Champions. Full Results

The next match against Warwickshire was similiarly close and tense but a late win on the few remaining boards clinched it for Nottinghamshire. Full Results

News for juniors (16th Dec)

Issue 12 (December 2018) of the newsletter is now available.

Nottinghamshire County Championship (8th Dec)

The 2018/19 County Champion is Jonah Willow (West Notts) with a perfect score of 5/5. Full Results

News for juniors (11th Nov)

Issue 11 (November 2018) of the newsletter is now available. The newsletter looks at upcoming events for juniors.

News for juniors (30th Oct)

Issue 10 (October 2018) of the newsletter is now available. The newsletter looks at upcoming events for juniors.

Association Secretary (30th Oct)

I am pleased to announce that Graham Neil has agreed to take up the reins as Association Secretary. His contact details have been added to our website Information page. I’m sure we all wish him well in his tenure.

Steve Burke

Nottinghamshire Competitions (30th Sep)

The online entry forms are now available to use for the County Championship, Rapidplay and Congress competitions. The pdf versions of the entry forms will be available shortly.

Competition Date Online Entry Form
County Championship 17-18 Nov 2018 Enter Online
Nottingham Rapidplay 20 Jan 2019 Enter Online
Nottingham Congress 23-24 Mar 2019 Enter Online

If you have any problems with the online entry forms please contact the webmaster. For any general enquiries about the competitions please contact the organiser.

Annual General Meeting minutes for July (8th Sep)

The minutes for the AGM held on 31st July are now available on the website.

News for juniors (8th Sep)

Issue 9 (September 2018) of the newsletter is now available. The newsletter looks at upcoming chess events for juniors to enter.

Looking Back and Ahead (8th Sep)

Phil Morgan looks back at last season and how well teams did in each division. He then looks ahead at the new season which will start soon. Full Article

MCCU Congress (19th Aug)

FM Jonah Willow (West Notts) won the Open section with a score of 4/5 and received £283 in prize money. Here are the results for all the Notts players who took part in the competition (all scores out of 5):

Leek Congress cancelled (19th Aug)

The Leek Congress which was to be held on 7-9th Sep has been cancelled. This competition had been advertised on this website in the forthcoming events list.

MCCU Open Congress (29th Jul)

The 2018 Midland Open will be at the Ramada Hotel in Telford between 10-12 August. The leading Midlands player will be the 2018 Midlands Champion, and qualify for the 2019 British Chess Championships.

More information here: http://www.mccu.org.uk/m_congress/index.htm

Online entry here: http://www.mccu.org.uk/m_congress/entryform.htm

Annual General Meeting of the Notts Chess Association on Tuesday 31st July (15th Jul)

As announced at the RRM, the AGM will be held on 31st July at 7:30pm in the Bramcote Memorial Hall.

An agenda for the meeting is available to download. Supporting documentation will be sent to clubs and officers in due course.

General Meeting minutes for May (15th Jul)

The minutes for the General Meeting held on 29th May are now available on the website. This meeting included league rule revisions.

Ups and Downs. On and Off The Board (8th Jul)

Phil Morgan writes about correspondence chess including the success of Nottinghamshire winning Division 3 and also his own personal success in representing Wales in a friendly match against Italy. In addition to this he looks through Stan Cranmer's collection of books and magazines. Full Article

News for juniors

2018–19