22 Apr
A match took place yesterday between the players of Bloxwich Junior Chess Club and various high ranking players.  The match started with a very impressive line up from both sides.  Bloxwich Juniors were captained by Dominic Holmes one of the youngest members of the club
Match report and games

24 Jan
I've just been chatting with Traci, who was delighted to tell me that Jacob Boswell has now secured a place in the England Under 11 team trials qualfier to be played in April.  If he does well there, Jacob can become part of the England Under 11 Chess team.

If you are interested in how to show you might be good enough to play for the national team, click here There are details of which tournaments you can compete in to show how good you are.

Well done Jacob
and Good Chess everyone!

8 Jan
Well, we all make mistakes.  But when a mistake goes on a website like this everyone can see it.

Junior Squad Championship
Anyone interested in the Junior Squad Championships being played in April should note that the details shown previously on the calendar page and the Junior Squad Championship page were WRONG!!! They have both now been corrected.
Excuse me while I hang my head in shame

The date for the event is 14 and 15 April, not as shown, and the venue where it will be played has still to be confirmed, but likely to be Kingston upon Thames.  The contact for the tournament was also wrong - you should contact Marc Shaw if you would like more information.
It just wasn't my day.
Please miss, can I go home now?

But seriously, very sorry about the mix up, and if you're taking part, Good chess!

3 Jan
Looks like quite a few of you have an eye on the England Under 11 Chess Team Trials Qualifiers.

Jacob Boswell
As I told you recently, Jacob Boswell is half way to qualifying for the England U11 chess team trials.  At the British Rapidplay in Halifax he scored 4 out of 5.  In December, Jacob went to London, to compete in the London Junior Championships.  He played really well and scored 4 points.

Ashwin Kalyana
Another well done must go to Ashwin Kalyana, who also competed in the London Junior Championships.  Ashwin scored 6 points.

Two more players also competed in the British Rapidplay, Aroun Kalyana and Neddy Tsoi.  Both played really well.

British Rapidplay results
London Junior Championship results

3 Feb
Congratulations to Leo Tsoi.  In the Under 14 section of the South Of England Championship, held in Surrey last weekend, Leo scored 4/5.  That gave him equal first place with three other players.

Leo's success means he now has a half norm towards being able to play in the European or World Youth.  A Similar success in a similar tournament will mean he is eligible to play in those events.

Well done Leo!

8 Jan
Two young players are rapidly ensuring that the Staffordshire Terriers chess team is a force to be reconed with in the Midlands.  Yesterday afternoon the team played its third game of season.

Karthik Selvan
Karthik plays at Bloxwich Juniors.  In the first game of the season (last October), Karthik beat a player graded 54 from Nottingham.  In November, he was beaten by a player from Mercia Chess Club, and yesterday he beat a player graded 98.  Denis Nesbitt, the Terriers team captain said in yesterday's match, Karthik was the last game to finish and he beat a more experienced opponent.

Alex Cartlidge
Many of you will be familiar with Alex's name.  Alex plays at Cheddleton & Leek Chess Club.  In the team's first match of the season, Alex was on board 4 and lost to a player graded 109.  In the second game, he was on board 7 and beat David Buckley from Bushbury.  In yesterday's game he played on board 5 and drew against a player graded 115.

Many of the players the Terriers face in Inter-County chess are adult players, so very well done to Alex and Karthik for your success.  The Terriers have now won two of their three games this season.
Terriers team home page

3 Jan
A very happy new year to everyone.  I trust you all enjoyed a really good time over the Christmas break.

For Parents, Teachers and Coaches, just a reminder that if you're interested in entering a team in the Primary Schools Championships (also called Pontins Chess), you still have time to enter a team.  The first round can be played nearby, and a number of teams from from each first round tournament then qualify for the semi finals, played on the coast during the summer.

Traci has all the details, or you can find out more here, or download an entry form.  First round matches will be held across the country between January and March.