Your move - why not join a club in 2019..?
I HOPE you have all enjoyed a good Christmas break. Let’s start with a quick round-up of the Northumberland League. Going into the New Year the pacesetters are South Shields A in Division 1, Newcastle University in Division 2 and Morpeth C in Division 3. There are still a lot of matches to be played and much can change. but they have the advantage so far.
In the Individual Tournaments the current leaders are James Moreby in the Zollner, Paul Bielby in the Sell and Bob Heyman in the Gilroy. Both sets of competitions have been run efficiently by John Wheeler/ Chris Goodhall and David Walker respectively.
These people plus the other officials who manage th other elements of the local chess scene deserve a lot of credit for the ongoing strength and development of chess in the area.
Initiatives at Gateshead Central Library, Newcastle Central Library and in South Shields continue to make progress thanks to the supportive actions of the venue staff and the enthusiasm and commitment of existing club players like Tim Wall, Bill Noble, Eddie Czestokowski, Morgan French, Ciairan MacDonald and Mike Smith.
These ventures are encouraging new people into the game and is demonstrating that it is a game that can be played by anyone of any age. New players as young as 4 years old have learned the game alongside new to chess players in their 80’s.
Chess is not the elitist game it is often portrayed as. Anyone can learn to play and just like everything else some will learn more quickly than others. But it isn’t a race!
Tynedale Chess Club have organised a briliant event to take place in the Queen’s Hall Hexham on the morning of Saturday the 12th of January . Here is a chance to play against a top player, Yichen Han, a member of Forest Hall Chess Club. Yichen is the England Under 11 and Under 12 Chess Champion with ambitions to become a top Grandmaster. There is still a long way to go but he has made big steps in the right direction over the past year. He wil be playing up to twenty people at once. Whatever your playing standard,
this is an event worth supporting. You will be given clear instructions on how it works when you get there and support as it goes along. It is good fun and a great experience regardless of age and skill . Give it a go!! A similar event last year in Newcastle was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all of the participants which included experienced league players and people who had never played competitive chess. Simultaneously you will be supporting Tynedale Chess Club who are very friendly group of people who are working hard to build up the game in the area.
Puzzles: White to play and win