North East chess set to grow in 2022
THIS is the time of year when people traditionally start planning their holidays for next summer and the rest of the year ahead. It’s the same for chess fans – we like to plan our chess expeditions well in advance.
It may be a little uncertain how many major chess events there are coming up nationally and internationally to go to, but the World Championship Candidates tournament in Madrid in June-July sounds like a great place in the sun to jet off to, assuming you can get time off (and Covid-permitting). The British Championships, finally planned for Torquay at the end of July 2022 after a two-year hiatus, is another nice chess gathering that North East players enjoy going to.
Even though 2021 has been a tough year for North East chess enthusiasts, there is every chance that things will get better locally in 2022 – fingers crossed.
In each of the three North East county chess areas – Northumberland (which includes Tyne & Wear), Durham and Cleveland – there are now fully functioning evening chess leagues, with a total of 58 local teams taking part.
In Northumberland, there are four divisions and 26 teams, while in Durham there are two divisions and 13 teams, and in Cleveland there are three divisions and 19 teams.
This suggests that chess clubs are getting back on their feet. Particularly encouraging is the participation of Durham University Chess Club, which had up to nearly 100 players at some club nights in the autumn term. It has had three teams in the Durham league, and its first team is now joint leader of the first division, equal with the county’s top club, Durham City.
There are also local chess congresses to look forward to: the Northumberland Rapidplay at Forest Hall Social Club on Saturday, February 5; the Durham Congress from May 6 to 8, at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington; the Northumbria Masters, at a Tyneside venue yet to be decided, over the Bank Holiday weekend of August 25 to 29 and the Northumberland Weekender at the Parks Leisure Centre, North Shields, from September 23 to 25.
For more details of the Durham Congress and the Northumberland Weekender, contact: Mick Riding via mickriding@hotmail. co.uk and for the Northumberland Rapidplay and Northumbria Masters, contact Tim Wall by emailing timpeterwall@gmail. com).
This week’s puzzles are taken from the latest issue of the Northumberland Chess Association Bulletin. Individual copies and annual subscriptions are available from Mick Riding at the email address above.