Northumberland takes junior challenge

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(Newcastle Chronicle, 28 February 2025)

It’s been a few years since Northumberland entered the Pennine Cup, the premier annual competition for the strongest Under 18 teams in the Northern Counties. This year, Gosforth organiser Mick Riding took two Northumberland teams of six players each for the event in Swinton, Manchester, on Sunday February 23.


After six matches, both Northumberland teams finished fifth equal, with 7 points out of 12 – a very creditable result, given the strength of the event. On the day, Merseyside A dominated with a total of 30.5 game points out of 36.

Full results:
1 Merseyside A 12;
2 Wirral A 9;
3-4 Merseyside B & Lancashire 8;
5-9 Oldham A, Northumberland A, Northumberland B, Manchester A,
Manchester C 7;
10 Oldham B 6;
11-14 Oldham B, Cumbria A, Wirral B, Manchester B, Manchester D 5;
15 Merseyside C 4;
16-17 Cumbria B, Oldham C 3;
18 Wirral C 0.

Northumberland teams comprised 10 juniors from Gosforth Chess Club and two juniors from Newcastle Chess Club. Here are the Northumberland individual scores in board order:

Northumberland A (20.5/36 game points) – Kai Harkensee 1/6; Daniel Sewart 3.5; Lev Drobiazko 3; Joey Pramana 5.5; Gautham Satishkumar 4; James Phillips 3.5.

Northumberland B (21.5/36 game points) – Aaron Cheung 3/6; Ethan Ross 5; Sanjay Satishkumar 3; Alistair Howell 4; Maximus Scott 3; Viaan Gokul Nath 3.5.

In the Northumbria League, Division 1 leaders Gosforth Empire suffered a shock 3-1 defeat this week at the hands of Newcastle University A. This creates a three-horse race for the championship. Gosforth Empire (14/18) are still ahead, but Newcastle University A (13/18) and Newcastle Dragons (11/16) are now breathing hard on their necks.

In Division 2, Gosforth Regents (12/16) are in the lead, ahead of South Shields Arbeians (11/16) and Morpeth A (9/16).

Leam Lane Bullets (11/16) enjoy a narrow lead in Division 3, just ahead of Gateshead (10/14) and Forest Hall Titans (8/14).

Division 4 is being led by Newcastle Jesters (12/16), ahead of Tynedale (11/16) and Newcastle University B (9/18).

The Division 5 leaders are Jesmond Knights (16/18), but South Shields Sand-dancers (13/16) are still within striking distance.

Gosforth Siths are the runaway leaders of Division 6 with 16/18, having beaten second-placed Newcastle Cavaliers (13/18) in their match last week.

Several North East players took part in the Doncaster Congress (21-23 February), with Tim Wall (Newcastle) the joint winner of the Open on 4/5 and Martin Beardsley (Gosforth) third equal in the Intermediate on 4/5.

PUZZLES

This week’s puzzles are from ‘The Complete Chess Swindler’ by David Smerdon.

Puzzle A: Furman-Smejkal. White to move & draw.

Puzzle B: Liu-Wohl. White to move & draw.

Puzzle C: Smerdon (Black) to move & win.

Puzzle D: Smerdon-Tan. White to move & draw.

ANSWERS:

A: 1 Nc1! a1Q stalemate, or 1…a1N 2 Nb3 Nxb3 stalemate.
B: 1 Rxc3 Rxc3 2 g6 b2 3 gxf7 Ke7 4 f8Q+ Kxf8 stalemate.
C: 1…Rf3+! 2 gxf3 Bf1 mate.
D: 1 Rg6+! fxg6 stalemate, or 1…Kf8 2 Rg8+ Ke7 3 Re8+ Kxe8 stalemate.