Club news

Newcastle Dragons: Back-to-Back Champions!

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The Newcastle Dragons have done it again! ECF Northumbria League (Division 1) Champions – two years running!

The final showdown against Gosforth Salters took place at Newcastle Labour Club last night, and, true to form, the Dragons unleashed their might.

First to land a devastating blow was none other than FM Tim Wall, our fearless captain. With machine-like precision – 98% accuracy, mind you – Tim executed a ruthless bishop sacrifice on f2, leaving Murray Pollock’s position in tatters. With nowhere to run and certainly nowhere to hide, Murray saw the writing on the wall and submitted his resignation ten moves later.

Next up, “The Streetfighter”, FM Andy Burnett, leapt into battle. Playing white in a King’s Indian Defence, Semi-Averbakh System, Andy kept his king boldly stationed in the center before launching an earth-shattering kingside attack. His light-squared bishop valiantly gave its life, and with mate-in-one looming over Alex Blake, the Gosforth warrior accepted his fate like a samurai facing his final moment on the battlefield – down went his king, and onto the scoresheet went Andy’s victory!

Inspired by Tim and Andy’s audacious sacrifices, I decided it was my turn for a bit of gladiatorial flair – I launched my knight into f7, hoping my dodgy little trick would pay off. To my relief, it did! And if that wasn’t enough, I threw my bishop into the fire on move 26 – though it was untouchable thanks to a rather cheeky discovered check, which would net me a queen and deliver mate. After 18 minutes of deep contemplation, Martin Beardsley wisely retreated his adventurous rook, but alas – too little, too late! One e7 Shaolin jab🥋🥋later, and he was forced to resign.

With just one game left, all eyes turned to Zheming Zhang v. John Liddle. Zheming had an exchange-up advantage heading into the middlegame, but John proved tricky, defusing the pressure, trading down the big pieces, and steering the fight toward a fascinating but ultimately drawn Bishop vs Rook endgame. With less than two minutes remaining and no sneaky tricks left to play, the masters shook hands in mutual respect.

Final score: 3.5-0.5 to the Dragons! 🔥🔥
That decisive victory secured our championship title, cementing our place at the top with 19 match points, ahead of Gosforth Empire (17 match points) and Newcastle University A (15 match points, with one match still in hand).

Jesters & Cavaliers Rise!

It’s not just the Dragons celebrating – our Newcastle Jesters have also stormed their way to the Division 4 Championship, finishing on 20 match points ahead of their closest rivals, Forest Hall Phoenixes

Meanwhile, in Division 6, Newcastle Cavaliers and Gosforth Siths have secured promotion, with the Cavaliers finishing in second place.

A Season to Remember & a New Era Ahead

This has been an unforgettable season for the club, with success across all divisions and an ever-growing membership. Massive congratulations to everyone who’s played a part in this incredible run!

And the best part? We’re moving to a spanking-new clubhouse in the heart of Newcastle’s city centre in the next few weeks! Exciting times ahead.

Please enjoy the games and pictures from yesterday’s final showdown!

From the Dragon’s Lair🐉🐉
Beast of Newcastle

Division 1 Champions, 2024-25: Newcastle Dragons. From left, Zheming Zhang, Tim Wall, Nathan Ekanem, Andy Burnett.

League Victories & A Ballroom Blitz

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The Newcastle Dragons have been breathing fire this past week. In a high-stakes, must-win clash, they delivered a masterclass in determination, toppling former league leaders Gosforth Empire on their home turf with a gripping 2.5-1.5 victory.

The ever-resilient Zheming Zhang struck first, landing a decisive win against NM Roger Coathup. Then came “The Streetfighter,” FM Andy Burnett, who tore through David Armbruster with an unconventional yet deadly variation of the Reti Opening. Revenge was sweet for Andy, who had meticulously prepared his own weapon after a previous loss to David. His insights, always a treat, are included in the attached annotated game for your learning pleasure.

My own battle on Board 4 ended in heartbreak as I faltered against James Ross, struggling to navigate the chaos after allowing an exchange sacrifice on f3. But thankfully, “The Mighty Wall” held firm, securing a crucial draw against Gosforth’s eternal Board 1, Leon Gustavo Cazares. With this electrifying victory, we are perfectly positioned to seize the Division 1 title! Our final challenge awaits: Gosforth Salters on April 21 at Gosforth Empire Club.

Meanwhile, our Jesters stand poised for glory in Division 4. They just need a win or a draw in their final showdown against Tynedale on Monday, 14 April. Their promotion is already secured!

The Cavaliers, too, have punched their ticket to the next tier, rising from Division 6. With an extra match in hand, they’re just 2 points shy of the top spot, chasing Gosforth Siths for ultimate supremacy.

Away from league intensity, last night’s FIDE & ECF-rated blitz event was a spectacle of wit and warrior spirit! Fourteen players stepped into the fray, competing across four electrifying categories.

With a mix of luck and resilience, I managed to clinch the Open title, tying with Krithik Shai. One of the closest calls came against Alan Welsh, the longtime master of the Stonewall Dutch Defence – an opening he’s wielded to perfection for what feels like centuries. His kingside assault was relentless, a wave of pressure that had me teetering on the edge. But with the clock ticking dangerously low, the position grew treacherous, forcing him to settle for a draw – a dramatic escape that had my nerves on fire!

Equally intense were my battles against “The Streetfighter” and Aanuolowapo (John) Awesome, two games that defined the tournament’s final standings. The games were pure combat – every decision, a test of nerves.

Long after the event had ended, adrenaline still coursed through me, refusing to let the games fade into memory. On the bus ride home, I found myself reconstructing the games from memory as game were not recorded – a mental replay of the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the near-misses. I’ve included them for those who want to relive the wild chess theatrics!

Meanwhile, Alan Welsh & Thomas Huxtable shared victory in the U-1800 category, while Olga Pinchuk made a triumphant return to competitive chess, securing 1st place in U-1600, with Thomas Chazelle right behind in 2nd place. A casual chat with Olga revealed that she hadn’t played a tournament in ages – making her dominant performance all the more impressive!

In the Unrated section, Billy Ness clinched victory, with Adam Graham settling into second. The event was flawlessly organized, creating an atmosphere of excitement and camaraderie. A huge shoutout to Tim for making it all happen!

We now turn our eyes toward the final league battles and the thrilling events ahead.

Enjoy the weekend, and dive into the games!

The Beast of Newcastle 😎

Our club moves to Haymarket

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From Thursday May 15, Newcastle Chess Club will move its club hub to: Newcastle Labour Club, The Hub, Haymarket, Newcastle NE1 7PF.

This is directly opposite Haymarket Metro Station, on the corner of Northumberland Street and Percy Street.

We will meet weekly there on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm to 10:30pm for friendly games, blitz, rapidplay and standard play competitions and league chess.

(We currently meet temporarily at Newcastle Labour Club’s old premises, at 11 Leazes Park Road, NE1 4PF. These premises close on April 26.)

Our other venues remain the same:

JUNIOR CLUB: Newcastle Junior Chess Club meets on Sunday afternoons at Jesmond Library, St George’s Terrace, Jesmond NE2 2DL. 2:30-4:30pm.

LIBRARY CLUB: Free drop-in chess club at Newcastle City Library (Level 1) on Saturdays, 11am-1pm. Come along for a friendly game and a chat. All welcome!

More info: Tim Wall, Tel: 07503 722366, email: timpeterwall@gmail.com, or visit https://newcastlechessclub.com/. 

Against All Odds: My First Battle in the Zollner

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09/10/2024
by Nathan Ekanem

I may have just played my finest chess game of the year. Despite never entering the Northumbria Individual Championship before, I decided to leap into the deep end and compete in the prestigious Zollner section for the first time.

The championship is divided into three sections, each consisting of a 7-round tournament: the Gilroy (ECF rating under 1700), the Sell (ECF rating under 2000), and the Zollner (no rating limit!). The Zollner is where the crème de la crème of the region battle it out!

My round 1 pairing was the stuff of nightmares. When I opened the message from Mark Mckay (the tournament director) in my inbox, my heart sank. I was paired with the black pieces against the rock-solid and formidable FM David Walker (FIDE 2226)! David needs no introduction in these parts — he’s the top board for the county team (where I usually play bottom boards), top board for Leam Lanes chess club, and has been the individual county champion countless times. No wonder I felt dispirited. But, as we say here, I had to accept my fate and crack on.

The game held yesterday at the Old George, and against all odds, I managed to win! As expected, the famed FM played 1. c4 (The English Opening), and I immediately followed with Nf6, heading towards an Indian formation with the Gufeld Bishop perched on g7. Before the game, I received some pearls of wisdom from FM Tim Wall. He said, “One little piece of advice: Everyone in the Zollner prepares for their opponents. Dave will be looking at your published games :)”. Unfortunately, and as usual, I didn’t prep much, but I did take a cursory glance at what the internet had to offer, if I’m honest 🤪 and found a treasure trove of David’s games dating back to 1999!

I was genuinely impressed with my level of play, maintaining a 93% accuracy and sustained focus throughout (even though my scattered brain is usually all over the place). It’s games like this that make me think I might have the potential to be more than just a chess enthusiast — perhaps a decent player worthy of that knightly pat on the back. 😊 True to my style, I decided to mix things up by sacrificing a pawn, and FM Walker upped the ante by sacrificing his knight on c6, overlooking my brilliant Nf4!! — undoubtedly the move of the game. This led to an exchange of queens that left me a piece up, but I still had to earn my win.

For those who have played solid titled players or strong opponents in general, you’ll know you have to practically finish them to secure a win. The phrase “I was winning” is all too common. With this in mind and with less than 2 minutes on the clock, I managed to keep my cool and make the right moves. After my Bg2, David’s clock slowly dripped down to less than a minute. You could hear him muttering to himself and shaking his head. Shortly after, he looked up at me and extended his hand in resignation.

With this round 1 win against David Walker, I’ve painted a target on my back, but I’m not worried. It’s an incentive to keep playing well. I eagerly look forward to round 2 and hope that lady luck will shine on me again. 😊

Nathan

Newcastle triumph in Northumbria League

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(Newcastle Chronicle, 23 February 2024)

Newcastle A have wrapped up the Northumbria League with two rounds to spare after a dominant performance in the club’s first season. After beating South Shields A 3.5-0.5, Newcastle have a maximum 16 points and cannot be caught by second-placed Gosforth Empire on 9 points.

Newcastle’s individual results are impressive: Tim Wall & Andy Burnett 6/8, Zheming Zhang 5.5/7 and Nathan Ekanem 4/4.

Newcastle A (formerly Forest Hall A) have this season formed their own club, which now meets at The Old George Inn on Tuesdays at 7:15pm.

At the foot of Division 1 are Tynemouth A (4 points) and Jesmond (5 points). The bottom team are automatically relegated, while the second-last team have to survive a playoff match against the second-placed team from the division below to stay up.

Division 2 is finely poised, with Gosforth Salters (13 points) ahead of Newcastle University A (12 points). The relegation dogfight is between Forest Hall Foxes (3 points) and South Shields B (1 point).

Tynemouth B and Gosforth Centurions (both on 13 points) are battling it out for the Division 3 title, while Morpeth B (4 points) and Forest Hall Woodpeckers (1 point) are in the drop zone.

In Division 4, Leam Lane Bullets (14 points) are ahead of Gosforth Hawthorns (12 points). The relegation battle is between Forest Hall Squirrels and Morpeth C (both on 2 points).

Newcastle University B (14 points) are Division 5 champions, beyond the reach of Gosforth Jedis (9 points). Leam Lane Comets (2 points) are almost certain to be relegated.

In Division 6, Newcastle B (12 points) still have to face second-placed Alnwick C (9 points).

Full scores:

Division 1:
1. Newcastle A 16;
2. Gosforth Empire 9;
3.-4 Leam Lane Aces, South Shields A 8;
5. Jesmond 5;
6. Tynemouth 4.

Division 2:
1. Gosforth Salters 13;
2. Newcastle University A 12;
3. Morpeth A 8;
4. Gosforth Regents 7;
5. Forest Hall Foxes 3;
6. South Shields B 1.

Division 3:
1-2. Tynemouth B, Gosforth Centurions 13;
3. Alnwick A 10;
4. Gosforth Ivy 5;
5. Morpeth B 4;
6. Forest Hall Woodpeckers 1.

Division 4:
1. Leam Lane Bullets 14;
2. Gosforth Hawthorns 12;
3. Gateshead 10;
4-5. Gosforth Woodbines, Tynemouth C 9;
6-7. Forest Hall Squirrels, Morpeth C 2.

Division 5:
1. Newcastle University B 14;
2. Gosforth Jedis 9;
3-4. Tynemouth D, Forest Hall Owls 8;
5. South Shields C 7;
6. Alnwick B 6;
7. Leam Lane Comets 2.

Division 6:
1. Newcastle B 12;
2. Alnwick C 9;
3. Tynedale 7;
4-5. Gosforth Otterburns, South Shields D 6;
6. Newcastle University C 4.

This week’s puzzles:

Puzzle A: Jon Speelman (White) to play.

Puzzle B: Paul Bielby (Black) to play.

Puzzle C: Gautham Sathishkumar (White) to play.

Puzzle D: William Claridge-Hansen (Black) to play.

Answers:

A: 1 Nxd5! wins a crucial pawn, as if 1…cxd5 2 Bc7! wins the queen.
B: 1…Rf3! 2 gxf3 Qxg3+ 3 Kf1 Qxh3+ 4 Kg1 Rg3+ 5 Kf2 Rg2+ wins.
C: 1 Qh8+ Kg6 2 Qxh6+ Kf5 3 Qf6+ Ke4 4 Qf3 checkmate.
D: 1…Rxg2! 2 Nxf4 (if 2 Kxg2 Nh4+, or 2 Re4 Rc2! wins) Rg4! 3 Nh5 Nxf3 4 Nf6+ Kf8 0-1.

NCC News Update – Monday 4 December 2023: Exciting December events from Newcastle Chess Club

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Hi everyone,

Lots of exciting and fun events are coming up this month (you can also read it on our new website, going live this week: https://newcastlechessclub.com)
1) Our victorious Newcastle B team play at home at the Irish Centre on Monday 4th December – come along & support the team!
2) Our Newcastle A team are in action twice in the next week: travelling to Tynemouth on Tuesday 5th December, and home v Leam Lane on Monday 11 December.
We hope to go top of Division 1 if we have some good results:) Spectators are very welcome!
3) Our Christmas Party Blitz & AGM are set for Monday 18th December, 6:45-9:15pm.
Tickets are £5 on the door for the Blitz (7:15pm-9:15pm), there will be party food and music, drinks from the bar.
The AGM (6:45pm-7:15pm) is important to elect club officials and make plans for this season, so please come along and take part!
4) Our next venture – Newcastle City Library Chess Club – starts meeting weekly for friendly games this next Saturday, 11am-1pm.
The club is being run jointly by Newcastle Chess Club and the City Library.
Attendance is free, so come along and enjoy a social game, a tea or coffee and a chat.
5) The NCC Junior Club will also be holding its Christmas Party on Sunday 17 December, 2:30-4:30pm at Jesmond Library, St George’s Terrace, Jesmond NE2 2DL.
Juniors and parents welcome – there will be party food and games galore!
After the Christmas parties on December 17 and 18, we close down for our Xmas & New Year break.
We restart:
City Library Club on Saturday 6 January;
Junior Club at Jesmond Library on Sunday 7 January; and
NCC club nights at Tyneside Irish Centre on Monday 8 January.
Hope to see you soon!
Best seasonal greetings,
Tim Wall
Tel/WhatsApp: 0750 372 2366

B Team goes top of the league

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Newcastle Chess Club’s B team is leading Division 6 of the Northumbria Chess League, winning all four of its matches so far!

The match results have been:

Round 1 – Newcastle B: 3-1 (away) v Gosforth Otterburns, Monday October 12

Round 2 – Newcastle B 2.5-1.5 (home) v South Shields D, Monday November 6

Round 3 – Newcastle B 2.5-1.5 (at Morpeth) v Alnwick C, Wednesday November 22

Round 4 – Newcastle B 4-0 (away) v Newcastle University C, Thursday November 30

This means we are runaway leaders of the division, with 8/8. In equal second place are Tynedale (4/6) and Gosforth Otterburns (4/10).

Here’s the Division 6 table, from the ECF’s League Management System: CLICK HERE

Round 1

In Round 1, Newcastle B defeated Gosforth Otterburns 3-1 on Monday October 12 after some exciting games.

Scores:
1. Daniel Atcheson 1-0 Alex Baggaley
2. Bill Penny 1-0 Alex Piercy
3. Didrik Levidal 1-0 Andrew Brown
4. Otto Nemeth 0-1 Steve Armstrong

The most surprising results were Bill’s and Didrik’s, as both players luckily managed to turn around big disadvantages to win against the run of play. Bill was queen for rook down when his opponent allowed a shock back-rank checkmate, while Didrik was two bishops down in an endgame when his opponent missed a trick that allowed Didrik to queen a pawn.

Round 2

In Round 2, on November 6, the B team beat South Shields D by the narrow margin of 2.5-1.5.

Scores:
1. Keith Marshall ½ Alan Johnson
2. Daniel Atcheson 1-0 Steven Nesworthy
3. Bill Penny 0-1 Alan Blackburn
4. Didrik Levidal 1-0 Alan Smith

Round 3

In the next round, the B team travelled as far as Morpeth to play against Alnwick C. Even though the match was billed as a home one, all Alnwick matches (home and away) are played at Morpeth Rugby Football Club, due to the long distances between Alnwick and Tyneside clubs.

The match was another cliffhanger, with the B team eventually winning 2.5-1.5, despite Matthew Heslop losing his first-ever league game on Board 4.
On Board 2, Didrik Levidal won a spectacular miniature, trapping his opponent’s queen in the opening, and then on Board 3, Otto Nemeth played an amazing perpetual check that involved sacrificing his own queen.
It all came down to Danny’s game on Board 1, and after some endgame adventures he eventually won, leaving us the narrow winners.

Scores:
1. Daniel Atcheson 1-0 Daniel Birt
2. Didrik Levidal 1-0 Charles Greer
3. Otto Nemeth ½ Andrew Hardy
4. Matthew Heslop 0-1 Ben Borthwick

Round 4

Round 4 saw our best result of the season so far, with a 4-0 clean sweep over Newcastle University C.

This match saw the debuts for Newcastle of George Gazis on Board 1, and James Phillips on Board 4.
James’s win was particularly well deserved, as he turned the tables tactically on his older opponent after being under severe pressure earlier in the game.

Scores:
1. George Gazis 1-0 Dominic Swan
2. Bill Penny 1-0 Viktorija Bezganovic
3. Didrik Leivdal 1-0 Ryan Fallon
4. James Phillips 1-0 Igor Skapski

The top individual scorers so far for the B team are Didrik Leivdal, with 4 wins out of 4, and Danny Atcheson with 3/3.

What’s next?

Our fifth round match takes place at the Tyneside Irish Centre at 6:45pm on Monday 4th December. All team members and spectators are welcome!

We hope to continue our fine run of form as the season continues, and to give as many club members as possible the chance to play league matches.

We are offering opposing teams the option of playing extra boards for rating, to give our new and upcoming players a chance to try league chess.

If you would like to play some games for the B team, just drop a line to: timpeterwall@gmail.com or text/WhatsApp: 0750 372 2366 and we will make it happen.

All Aboard for the Christmas Party Blitz!

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The Newcastle Chess Club Christmas Party Blitz will be held on Monday 18 December, at the club’s regular venue: Room 1, Floor 2, Tyneside Irish Centre, 44 Gallowgate, Newcastle NE1 4SG.

The Blitz tournament starts at 7:15pm – straight after the club’s inaugural AGM, which will be held from 6:45-7:15pm.

There will be seven rounds of blitz, at a time control of 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per player, and the tournament will finish by 9:15pm.

The Christmas Blitz Party will include Christmas party music, fancy dress (encouraged but not obligatory!) and the consumption of Christmas food and drinks.

The games in the Christmas Party Blitz will NOT be rated by the ECF, FIDE (or anyone else). The purpose of the event is simple: just FUN!

Attendance at the Christmas Party Blitz costs £5 per person, and includes entry to the blitz and food (drinks at your own expenses from the bar downstairs).

There will be various prizes for the blitz, including for best junior, rating prizes, brilliancy prize and best swindle!

The Christmas Party Blitz is open to everyone, whether you are a member of Newcastle Chess Club, any other chess club, or no club.

To book your place for the Christmas Party Blitz, simply contact Tim Wall on: timpeterwall@gmail.com or send a text or WhatsApp message to: 0750 372 2366. Please pay cash on the night when you arrive.

Newcastle Chess Club AGM: Mon 18 December

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Hi everyone,

You are warmly invited to attend the inaugural Newcastle Chess Club Annual General Meeting from 6:45-7:15pm on Monday 18 December.

It takes place at Newcastle Chess Club’s usual venue: Room 1, Floor 2, Tyneside Irish Centre, 44 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4SG.

The meeting is open both to full club members (anyone who intends to play for Newcastle Chess Club in league and other events) plus associate members (anyone who wants to take part in club evenings and internal club tournaments, but plays for another club in competitions and/or just wants to come along and enjoy a social game of chess).

We plan to keep the meeting pretty brief and informal, so that we can enjoy the Christmas Party Blitz later in the evening.

The Agenda will be:
1. Election of a chair for the meeting
2. Attendance and apologies for absence
3. Adoption of Club Constitution (copies of the draft Constitution will be available online and at the meeting)
4. Proposed Membership Fees for 2023-24: £20 adult waged, £10 unwaged/junior/retired/associate member; £2 cover charge for attending the Monday club evenings; £4 to attend Junior Club sessions (at Jesmond Library on Sundays, 2:30pm-4:30pm)
5. Reports about club activities:
A) League matches
B) Junior Club (at Jesmond Library)
C) City Library social chess drop-in (Saturdays, 11am-1pm)
D) Club tournaments
6. Election of officers (Volunteers very welcome!):
A) Secretary
B) Chair
C) Treasurer
D) Team Captains
E) Tournaments Organiser
F) Social Events Manager
G) Website and Social Media Manager
H) Safeguarding Officer
I) Women’s Recruitment Officer
J) Junior Recruitment Officer
7. Any Other Business

You are very welcome to come along and support Newcastle Chess Club as we get established and grow in the future!

Do RSVP to confirm your attendance or give your apologies to: timpeterwall@gmail.com or text/WhatsApp to: 0750 372 2366.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday drop-in club restarts at Newcastle City Library

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From Saturday December 9, Newcastle Chess Club is joining together with Newcastle City Library to restart a weekly Saturday lunchtime drop-in club from 11am-1pm.

The casual drop-in chess club is free and open to everyone to take part in. Sets and boards are provided, and you can play at Newcastle City Library, 33 New Bridge Street, Newcastle NE1 8AX, either on Level 6 or on Level 2, depending on the availability of space in the Library on particular Saturdays.

The club is restarting on a weekly basis for the first time since the Covid pandemic. Starting in 2017, the club ran successfully at the City Library and regularly attracted 15-20 people each week.

The drop-in club will be run by Newcastle Chess Club’s Tim Wall and the City Library’s Richard Hodges, and all you have to do is turn up to enjoy a friendly game.

Players of all ages and levels are welcome, and Tim and Richard will be happy to offer tips for beginners.

To let us know you are attending, or for more information, you can write to: timpeterwall@gmail.com or text/WhatsApp 0750 372 2366.

We look forward to seeing you at Newcastle City Library for a friendly game and a chat!