Here is the Newcastle Chess Club ‘Summer Nights’ schedule for Thursday evenings at Newcastle Labour Club, 1-3 Haymarket, Newcastle NE1 7PF. The club opens at 7:00pm, and matches and tournaments start at 7:15pm. (The last people generally go home around 10:30pm.)

Everyone is welcome to come along and join in our ‘Summer Nights’, whether you are a Newcastle Chess Club member or not.

We are running 3 events throughout the summer:

1. Northumberland Summer Teams Cup (4 round Swiss, then semi-finals and finals)
2. Newcastle ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament (7-round Swiss, 75 mins & 10 seconds, you can take up to 2 half-point byes). Trophies and book prizes.
3. Newcastle Summer Blitz Grand Prix (Best 3 scores from 5 tournaments count towards your final score) Entry Fee: £5 per tournament. Cash prizes.

Newcastle teams in the Summer Cup – club members will be contacted by team captains and invited to play.

To enter ‘El Classico’ or ‘Newcastle Summer Blitz,’ email: timpeterwall@gmail.com, or Text/ WhatsApp: 0750 372 2366.

SCHEDULE:

MAY

Thursday 29 May – ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament. Round 1 (7-round Swiss, you can take up to 3 half-point byes)

JUNE

Thursday 5 June – Northumberland Summer Teams Cup, Round 2

Group A matches: Tynemouth v Gateshead, Forest Hall Tigers v Newcastle Dragons, Jesmond v Gosforth Siths, Newcastle Sheriffs v South Shields.

Thursday 12 June – Newcastle Summer Blitz, Round 2. FIDE-rated 7-round Swiss. Time control: 5 mins & 3 seconds/move. £5 to enter.

Thursday 19 June – ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament. Round 2 (7-round Swiss, you can take up to 3 half-point byes)

Thursday 26 June – Northumberland Summer Teams Cup, Round 3

Group A matches (to be announced after Round 2)

JULY

Thursday 3 July – Newcastle Summer Blitz, Round 3. FIDE-rated 7-round Swiss. Time control: 5 mins & 3 seconds/move. £5 to enter, cash prizes.

Thursday 10 July – ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament, Round 3 (7-round Swiss, you can take up to 3 half-point byes)

Thursday 17 July – Northumberland Summer Teams Cup, Round 4

Group A matches (to be announced after Round 3)

Thursday 24 July – Newcastle Summer Blitz, Round 4. FIDE-rated 7-round Swiss, Time control: 5 mins & 3 seconds/move. £5 to enter, cash prizes.

Thursday 31 July – ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament, Round 4 (7-round Swiss, you can take up to 3 half-point byes)

AUGUST

Thursday 7 August – Friendly games

Thursday 14 August – Newcastle Summer Blitz, Round 5. FIDE-rated 7-round Swiss, Time control: 5 mins & 3 seconds/move. £5 to enter, cash prizes.

Thursday 21 August – Friendly games

Thursday 28 August – ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament, Round 5 (7-round Swiss, you can take up to 3 half-point byes)

SEPTEMBER

Thursday 4 September – Northumberland Summer Teams Cup, Semi-Finals

(Matches to be announced in July)

Thursday 11 September – ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament, Round 6 (7-round Swiss, you can take up to 3 half-point byes)

Thursday 18 September – Northumberland Summer Teams Cup, Finals

(Matches to be announced after Semi-Finals)

Thursday 25 September – ‘El Classico’ Open Tournament, Round 7 (7-round Swiss, you can take up to 3 half-point byes)

The post All welcome for Newcastle’s ‘Summer Nights’ appeared first on Newcastle Chess Club.

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

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