Newcastle Dragons team news / updates

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 😎

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.