News Blog
Here you will find the latest news from our club
and the North East chess scene
Social Media
Our Facebook Group – click HERE
Contact Details
Tim Wall
email: timpeterwall@gmail.com
text/WhatsApp: 0750 372 2366
Where to find us
Club nights – Thursday evenings at: Newcastle Labour Club (opposite Haymarket Metro), Northumberland Street, Newcastle NE1 7PF
Juniors – Sundays 14:30-16:30, Jesmond Library, St George’s Terrace, Jesmond NE2 DL
Chess at the Library – Saturdays 11:00-13:00, Newcastle City Library, 33 New Bridge Street, Newcastle NE1 8AX (either on Level 6 or
on Level 2)
Learning from losses key to resilience
/in NewsThe great Liverpool manager Bill Shankly once said that “football isn’t just a matter of life and death. It’s much more important than that.” But learning to cope with victory and defeat with equal grace, and recognising that a sport is just a game that we play by the rules, is a very important life lesson.
Legendary Zollner trophy up for grabs
/in NewsThe 2024-25 edition of the North East’s longest-running chess tournaments, the Northumberland Championships, are the biggest in recent years, with a total of 65 competitors. The Open (Zollner) could well see a new champion this season.
Gosforth Empire go top in Northumbria League
/in NewsGosforth Empire have surged into an early lead in Division 1 of the Northumbria League, ahead of last year’s champions Newcastle Dragons and newly promoted Newcastle University A.
North East clubs welcome new players
/in NewsChess clubs around the North East are staging their biggest recruitment drive of recent years as new players are taking up the game in droves. Encouraged by playing online, many new players are joining chess clubs – in schools, libraries, social clubs and pubs. Clubs are reaching out more to recruit new members – offering a mix of friendly and competitive chess.
Gormally storms to blitz victory
/in NewsAlnwick Grandmaster Danny Gormally enjoyed a handsome victory in the North East Qualifier for the 2024 UK Blitz Championships, held on Sunday 6th October at Gosforth Empire Club. Gormally scored 14.5 points out of 15, well ahead of the field.
Against All Odds: My First Battle in the Zollner
/in Club news, IndividualI 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.
Gormally fends off young guns
/in NewsAlnwick grandmaster Danny Gormally won the 60th Northumberland Weekend Congress, but only after seeing off a strong challenge from three seriously under-rated junior players.
Northumberland Championships under way for 2024-25
/in NewsThe 2024-25 Northumberland Individual Championships are under way, with a total of 62 players set to battle it out over the next seven months for the coveted Zollner, Sell and Gilroy trophies. This is an impressive entry, up some 50 per cent on previous years and underlining the welcome increase in chess activity on Tyneside in the last few years.
Forest Hall upset Morpeth in Cup Final
/in NewsAs any sports fan will tell you, in Cup Finals underdogs often rise to the occasion and defeat the favourites. In the Northumberland Summer Chess Cup Final, Forest Hall Badgers pulled off an impressive giant-killing act to defeat Morpeth A, while Gosforth Regents defeated their club mates Gosforth Centurions in the Plate Final.
Northumberland Congress turns 60
/in NewsThe Northumberland Weekend Congress celebrates its 60th edition later this month at the Parks Leisure Centre, North Shields. Over 130 players are expected to compete for a total of £2,200 in prizes.