48th Nottingham Congress The 48th Nottingham Congress took place at a later time (10-11 May) than our more usual late March/April berth. This was not our preference, but 4NCL dates occupying the first three April weekends, EPSCA dates and a March event at our venue, Nottingham High School, forced our hand. This timing probably accounts for our numbers (138) being […]
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Notts Summer Rapidplay
Notts Summer Rapidplay • Entries close on Sunday May 25th • Teams of four players • Play as a club or with your mates!! • 4 Sections (Open; U-1800; U-1500; U-1200 -all averages) • Two matches at home; Two matches away. All rated. • Week 1 – w/c 2nd June • Week 2 – w/c 16th June • Week 3 […]
Continue readingThe Lithuanian Chess Challenge
Members of Radcliffe & Bingham Chess Club organised a unique event on Saturday 26 April 2025, when a visiting junior team from Lithuania competed with children from the South and East of Nottinghamshire over the chess board. The event took place at Carnarvon Primary School, Bingham, which generously provided accommodation for the European visitors as well as the tournament venue […]
Continue reading4NCL Weekend Five
Round Nine Ashfield 1 2½ – 3½ Surbiton Ashfield 2 2½ – 3½ Warrington Mates Ashfield 3 2 – 4 Wessex B Round Ten Ashfield 1 2 – 4 Rhyfelwyr Essyllwg Sussex Martlets 3 2½ – 3½ Ashfield 2 Epsom 2 – 3½ Ashfield 3 Round Eleven Chessable White Rose 3 3-3 Ashfield 1 Ashfield 2 1½ – 4½ Golden […]
Continue readingWeek 32 Highlights
3 games played this week. The highlight was Beeston 1’s 4-0 defeat of West Nottingham 1, who were higher rated on each board. Beeston 1 now need a win from their final game at Nomads 2 to overtake Ashfield 1. A win by a scoring 3 or more would enable Beeston to clinch the Division 2 title. Nomads 2’s loss […]
Continue readingSteve Bak – 2019
Tribute by Phil Morgan The Club has been informed today of the recent sudden death of club member, Steve Bak. Steve died on the 6th, February as a result of a massive cardiac event. His death was very quick and very painless. Trevor Lewis wrote that the news of Steve’s death is a huge shock and sadness. Steve has been […]
Continue readingStan Cranmer (4.10.1930 – 20.1.2018)
Stan joined Ashfield Chess Club in 2004 when he moved to live in Kirby-in-Ashfield. He was known to our club before this as a tough opponent playing for the Long Eaton club. Stan was 73 when he joined Ashfield but was by far the most active player in our club. Over the Board he played regularly in congresses, club and […]
Continue readingAlan Taylor – 2017
We are sad to announce that Alan Taylor died at home on Sunday, 2 April. He had been suffering from cancer of the throat, which was diagnosed as terminal late last year. He had been a member of Newark Chess Club for over 30 years and, until the last 18 months, had been a regular player for Newark in the […]
Continue readingCliff Potter – 2011
Clifford Potter, Ashfield Chess Club player, passed away at the Sir John Eastwood Hospice on the 7th, June. Clifford played for the Club since 1968, making his debut as a 12 year-old. He has been battling against cancer for the last year, and did not play in the 2009-10 League season. Although not one of the strongest players at the […]
Continue readingBenjamin Lewis Hobson, 1934 – 2010
Ben died on 12th June 2010 aged 75 years and his funeral took place at Wilford Hill on Tuesday 29th June. The mourners included Mike Barnes, Dorothy Blampied, Steve Foster, Alan Groves, Brian Hayward, Ken Heath, Peter Mercs, Derek Padvis, Simon Parham, Keith Roper and John Swain. Ben was born in Yorkshire, and after leaving school, worked on fairgrounds, where […]
Continue readingP. B. Dodson, 1929-2010
Peter Dodson died on the 13th December 2010, aged 81. Though proud of his Yorkshire roots, Peter came to Nottingham as a student, and proved one of the strongest players in the county in the fifties and sixties, frequently playing top board for the county team. He was top board for Nottingham Mechanics, then the top team in the League. […]
Continue readingDr George Stein, 1936-2011
George Stein was born in Poland in 1936. His whole family was sent by cattle truck to a Siberian labour camp in the Second World War; fortunately in the post war years they were able to relocate to England. In his youth George was an exceptional rugby player and represented England Schoolboys. He studied medicine at Birmingham University and moved […]
Continue readingPaul Todd – 2011
Paul Todd passed away on 20th March 2011 aged 72 years. Paul joined Mansfield Chess Club in 1966 and was a regular member of their 2nd team. In 1973 he was elected Honorary Secretary of the Notts Chess Association and held the post for four years. Over this period he regularly represented Nottinghamshire as a member of the county 2nd […]
Continue readingDave Brown (2008)
Geoff Gibson sends the sad news that Long Eaton’s Dave Brown died of a suspected heart attack at his home on Monday 9th June 2008. There will be no funeral, but a wake will be held in his honour – details to be advised. He also requested that a beech tree be planted in his memory.
Continue readingLen Darby – 2007
Derek Cronshaw sends the very sad news that Len Darby, one of the stalwarts of Nottinghamshire chess and Nomads chess club, died yesterday (6th October 2007). I’m sure that everyone within the NCA will join in expressing their sympathy to Len’s family.
Continue readingRobert Richmond 1956-2020
We are sad to announce the unexpected death of Robert on 9th January. He will be sadly missed. Below are three contributions by people who knew him. John Swain Robert and I became friends over forty years ago when we were university students. This was facilitated because we were both “addicts”; Robert often referred to himself as a “chess addict”. […]
Continue readingMichael Harper 1949-2025
Mick sadly died in March after a short illness. He joined Gambit in 1991-92, after two seasons at West Bridgford, and became a reliable and regular player, playing over 30 league games in a season several times. In 2000-01 he and Austen Carlton joined Dark Horses to experience a different club but ended up rejoining Gambit when the two clubs […]
Continue readingWeek 31 Highlights
Division 4 is now complete. Ashfield 4 draw with West Nottingham 3 after all the boards are won by White. Good wins for two of WN’s promising juniors. The draw ensures that Ashfield 4 finish as divisional runners-up, by the narrowest of margins from Ashfield 3. Grantham 3 finish in fourth place defeating Gambit 6 in their final game. Division […]
Continue reading4NCL On-Line Rd 7
Ashfield Anonymous A 2-2 Spirit of Atticus After a dispiriting season, we at last got off the mark. In a closely contested match two games were drawn after protracted struggles. Steve lost after a pawn storm whilst Alex demonstrated how to win with a well played bishop & pawn ending. Ashfield Anonymous B 3-1 Trelawny’s Army Again too little, too […]
Continue readingWeek 30 Highlights
Division 1 is complete. Nomads 1 and Newark 1 draw their final game. Nomads end their campaign in good heart, with a points haul of 4, all gained in their last three fixtures. West Bridgford 1 defeat Gambit 2, who finish in a relegation spot. Tim Walker, whose last League game was over 3 years ago, makes a winning appearance […]
Continue reading4NCL Weekend 4 – Rounds 7 & 8 Division Four
Round Seven “CSC/Kingston 3 (1815)” – “Ashfield 2 (1872)” – 3½ – 2½ On paper we could have anticipated a win but unfortunately although Benjamin won, we were unable to score anything else on the upper boards. Ashfield’s rating advantage was on the three lower boards but where we might have expected wins the results were three draws as we […]
Continue readingWeek 29 Highlights – Mansfield win Division 1
Congratulations to Mansfield, League Title winners for the fourth consecutive season, after defeating Gambit 1 by a commanding 4-1 score line. Mansfield were ruthless and efficient against an under-strength Gambit 1 team. They decisively collect the three wins needed to clinch the title, and are content to agree draws on the two remaining boards. Over the course of the season, […]
Continue reading4NCL Weekend 4
Ashfield 1 went into weekend four hoping to pull away from the relegation battle before the final three rounds. In Saturday’s match against the Masceteers Justin scored a quick win to get us on track. I then followed up with an uncharacteristically early result after my opponent allowed a mating attack. David lost to a promising junior, and the top […]
Continue readingWeek 28 Highlights
Two matches produce fireworks at the foot of the table in Division 1. Gambit 2 win at Newark 2 to catch them on points. The top four boards draw. A Peter Gorecka-Marshall win is decisive. It’s good to see a thoughtful third team regular seize his day in the sun in Division 1 in such an important game for his […]
Continue reading4NCL On-Line Round 6
Salopians & Friends 1 – 2-1 – Ashfield Anonymous A Ashfield “A” won all seven of their matches in Division Two last year; this year they are well on course for exactly the opposite -seven losses. This match should have been drawn as Alex beat GM Keith Arkell on Board One – in Keith’s own words he “went to pieces” […]
Continue readingBarry T. Redburn (1946 – 2025)
Barry Redburn, long-time member and officer of Radcliffe and Bingham Chess Club, has passed away. He died suddenly earlier this month. Barry was a stalwart of Club, League, County and Congress chess for many decades. Over the years he fulfilled many of the officer duties at Radcliffe & Bingham Chess Club, including many years as treasurer. He was also an […]
Continue readingWeek 27 Highlights
Grantham 1 seal top 4 finish with win at West Bridgford 1. A wide gap now created between top and bottom four teams… In D2 pace-setters Radcliffe & Bingham 1 slip up with home defeat against West Nottingham 1. Ashfield 1 overtake them with narrow, cliff-hanging win over West Bridgford 2. Ashfield 2 keep alive faint hopes of avoiding relegation with […]
Continue readingHistorical NCA Bulletins
Drag has supplied the collection of NCA bulletins (ex-Rob Richmond) from 1982-2003. These provide a wealth of detail such as individual game scores predating the ECF ratings database. We estimate the number of bulletins as over 60. These are going to be scanned and added to the website. You can view scanned copies of the NCA Bulletins via this page. […]
Continue readingWeek 26 Highlights
Mansfield 1 defeat West Bridgford 1 4-1. A win in their final match, home to Gambit 1, will retain the League title. A draw would not be enough to overhaul University 1. Nomads 1 are up and running, securing their first point of the season against Gambit 2. Grantham 1’s victory over Newark should ensure a top half of the […]
Continue reading4NCL Online Round 5
Ashfield Anonymous A 1½ – 2½ Hebden Bridge 1 Ashfield lost by the same score for a fourth consecutive Game Week. All these matches have featured desperate defending coupled with unforced errors. In this match Alex won a nice endgame, Justin fought for ages to try and save a lost one, Steve had a solid draw, and Richard blundered a […]
Continue readingWeek 25 Highlights
University 1 slip to defeat in final game. Their 2-3 loss to Gambit 1 reopens the title race. Mansfield 1 will retain the title if they can win their two remaining games… In D2 Ashfield 1’s promotion chances slip after loss to West Nottingham 1. Grantham 2 boost their survival hopes with a 3-1 win over Nomads 2. In D3 Gambit […]
Continue readingGeorge Harper
George Harper passed away peacefully this week at the age of 92. Until about 3 years ago George had been a member of Newark Chess Club for many years and attended club nights regularly. George was an important part of the club and acted as treasurer for several years before taking over as chairman for a few more years. He […]
Continue readingWeek 24 Highlights
The title race remains open. Mansfield comfortably defeat Newark 1. University 1 are held in a battle royal and nail-biting finish against West Bridgford 1. They needed to come from behind to secure the team draw with a win on top board. In D2 Radcliffe and Bingham 2 comfortably defeat Ashfield 2 to regain top spot. Beeston 1 move into […]
Continue reading4NCL Online Round 4
After promotion in Season 10 with seven wins from seven games, “A” are finding Division One tough going with four successive losses; the last three by the same margin of 2½-1½. Board One was drawn with plenty of material left on the board, whilst the next two boards were also halved in classic endgames where neither side could make any […]
Continue readingNotts Primary School Age Individual County Championships
The Nottingham Primary Schools Chess Association held the Individual County Championships, combined with Under 11 England Trial Nottingham Rapidplay tournament on 1st March 2025. Full details can be found on the NPSCA website here.
Continue readingWeek 23 Highlights
University 1 defeat Newark 1. The League title may be clinched next week. Grantham 1 defeat Gambit 1. Congratulations to Grantham on re-establishing their first team in Division 1. With teams well spread in the table, current League positions seem unlikely to change much in the final weeks of play. In D2 Ashfield 1 win narrowly at Nomads 2 and […]
Continue readingWeek 22 Highlights
West Bridgford 1 and Newark 1 draw. Mansfield 1 narrowly defeat Gambit 2. Despite this battling defeat, the tenure of the only club second team in D1 seems under clear and present danger In D2 Ashfield 1 defeat leaders Radcliffe & Bingham 1 and are now on their heels Wins for Gambit 3 and Radcliffe and Bingham 2, the top […]
Continue reading4NCL On Line Round Three
Ashfield Anonymous A 1½ – 2½ Wessex B At one point Team captain Richard thought we were going to win as John G won quickly and the rest looked to have decent positions. Alex C’s opponent had just enough counterplay to get a draw, whilst Richard threw his away by blundering the exchange, trying for more than there was in […]
Continue reading4NCL Weekend 3
Weekend Three of the 4NCL was played at Peterborough and for the first time all three Ashfield teams were together. Split weekends are the bane of organising so at least we were able to play in the same room (at least for Round Four). Division Three Bishops has developed into a table of two halves. At the top, six teams […]
Continue readingWeek 21 Highlights
University 1’s win at Grantham gives them 21 points from 11 games. They have dropped just one point this season, as Mansfield did when winning the League title in 2022-3 in a reduced 7-team first division. Gambit 1’s win over Nomads 1 moves them above Mansfield into second place… Radcliffe & Bingham 1 remain leaders in D2 after defeating Grantham […]
Continue readingWeek 20 Highlights
No sign of University 1 slipping up in their title pursuit. They comfortably see off a weakened Gambit 2. Mansfield lead the chase, defeating Grantham 1, despite stubborn resistance from the Cumbers family. The title seems in University’s hands to lose… In D2 an exciting win by Nomads 2 over Ashfield 2 helps Nomads climb up the table… In D3 […]
Continue readingWeek 19 Highlights
University 1 show no sign of slipping up in the title race with a 4-1 win at Nomads 1. Gambit 1 move into second place with a 4-1 win over West Bridgford 1… In D2 Radcliffe + Bingham 1 stay top despite dropping a point v. Beeston 1 in a game of four draws. Ashfield 1 close the gap with […]
Continue readingWeek 18 Highlights
University 1 lead the title race again after their second defeat of title holders, Mansfield. University field Simon Schweizer, a Japanese Federation player , making his League debut, on Board 1 and secure a 3.5-1.5 victory with wins on the top two boards. Gambit 1 win 4-1 at Newark and gathering form, are not out of the title race. Gambit […]
Continue reading48th Nottingham Congress
Our annual event returns as usual to the Nottingham High School on the 10th & 11th May with 5 rounds of standard play chess. Rate of play is all moves in 90 minutes with 10 seconds increment from move one. We have sections for all abilities. Online entry and online payment are available via the Congress website. Free entry for […]
Continue reading34th Nottingham Rapidplay Report
We welcomed a record capacity (180) entry to the 34th Nottingham Rapidplay, held as usual at Nottingham High School. This was ECF-rated as normal and also FIDE-rated for the first time (but bear in mind that FIDE only now publishes ratings above 1400). We also used the congress.org site for the first time, enabling online payments rather than cheques in […]
Continue reading4NCL Online – Round 2 Season 11
It was a disappointing night for the Ashfield teams in Round 2 of 4NCL on-line. However the matches were far from being one-sided. Several of the games went down to interesting endings where a couple of slips meant that half points were lost in games that should have ended rather differently. Only two games were won and three drawn overall […]
Continue reading4NCL Weekend 2 Report
Ashfield 1 lost both matches in Week 2 of the 4NCL in Division Three Bishops. Playing the two strongest teams, disaster struck pre-match on Saturday when Mike Naylor-Eade was involved in a car crash that wrote off his vehicle; thankfully there were no injuries. Mike was due to pick up Alex Combie and as a result we had to take […]
Continue reading4NCL On-Line Season 11 – Round One
It was an all-Scottish encounter for Ashfield Anonymous in the opening round of Season Eleven. Anonymous “A” promoted to Division One this season faced tough opposition in previous champions, Dundee City “A”. There was a fine draw for David C against international master Richard Polaczek on Board One but the remaining boards were hard fought but in the end there […]
Continue readingWeek 17 Highlights
Big win for West Bridgford 1 at Nomads 1. Little between teams on ratings, but Nomads’ confidence will be further hit by 0-5 defeat. Gambit 1 defeat Gambit 2 4-1 in an eventful game… In Division 2 Grantham 2 climb off foot of table with 4-0 over West Bridgford 2 and Ashfield 2 take their place after loss to Beeston […]
Continue readingNottingham Rapidplay 2025 – Sunday 2nd February
Our annual event returns as usual to the Nottingham High School on the 2nd February with 6 rounds of quick chess. New this year, our event will also be FIDE-rated. We have sections for all abilities. Online entry and online payment are available via the Congress website. Free entry for GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs. For more information and to […]
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