Monday, 30 September 2013

Page views hit 40,000

Just before midnight last night, on the first anniversary of this website, the number of page views hit 40,000.   That may sound a lot, but it's still only an average of a little over 100 per day.   It's impossible to ascertain the actual number of people looking at the site, but the statistics show that there are viewers from all around the World, especially USA and Russia.

I would like more Suffolk players to look at the site.   If you follow this site regularly, please tell your chums about it.

Since the start of the season on 1 September, there have been 30 postings, one every day.   The subject matter is, I hope, of interest to most people.   More input from clubs and individuals would always be appreciated; as you will appreciate, it's not always easy to think of something interesting to say!

I'm determined to maintain the daily postings, except if I'm away at holiday times.


Sunday, 29 September 2013

England juniors in Montenegro

Both Suffolk players, Adam Taylor (u16) and Anita Somton (u10G) lost today in the first round of the European Youth Chess Championships in Budva, Montenegro.   Adam had a tough opponent in a French FM rated 2305, whilst Anita faced a 1400-rated opponent, also from France.

If you want to follow the daily progress of our players (and the rest of the team, which includes Cambridge juniors Akito Oyama and David Redman), click here.

The event continues for ten days, with five rounds being played between today and Thursday, a day off on Friday, followed by four further rounds, finishing on Tuesday 8 October.

Saturday, 28 September 2013

One week to go

At 09.30 next Saturday, 5 October, the first round of the Bury St Edmunds Chess Congress will start.

But work for the organisers will commence much earlier at 07.00, setting up the tables, boards, sets and clocks.   Any local chess players, or parents of juniors, who can assist at that time, will be most welcome at the Apex (come to the stage door in St Andrew's Street South).

As of 14.00 today, total entries stand at 117.   We need 140 to break even, so a few more last-minute entries will be much appreciated!


Sections:
Open - 20
Major - 25
Intermediate - 34
Novices - 38

The top players in the Open are GM Alex Cherniaev (237), IM Adam Hunt (232), FM Justin Tan (229) and IM/WGM Dagne Ciuksyte (222).

Entries will be accepted right up to the start time, although entries 'on the day' incur a £5.00 surcharge.   Enter here.


Friday, 27 September 2013

Focus on Manningtree

The last two posts have focused on Stowmarket and Felixstowe; today it's Manningtree's turn.

The Club meets at the Methodist Church in South Street, where car parking can be difficult to find.   Matches usually take place in one of the rooms next to the church itself, whilst Club nights take place at the rear of the church.   But last Wednesday, because there were other groups holding meetings, their Division 3 match took place in the church.   It's a rather narrow space, but just roomy enough for four games to take place.

Manningtree are fielding two teams this season, for the first time in a long while.   Their Division 1 team, boosted by their 15-year old Board 1, Adam Taylor (photo right), is more than capable of holding their own.   Adam is currently in Montenegro, representing England in the European Youth Championships, together with Bury St Edmunds' Anita Somton (as mentioned elsewhere).

Their second team is in Division 3 and managed to draw their first match, against Bury St Edmunds' fourth team.


Thursday, 26 September 2013

Felixstowe on Facebook

Felixstowe Chess Club is the first Suffolk club to have its own Facebook page.   Run by Phil Hopkins, you can view the page here.

Congratulations to Felixstowe for taking this initiative.   The photo shows the winning team proudly holding the Under 125 Cup, won last season by Felixstowe, their first trophy for 20 years!

One of their aims is to increase membership.   It'll be interesting to see if this happens as a result of using Facebook.

If you're already a Facebook member, you can 'like' their page.

The Club meets at the British Legion, 39 Mill Lane, Felixstowe on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 pm.


Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Great start for Stowmarket

Stowmarket Chess Club has enjoyed an excellent start to the new season.   They have already played three matches, two in the Suffolk League and one in the Bury Area Chess League - and they have won them all!

Suffolk League Div 2 - Won 2½-1½ v Bury St Edmunds C
Suffolk League Div 3 - Won 3 - 1 v Felixstowe
Bury Area League Div 3 - Won 3½-1½ v Bury St Edmunds E

Stowmarket Chess Club now has 17 registered members, and is well-known as the only club (in either league) that provides free tea/coffee and biscuits for their opponents!


Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Anita's off to Montenegro

On Friday, Anita Somton, accompanied by her father, will be heading out to Budva in Montenegro to represent England in the European Youth Championships.

Anita will be a member of the 23-strong English contingent which will be led by former Suffolk player GM Nick Pert.   Also accompanying the team will be GM Glenn Flear.   WGM Jovanka Houska is also in the party and Anita has been receiving some online coaching from her recently.

The Championships begin on Saturday (28 September) and continue until Wednesday 9 October.

Anita is playing in the Under 10 Girls section, where the 78 entrants are headed by WFM Nurgyul Salimova, from Bulgaria.   It won't be easy, but Anita has already beaten strong adults in recent months.   You can follow her progress on the Championship website.


Monday, 23 September 2013

Suffolk players at Bedford

The popular e2e4 congress at Bedford last weekend attracted a host of Suffolk players.   In the Open section, headed by four Grandmasters (Arkell, Williams, Gormally, Wells), Suffolk were represented by IM Adam Hunt and FM Justin Tan (Woodbridge School), FM Alan Merry, Ed Player and Somton Ukken (Bury St Edmunds) and Nick Savage (Ipswich).

There was a major upset in the first round, when after an extraordinary series of exchanges, Nick Savage (Black) reached this position against Alan Merry:

Alan now played 22. Bf5?, when Bd3 was necessary to stop the Black rook from gaining control of the d-file.   The game continued:
22.... Rd8
23.   Nf3    Nc3+
24.   Ka1    Rd5
25.   Rb1    Ra5
26.   Rxb3    Bc1+
0 - 1

Unfortunately, this was the highlight of Nick's weekend, as he only managed a further half-point from his remaining four games.

Ed Player started well, with 2½/3 at close of play on Saturday.   But he faced GM Keith Arkell on Sunday morning, with the expected result.   His final round was against London-based WIM Sue Maroroa (ECF 200).   Ed should have drawn this game, but played the wrong move in the endgame. In this position he played 54. Kd3 instead of c4, and quickly lost.

The £500 first prize was won outright with 4½ points by FM David Eggleston, ahead of two GMs on 4 points.

Suffolk scores were:
Adam Hunt, Justin Tan, Alan Merry - 3
Ed Player - 2½
Nick Savage, Somton Ukken - 1½

The only Suffolk player in the Under 2000 section was 9-year old Anita Somton, gaining some useful high-level experience prior to her imminent triip to Montenegro to represent England in the European Youth Championships (more on this tomorrow).

After taking a half-point bye on Friday night, she lost two, drew one and won one, to finish on a creditable 2 points.   Her win featured a strange blunder by her 144-graded opponent.   In this position he played 19... h6, clearly fearing that Anita was about to play h6 herself.   Of course, Anita played 20. Qxf6, forcing immediate resignation.


Sunday, 22 September 2013

Bury League Jamboree results

At the start of every season, the Bury Area Chess League holds a 'Jamboree' where all clubs in the league are invited to send teams to participate in a three-round Rapidplay tournament.   For the past three years, 10 teams participated, but this year 12 teams took part.  

Six of these teams were from the host Bury St Edmunds club, whilst Cambridge City fielded two teams with the remaining four clubs (Ely, Linton, Newmarket and Stowmarket) having one team each.   The 24 Bury St Edmunds members played against the 24 from the other clubs, requiring a complex pairing effort to ensure that no one had more than two games with the same colour, and each team having six Blacks and six Whites.

The Bury St Edmunds A team (Mike Harris, Bob Jones, Emilia Jewell, Hugo Smith) led for the first two rounds, but collapsed in the third round to hand Bury St Edmunds B the trophy.   The photo shows the winning team of Ed Player (2½), Scott Taylor (3), Anita Somton (2½) and Colin Roberts (2).

Final scores (out of 12) were:

10 - Bury St Edmunds B
9 - Linton
8½ - Ely Beet
7½ - Bury St Edmunds A
7 - Cambridge City A
7 - Cambridge City B
5½ - Bury St Edmunds F
4½ - Bury St Edmunds C
4 - Bury St Edmunds D
3½ - Bury St Edmunds E
3 - Stowmarket
2½ - Newmarket



Saturday, 21 September 2013

Two weeks to go

The Bury St Edmunds Chess Congress is just two weeks away.   Confirmed entries now stands just short of 100.

This next week should see quite a few entries and with a ceiling of 176, please do so now if you intend to play.

Entering online is the easiest method, as you can pay using PayPal, thus saving you the cost of having to post your entry.

Of the 98 entrants to date, 42 did not play last year.   And half of those have never played at Bury before.


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