We're off to Wem - bley...!

Yes, we're in the final! The Chapman Cup, that is, and we are actually off to Loughborough for the final against the Loughborough 2 team.

The score against the Hinckley team in the semi-final played last night at the new venue was closer than may be seen:

Phil Watkinson (126) 1-0 Simon Fisher (135)
Steve Smith    (124) 1-0 David Moore (107)
Andrew Pike    (115) 1-0 Terry Clay (89)
Barrie Cooper (111)  1-0 Douglas Opie (92)
Team Handicap        0-½
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Total                4-½

Steve Smith had to see through the complications of a hack attack against him before winning; Barrie had a confidient win on Board 4. Andrew's game looked very drawish until his opponent allowed a back rank mate (oops!) and I should have lost, or drawn at best, but my opponent threw away a king and pawn endgame in time pressure.

I would like to thank the team for a sterling effort - let's do it again in a fortnight's time.
Regards,
Phil.

Wylie Cup result

Played on the 13th August in the Wylie Cup (rapid play):

Littlethorpe 1 Wigston W-B B-W
1 Jones, Chris         Burrows, Martin   ½-½ ½-½
2 Cowley, Mike         Edwards, Alan     0-1 0-1
3 Hewitt, Sean         Morley, Andy      0-1 1-0
4 Karsisiotis, Ioannis Horspool, Phil    ½-½ ½-½
------------------------------------------------
Total:                                    3   5

It looks like we're playing our final Wylie Cup game (v Littlethorpe 2) at the Club on August 30th. (subject to venue availability). But after this win this is now academic according to my calculations, this means we have now secured the Wylie Cup with one game to spare!
In addition to losing to us the other teams,Braunstone, Littlethorpe and Birstall have all drawn with each other and Scraptoft Valley and Littlethorpe 2 have lost most/all of their games and Loughborough have pulled out.

Regards,
Andy.

Chapman Cup Semi-Final

The Chapman Cup semi-final between Wigston 2 and Hinckley will be held at the chess club's new venue on Thursday 30th August. The team will be:

Phil Watkinson, Stephen Smith, Andrew Pike and Barrie Cooper

Unlike the first two matches in this handicap tournament when we won because of winning or drawing one game against very strong opposition; this time the two teams will be equally matched so we will need to contest every board.

We are one match from the final - if we get through, Wigston would be in the final twice in the last three years.

Regards,
Phil.

New Venue for the chess club

I have updated the website home page with details of our new venue. A map is available; along with directions from J21 of the motorway. Any comments or improvements, please let me know.

Regards,
Phil.

Ivor Burton 1930 - 2007

It is with sadness that I report the death of Ivor Burton, a Vice-President and life member of the club, on the 26th July 2007. Ivor was involved in the club for over 50 years; joining in the late 1950s, he had two sessions as club secretary; 1963-65 and 1985-88; afterwards he was club President until 1998 when he resigned due to health. He ran tournaments for many years after Harry Tharp's death in 1982.

Husband of Doreen for over 50 years, he leaves three children and five grandchildren.

Neil.