Category: News

September 8, 2018

Qualifying tournaments were held around the country today for the UK Open Blitz Championships with one of the qualifying heats held at RGS in Newcastle. Time control was game in 3 minutes with a 2 second increment and there were 15 rounds with the top 2 players qualifying for the finals. This was FIDE rated.

GM Danny Gormally of Alnwick and IM James Adair, who is at York University, finished in 1st and 2nd with 15/15 and 13.5/15 respectively.

Well done to South Shields players Dave Mooney who finished in 6th place with 8.5 points and Paul Bielby who finished in 17th with 6.5.

Full details here.

August 10, 2018

As we have been getting quite a few club members (and visitors!) turning up on club nights the last few weeks I’ve started running themed blitz tournaments. We aim to start between 7:15 and 7:30pm. Every week there is a “theme” which basically means everyone playing the same opening.

There is no entry fee, no prizes and no rating. This is just a bit of fun to get club members playing something other than the London System (only joking, one member who never plays it has asked to have it one night so he can practice). Time limit is 5 minutes plus 2 second increment with at least 7 rounds. Last night we played 8 rounds and could possibly have squeezed in a 9th. If only a few players turn up we will have a round robin (if very few then double round robin), otherwise a Swiss as we did last night.

Last night’s theme was the Ruy Lopez. Play started after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 with black to move. Congratulations to John Boyd who won. Full tournament details here. Apologies to anybody who’s name I got wrong.

Suggested future themes for future Thursday blitzes – Trompowski, Benko Gambit, King’s Gambit, French and London System.

Thursday 6th September

The theme is the Bishop’s Gambit. Play starts after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. f4 ef 3. Bc4 with black to move. For those who want to brush up on the excitement of their youth the ginger GM, Simon Williams, has done a 20 minute video on this opening here.

Thursday 23rd August

The theme is the Benko Gambit. Play starts after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cb a6 with white to move. St Louis Chess club have done an excellent series of opening videos. For those who want to do a bit of revision the one on the Benko Gambit is here.

More players this week with Dave Mooney coming along to share the honours with John Boyd. Piotr and Brian were busy for the first half of the tournament playing their club championship match so Jay Steel stood in as Deputy Arbiter for the first half and Piotr joined in for the second half.

Full details here.

Thursday 16th August

The theme is the Trompowski. Play starts after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 with black to move.

This turned out to be a very strong tournament with Piotr back from Poland and Tim Wall, who will be playing for our Durham County Chess Association team next year, also coming along. As he said, the Trompowski is his favourite opening. How could he resist?

Full details here.

July 26, 2018

Get them here.

Congratulations to Asanga (up from 113 to 120) and Gary (up from 112 to 118).

July 10, 2018

This was an exciting, closely fought competition with lots of upsets. Eventually Tomas Eggleston and Daniel Abrahams came out on top, sharing first prize with 7.5 from 9.

Third was junior Max Turner who had to beat Dave Walker in the last round to reach a very combative 7.

Fourth was James Moreby on 6.5 who won the junior prize.

South Shields’ Kevin Rowden, playing in his first ever FIDE blitz won the U1700 grading prize with 5.5

Jay Steel, also playing his first FIDE blitz shared the U1500 grading prize with Ryan Duff on 4 out of 9.

Paul Bielby and Ian Maughan shared the senior prize with Mike Smith and Gary Hewitt, all on 5 out of 9.

Finally, a very special “Well done!” to Michael Landon, comfortably the youngest player in the field at just 8 years old. He beat the tournament organizer (sorry Eddie!) and two players in their 70’s to finish on 3 out of 9.

Full results here

May 22, 2018

We are running a 9 round FIDE rated blitz on Sunday 8th July at the Customs House starting 12:30pm

Time control: All moves in 5 minutes plus 2 second increment.

The prize fund will depend on entry but will be at least £250. We plan on prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd plus 3 ratings prizes, a junior (U18) prize and a senior (65+) prize.

Entry fee is £5 payable on the day but we would appreciate entries in advance in order to help us with the organization and to guarantee your place. Entries are limited to 70 players.

Enter via email to Blitz@southshieldschessclub.co.uk giving name, FIDE ID (if you have one and know it). If you don’t have a FIDE ID we need your date of birth to register you with FIDE.

Breaking News! ECF membership not required

We originally said in entry forms that ECF Bronze membership was required, based on advice from the ECF. They have since got in touch to tell us this was a mistake, since the ECF do not grade blitz.

Current entries (Chess-results)

Directions to the Customs House

May 20, 2018

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May 1, 2018

The low turnout at the Forest Hall congress last weekend resulted in the Open and Major being combined in one tournament with separate prizes and the Intermediate and Foundation also being combined.

This gave our own Paul Bielby a unique chance to win both the Major and the Open which he took with a great win over Robert Clegg in the last round to leave him tied for first with 4 out of 5. That’s Paul’s pocket money for his Malta holiday sorted then.

Well done too to Brian Towers, who came 3rd in the Major with 3.5, and Gary Hunter, who finished 2nd in a very tough Intermediate with 4. Honourable mention to Eddie Czestochowski with 2 well earned points as one of the lowest graded players in the section.

Just missing out in the Intermediate with 3 out of 5 was Chris Sayers and an honourable mention for Stan Johnson with 2.

April 20, 2018

April 16, 2018

April 13, 2018

The season is coming to a close now , this week will see the final two games played by the B team , away to Tynemouth on Tuesday and Home to Tynedale on Thursday .

Paul Bielby is heading the Sell Tournament with one game to go and Eddie Czestochowski is joint top in the Gilroy  Tournament facing a game against the indefatigable Bill Noble to decide the winner .

Our own Club competitions are getting to the final stages , so if you are still involved then please make arrangements to play your remaining games.

It seems that there is a desire to organise a Fide Blitz event , a half day event planned for 8th July at The Customs House .. more details will follow .