News 2017

22nd December 2017: End of the year ... and not too bad a season so far!

The club goes into a short 'hibernation' now. It's time to wind down and relax before coming back in January with (hopefully) renewed vigour.

Looking back on the last 4 months, I would have to say that there have been some promising performances and results. The club is doing well in the 2nd Division of the Birmingham League, and likewise, so are the B Team in Division 4 of the WDCL.

Other perfomances are yet to be properly assessed as the WDCL's first team have only played 2 games so far. It's the same picture in the DDCL. In each league, 1 win and 1 loss. Early days yet.

As for the CDCL, the club's team has won 2 out of 3. But with no website online it is difficult to know where the club stands. 3 outstanding results are still missing from the club's official website. Perhaps we shall all be enlightened at the end of the season? Hopefully?

See you all next year!

21st December 2017: A resounding victory

A resounding win (5.0 - 1.0) for the club's Birmingham League team on Wednesday, 20th.

Boldmere St Michaels were the latest team to fall to the still unbeaten Wolverhampton.

The team now goes to the top of Division 2 of the league and, providing it keeps picking up good results, is well set for promotion back to the top tier of the League.

19th December 2017: A little light.

So! It appears that Wolverhampton is still involved in the struggle to win a few trophies.

Firstly, Wolverhampton are seemingly still alive in the Pittaway Cup. But defaulted matches are making the tournament a bit of a mockery.

As for Geoff Rosser, who was knocked out of the Rock Cup, he is now competing for the Bidgood Trophy. But again, defaults are devaluing the competition.

Also a shame that the continued lack of clarity in both these competitions is keeping distant observers mostly in the dark. Never mind. It will all become clear - eventually.

8th December 2017: Good evening!

Two winning results for the club last night. Victory for the A Team in the WDCL (3.5 - 2.5) and for the club's only team in the DDCL (3.0 - 1.0).

The WDCL A team recovered from a loss to Telford last week by producing a good result against Walsall Kipping. As for team playing in the DDCL, it also bounced back from a 'whitewash' defeat to Warley Quinborne in November.

A welcome return to winning ways for both teams and hopefully a sign of better things to come.

5th December 2017: Why so difficult ... ?

Obtaining reults from the Cannock and District Chess League is like pulling teeth - a painful experience!

The long-promised but non-appearance of the aforementioned league's website is bad enough, but with many chess clubs not keeping up to date, finding game results is nigh impossible.

Yeah - just like pulling teeth. It's only by persistent checking that another result has been discovered. This is the match where the club played Rugeley away in November

Wolverhampton won this match. But where they are placed in the league is anyone's guess. What a joke (and not a funny one either).

1st December 2017: Oh dear!

There was a defeat (1.0 - 5.0) to lowly Telford in the Wolverhampton League Division 1.

The club began it's league campaign last night, and suffered a defeat to a team at the bottom end of the division.

However! Telford managed to field a strong team and one which mostly outgraded the home team. So no real surprise, but it beggars the question: Why are Telford struggling in this league?

22nd November 2017: The 2018 Shropshire Congress

The Shropshire Congress takes place in early January, 2018. There is some decent money up for grabs and grading sections to suit all levels of ability.

The venue is the Wrekin Housing Trust which is conveniently located not far from the Telford Shopping Mall, and a short walk from the bus terminus. You can find the Trust on the following map:

Wrekin Housing Trust

The train station is further way, but also within walking distance.

The schedule is as follows:

Round 1 - Fri 5 Jan 2018 - 7pm - 11pm

Round 2 - Sat 6 Jan 2018 - 9.30am - 1.30pm

Round 3 - Sat 6 Jan 2018 - 2.30pm - 6.30pm

Round 4 - Sun 7 Jan 2018 - 9.30am - 1.30pm

Round 5 - Sun 7 Jan 2018 - 2.30pm - 6.30pm

The Congress looks like it is a popular one and well worth supporting. Entry details can be found on the Congress' official webpage link below:

Shropshire Congress

Transport Links:

Arriva Buses

Trains  and  'Pocket' Timetables

Transport Updates

17th November 2017: Confusion Reigns - Part 2!

Websites! Websites? Good intentions do not always lead to good outcomes. One example is half-completed and abandoned projects. Having visited a number of regional chess websites, I can only say that the picture is one of disarray, confusion, neglect and 'failure to launch'.

Pretty sad really. The Cannock and District website still does not exist. No tables results, etc.

Then there are club websites - a mixed bunch of offerings that leave a lot to be desired. Some with stagnant (and sometimes very old) content, some which are 'stuttering', etc.

I am not sure how valuable these websites are to their respective leagues and clubs, but the impression is that they appear to have little value.

Of course, there is also Facebook and Twitter. But some of the content on social media is also leaving a lot to be desired. Again, the content is months (and in some cases, years) out-of-date.

The big question is this: Can any chess club hope to attract new members if potential candidates feel dismayed at the very amateurish attempts by these clubs to promote themselves over the internet?

Where do we go from here? Does anyone at one of these mediocre chess websites care? It's time to either put their act in order, or just accept that they will earn little respect if they do not.

14th November 2017: Confusion Reigns!

Not sure what is happening on the Wolverhampton and District League website, but the Pittaway Cup and Humphey's Trophy draws do not make sense.

Originally, Wolverhampton were in both draws. After seemingly losing against Stafford in the Humphrey's Trophy (no information available), Wolverhampton have also disappeared from the Pittaway Cup. Both semi-finals of both competitions do not correspond to what was previously published. For example, Telford are reported to have beaten Stourbridge in the Quarter Finals of the Pittaway Cup, but Stourbridge are now semi-finalists. Has Telford dropped out of the competition? Wolverhampton were also supposed to play Mercia (on December 14th) in another Quarter Final. But neither are in the Semi Finals. Confused? Yes!

You can read more about the 'confusion' on the following link:

Competition Semi-Final Draws

Robert Marshall

10th November 2017: SPECIAL NOTICE

It was learned today that one of the club's leading players has passed away. Robert Marshall's death has come as a shock as he was (reportedly) only 57 years of age.

I did know Robert from many years ago. I knew him as someone who always had a positive attitude and an equitable manner. We were from opposite sides of the political divide, but Robert was always happy to listen to and invite opinion from those with differing views. The one thing I do recall vividly about Robert was his view that "unless you can say something good about a person, you should never say anything bad about them". That was probably Robert in a nutshell and atypical of his approach to life.

It's still difficult to believe, especially as I am 6 years older. I've had my own 'medical dramas' in recent years, and especially this year, but to pass way well before your time really does make one aware of one's own mortality.

Robert's death will not just have a profound effect upon those who knew him, but will also leave a vacuum in the club that will be difficult to fill.

RIP, Robert Marshall

European Team Championship

The European Team Championship has ended. Victories for the Men's team from Azerbaijan and the Women's team from Russia.

You can read more about the Championship on the following link:

Men's Team

Women's Team

Geoff Rosser gets knocked out of Rock Cup

Sadly, Geoff Rosser has fallen at the first hurdle in the Rock Cup. In an evenly-graded match, it was anyone's call as to the final outcome. Geoff lost to David Hodkinson of Mercia.

The only other Wolverhampton entry in the Cup was Robert Marshall. We are shocked to learn he has recently passed away (November 1st). More can be read about Robert on this website in due course.

The Rock Cup

7th April 2018: Lightning Time!

Got your Blood Pressure pills at the ready? Swallow a good dollop of nerve tonic? It's one of those times of the year when madness manifests itself in an unrestrained manner. Yes, it's another quick-play tournament.

If anyone has any doubts about chaos theory, then get yourself along to Rugeley next April. There you will witness a mixture of glorious insanity and outstanding ingenuity.

Throw in some reckless behaviour, some absent-mindedness and the odd scream of frustation. This is rapid-play chess at it's very best!

Those who emerge with their sanity intact, and hopefully a few quid in prizemoney (but nowhere near enough to pay any ensuing psychiatric bills for a delayed nervous breakdown), can feel proud that they survived the sheer carnage of the tournament. I'm sure there must be easier ways to earn a few bob, but those with masochistic leanings will still think it was all worthwhile.

Pour yourself a few stiff drinks, fill in your application form, and get ready for the tournament. Go on! We all need a little craziness in our lives to make us feel invigorated!

Good luck to all who enter, and sympathies to all who end the day as emotional wrecks.

Rugeley Lightning Tournament