Category: Uncategorized

All possible measures should be taken against the Putin regime to express revulsion against its brutal invasion of Ukraine, which threatens the peace of the entire world, and here sport can play its part. Football is the most popular world sport, and UEFA and (belatedly) FIFA have decided to exclude Russian teams from all competitions until further notice.

Chess is extremely popular in Russia, and FIDE, the International Chess Federation, has decided to strip Moscow of the World Olympiad which it was due to host in the summer. But we consider that this is not going far enough – like their football counterparts, Russian teams should be barred from taking part in all International and European competitions. We call on the English Chess Federation to demand this as a matter of urgency.

A recent update from Mick Riding, the Congress Director:

Hi,
Am hoping this mail is finding you well and itching to play your next OTB Tournament!
Approaching 50 entries now for May 6 – 8 with some additional prizes to advise you of: 
1) DCCA have kindly approved funding for a Fred Stobbart trophy to respect the efforts this lovely man made in keeping the congress alive for so many years and,
2) Equally kindly Darlington Chess Club have committed £100 towards two special junior prizes.
These supplement the existing NCCU Championships, special awards for local players and £2,500+ prize money on offer. So as payday approaches am hoping Durham Chess 2022 is near the top of your budget outgoings list 
Durham Chess Congress
Very best – Mick

Tim Wall has asked me to mention that the Northumberland Rapidplay Championships will be held on Saturday 5th February. For full details go to:

https://northumberlandchess.com/

Thirteen teams have entered this season, six in Division 1 and seven in Division 2. The full fixture list can be found here:

https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/82180/home

Darlington Chess Club are hosting a simultaneous display by grandmaster Keith Arkell on Tuesday16th November. Contact Carl Stephens on 07581 069 774 if you would like to take part.

An online meeting of the Durham County Chess Association will be held on Wednesday 15th September at 7.30 p.m. The link and the relevant papers will be published nearer the date.

From Tim Wall:

Forest Hall Chess Club is happy to announce its first major over-the-board event this summer: the Forest Hall Summer Rapidplay, on Saturday 31 July at Forest Hall Social Club, Great Lime Road, Palmersville NE12 9DQ. Start: 11:00am, Finish: 6pm.

Entry forms are available via the club website:

https://foresthallchess.org.uk

Very sad news – I’ve been informed that Fred Stobbart passed away on 14th June, after a short cancer-related illness.

For a long time Fred was the backbone of the Hetton Lyons Chess Club, and for many years he organised the annual Durham County Congress, as well as numerous smaller events.

If anyone would like to send their condolences to the Stobbart family, this is the address:

4 Woodlea Close, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham. DH5 9NT.

The final round of matches in the third season produced the following results:

Division 1. Forest Hall A 2 Durham City A 2; South Shields 2½ Jesmond 1½; Gosforth Empire 2½ Leeds 1½.

Division 2. Thornaby 1½ Durham City B 2½; Forest Hall B 3 Darlington 1; Tynemouth & Morpeth Boatmen ½ Gosforth Nomads 3½.

Division 3. Tynedale 1½ Gosforth Ivy 2½; Durham City C 2½ Forest Hall C 1½; Forest Hall D 2 Billingham Synthonia 2.

Division 4. Tynemouth & Morpeth Colliers 1 Forest Hall E 3; Durham City D 4 Bishop Auckland B 0; Bishop Auckland A 2 Forest Hall F 2.

Here are the results of the fourth round of matches:

Division 1. Durham City A 1 Gosforth Empire 3; Leeds 2 South Shields 2; Jesmond 1 Forest Hall A 3.

Division 2. Durham City B 1½ Tynemouth & Morpeth Boatmen 2½; Gosforth Nomads 1 Forest Hall B 3; Darlington 3½ Thornaby ½.

Division 3. Gosforth Ivy 2 Forest Hall D 2; Billingham Synthonia 3 Durham City C 1; Forest Hall C 1 Tynedale 3.

Division 4. Forest Hall E 2 Bishop Auckland A 2; Forest Hall F 1 Durham City D 3; Bishop Auckland B 1 Tynemouth & Morpeth Colliers 3.