Anyone interested in becoming an ECF registered coach is invited to apply here:
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/new-ecf-registered-coaches-scheme/
Durham County Chess Association
Anyone interested in becoming an ECF registered coach is invited to apply here:
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/new-ecf-registered-coaches-scheme/
Results of the fourth round of matches:
Division 1. Jesmond 0 Gosforth Empire 4; South Shields 2 Tynemouth & Morpeth A 2; Forest Hall A 1½ Durham City A 2½.
Division 2. Thornaby 2 Tynemouth & Morpeth B 2; Durham University 1½ Durham City B 2½; Forest Hall B 4 Newcastle University 0.
Division 3. Forest Hall C 1½ Gosforth Ivy 2½; Durham City C 1½ Darlington 2½; Tynedale 2½ Bishop Auckland A 1½.
Division 4. Tynemouth & Morpeth C 0 Forest Hall D 4; Bishop Auckland B 1 Billingham Synthonia 3; Forest Hall E 3½ Durham City D ½.
Results of the third round of matches:
Division 1. Forest Hall A 2 Jesmond 2; Durham City A 2 South Shields 2; Tynemouth & Morpeth A 2 Gosforth Empire 2.
Division 2. Forest Hall B 3 Thornaby 1; Newcastle University 2 Durham University 2; Durham City B 3 Tynemouth & Morpeth B 1.
Division 3. Tynedale 2 Forest Hall C 2; Bishop Auckland 1½ Durham City C 2½; Darlington 1 Gosforth Ivy 3.
Division 4. Forest Hall E 1½ Tynemouth & Morpeth C 2½; Durham City D 2½ Bishop Auckland B 1½; Billingham Synthonia 3 Forest Hall D 1.
Full results can be found here: https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/62801/home
I’m very sorry to have to report that Maurice Bell died a few days ago. For very many years Maurice was one of the mainstays of Durham County Chess, playing regularly for the county team, participating in meetings and officiating at local congresses. Originally a member at Chester-le-Street, when the club folded he (along with his great friend Roger Simpson) joined Durham City, for whom he played team chess until illness intervened a couple of years ago.
Another former Chester-le-Street member, Tom Reynolds, recalls:
Maurice was a very good fast bowler for Kibblesworth and had a bit of a reputation for being a rather aggressive character on the pitch. Over the chess board he had a never-say-die attitude and I lost count of the number of swindles he managed to pull off from seemingly hopeless positions. He was never afraid to speak his mind, which occasionally upset some people, but essentially he was a very amiable character who loved a good chat over a few beers.
Maurice’s son Keith has said that the family would like to present something – a donation, sponsorship or a cup. This would be a fine way of remembering Maurice, who did so much for chess in County Durham.
Keith has also supplied this wonderful photo of Maurice – in the white sweater with Roger Simpson on his right – playing in a simultaneous display by the legendary Viktor Korchnoi in 1972.
A longer version of this tribute, with a few anecdotes, will be published on the Durham City Chess Club website.
Results of the 2nd round of matches:
Division 1. Jesmond 4 Tynemouth & Morpeth A 0; Gosforth Empire 1 Durham City A 3; South Shields 2½ Forest Hall A 1½.
Division 2. Thornaby 1½ Durham City B 2½; Tynemouth & Morpeth B 2½ Newcastle University 1½; Durham University 2 Forest Hall B 2.
Division 3. Forest Hall C 1½ Darlington 2½; Gosforth Ivy 3½ Bishop Auckland A ½; Durham City C 1½ Tynedale 2½.
Division 4. Tynemouth & Morpeth C 1 Billingham Synthonia 3; Forest Hall D 3 Durham City D 1; Bishop Auckland B ½ Forest Hall E 3½.
Bryan Bainbridge reports on how the club is managing during the lockdown:
Since the first lockdown all the Bishop Auckland Chess Club players have played every Monday and when available Tuesday nights.
We are still playing the club championship on Monday nights then afterwards we have a Zoom meeting to go through games.
On Tuesday nights we either play in the 4NCL or the North East League then afterwards we have a Zoom meeting to go through games.
We have six new members, so everything is going well for the club. The hospital club have confirmed that we will be welcomed back once the situation allows.
Anyone interested in joining the club can contact Bryan: bryanbainbridge@gmail.com
An update from Mick Riding:
Dear All,
This is just to advise you that after conversation with the Mercure today we have agreed that the 2021 Durham Congress cannot go ahead this year. May is too soon for confidence to have been restored in public gatherings of this kind. And what lies ahead is too unpredictable to try and reschedule later in the year. One of my initial goals was to stake out our weekend so people knew what and when and I believe our best course is to stick to that.
What I will be doing however is scheduling an event at the Darlington Mercure to celebrate Northumberland (supported by a host of Durham based players) winning the 2020 ECF Online County Championship. I have in mind a 2 round Durham v Northumberland OTB match, with time rates as per the online event (60m, 15s increments), evenly matched teams with players having a White and Black against each other, small buffet and presentation of the winner’s trophy. This will happen when/if the lockdown situation and all things Covid change to the point where we can sensibly go ahead – and the respective NCA and Durham Execs will be party to that decision.
I have a couple of questions outstanding with respect to the Northumberland weekend 23 – 25 September. These are simply around costs, capacity and contingency options. When I have answers I will post you again. For now I am working on the premise it will happen.
Best – Mick
The first round of matches in the second season of the North East Online League, played on 19th January, produced these results:
Division 1. South Shields 3 Jesmond 1; Forest Hall A 2 Gosforth Empire 2; Durham City A 4 Tynemouth & Morpeth A 0.
Division 2. Durham University 3 Thornaby 1; Forest Hall B 1½ Tynemouth & Morpeth B 2½; Newcastle University 1½ Durham City B 2½.
Division 3. Durham City C 3½ Forest Hall C ½; Tynedale 3 Gosforth Ivy 1; Bishop Auckland A 0 Darlington 4.
Division 4. Bishop Auckland B 2½ Tynemouth & Morpeth C 1½; Forest Hall E 2 Forest Hall D 2; Durham City D 1 Billingham Synthonia 3.
Full results can be found here: