27th July-9th August 08. St. George's Hall, Liverpool [web] ECF Office, The Watch Oak, Chain Lane, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0YD (Tel: 01424 775222, Fax: 01424 775904) [email]
This is an ideal opportunity for people in this area to go along and see this major event, perhaps for the first time, and see the top players in action.
HEYWOOD CONGRESS21-22/6/08 Bill O'Rourke 01706 627874 e-mail
CHESTER CONGRESS 28-29/6/08 Jim McPhillips 01829 770762 e-mailwebsite
The Daily Puzzle
....a new position to try every day.
26/6/08 Results
Most of the league tables are now complete after the troubles this season, but B division has its problems. Can captains scan this entry and inform me of corrections please, so we can finish as soon as possible. The individual match score section will not be used this season because of the technical problems encountered.
1/6/08 Celebration Match
There will be an Inter-League match versus Sheffield League on Saturday 29th June at Glossop. This has been arranged to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Sheffield League.
This is a social/friendly occasion and all grades of players are very welcome to play. More details can be obtained from Captain John Reyes at chillireyes@hotmail.com
30/5/08 Arbiters Course
Harry Lamb and Julian Clissold are running an Arbiters course on the 12th July. Details of this can be seen on the Federation News page.
23/5/08 Cup and League Double
Not only are congratulations due to Manchester United for a fantastic Premier League and Champions League Double this week, but our very own Three Cs team pulled off victory in the Reyner Shield on Monday, to go with securing first place in Division A of the Manchester League. A picture of the Reyner side is on the Gallery page. Well done!
16/5/08 Cancellation of Match
It has unfortunately become clear that G-Man will be unable to raise a team for our Open Team National County Quarter Final match v Middlesex on Saturday 17th May. We find ourselves 5 players short, despite the reduction to 14 boards, due to some late withdrawals.It is with regret therefore, that I feel I have no choice but to concede the match, and to wish our opponents, Middlesex every success during the remainder of the National Counties Competition, and to thank all those who have supported our team this season. Very disappointing, after our Open team came top of the Qualifiers in the MCCU competition this season.
Can I ask players to confirm they have read this message, and to ensure that any travel arrangements already in place are cancelled immediately. Apologies to players who have given up other things to play in this match.....for what should have been an enjoyable days chess.
Having campaigned to try to get others into the competition this season, it is a strange irony that we fail to compete, when the chance is there for us, having earned a place in the Finals stages.
Dave P
15/5/08 Results!
As you may have noticed some league results and tables have started to appear. I hope to process what data I have this week. There are a few mistakes so I would like captains etc. to scan the results for errors and notify Gwilym and myself.
Reyner Shield
This years Reyner Shield is between Bolton 1 and 3Cs 1 and will take place at the YMCA Bolton on Monday evening 7-15, 19th May. A commentary will take place by Julian Clissold, I understand, and spectators are welcome to come along with their children to see whats going on. This is a good effort to raise the profile of the event and should pass a couple of hours pleasantly.
Bolton Jamboree
This event took place last Saturday in Little Lever and was enjoyed by all. A picture report is available on the Bolton website here.
South East Lancs League
Details of the new season in the Summer League can now be seen on the SE Lancs page In the list of previous winners there are spaces to be filled, if anyone can supply the missing information can they please e-mail David Kierman please.
6/5/08 County Chess
In the coming ECF Quarter- Final Matches the Open match will now take place in the village of Hoby, not far from Syston in Leicestershire. This change was necessary as a reasonably priced venue was unavailable near Birmingham. Both the Open and U175 matches will start at 1pm and finish at 6pm. There is no change in venue for the U175 team, still in Worcester.
Players are still needed for both teams. If you can play in these events on the 17th May please get in touch with Dave Pardoe and Mick Norris.
30/4/08 Manchester Summer Congress
This years Manchester Summer Congress will be held at Allan Hall, Wilmslow Rd, Nr Withington & Platt Fields....on the weekend of 4th/5th/6th July . Again, there will be three main sections, catering for all players, beginner to expert....with a good range of prizes....and a good, reasonably priced accommodation package available nearby. The venue facilities have been improved, with more comfortable seating installed than last year. Also this year play will be on the ground floor, making it more disabled friendly. We hope this event will be well supported, both by our local clubs and players, and by those from further afield....not least because this will help us to offer improved Congress facilities/prizes, etc.. but for the continued enjoyment of congress chess in the North West.
Also on Saturday 10th May The Bolton Jamboree will take place. This is a rapid play event of 30mins each player for teams of four. An entry form is on the Bolton Chess League website www.boltonchess.btik.com and should prove good fun. Get your entries in very soon please.
28/4/08 Update
Manchester SummerLeague starts up again in early June....any clubs interested in joining should contact David Keirman for more information....it is more `light hearted`/social than the winter leagues, with smaller team sizes....and currently 4 divisions... This might appeal to other South Manchester clubs. The AGM for that league, which caters for clubs around the manchester area, will be at the Railway Pub, Sale, on 8th May. Contact David Kierman... <david.kierman@manchester.ac.uk> All welcome to attend.
Our Open & U175 GMan County teams both play in the National Finals stages on 17th May. Both teams have good matches (...v Middlesex & Devon respectively), and would welcome players from our South Manchester area/clubs.....And others!! Please let me know if you`d like to play....we try to cater for a fair range of players.... and we generally share transport to keep down costs.
Incidentally, if we could get a volunteer, we might consider running a U125 or U100 team(s)....next season.
For those who have not tried county chess...its just like league chess, only played over 16 board matches, usually on a saturday afternoon. Just send the wife off to do the shopping, and off you go....what could be easier! Might be trickier if you`re a season ticket holder (Stockport County, etc)..?
Incidentally, I see that Cheshire & North Wales do not seem to run county teams at the moment....any voluinteers for that from our Cheshire set......
Good chessing,
Dave P
Your County Teams Need You !!
As stated above, the MCF needs players to put their names forward as soon as possible to fill 32 places for the county sides on May 17th. If you can play please get in touch with Mick Norris for the U175 side on 01204-383930, e-mail , and Dave Pardoe, e-mail , for the Open team.
21/4/08 Stobo-Bland Trophy2008
The Stobo-Bland Trophy was held this year in Manchester, at the Stretford Bridge Club on Saturday 12th April.This friendly event,was won convincingly by the Mancunians,against the the Lancaster,Morecambe and District team 21½-6½.
We are coming to terms with the results backlog and the cup results have been updated. Far from complete they at least show the current standings.
Mickey Adams has won the Ruy Lopez tournament in Spain. Englands No.1 was the leader from start to finish and had a 2822 performance, you can see a very ornate website here. Download games in PGN .
29/3/08 A New Era in Broadcast Chess.
This October there will be a World Chess Championship between Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. The event will be broadcast on the Internet by the Dutch technology company DGT, using six cameras to show the action during the games. To demonstrate the new broadcast system DGT is staging a simultaneous exhibition between Kramnik and two strong players.
On April 2nd a remarkable chess event will be played in Enschede (Netherlands). Vladimir Kramnik, World Chess Champion from 2000-2007, will face two young and talented Grandmasters: Marie Sebag (21) from France and the 24-year-old Dutchman Jan Werle in a simultaneous exhibition.
The event has a special dimension, as it will be taped with six video cameras. The recordings will be used to prepare the World Première of the Foidos Internet Presentation System. With Foidos, the Internet user will be able to watch live all aspects of a chess game. Not just the moves, but close-ups of the player’s faces, comments by a Grandmaster and integrated computer analysis of the position are transmitted with this revolutionary software.
This years Bolton Easter Congress went to GM Nigel Davies over GM Stewart Haslinger in joint second place. The tournament held last weekend at the Excel centre, had 24 players in the Open section. Nigel Davies defeated Haslinger in their game together in round four, so a last round draw was enough for victory. Jeff Horner won the Saturday afternoon Blitz with a 100% 8/8. A spectacular round 3 game win by Stewart Haslinger can be seen on the Games page. There is a pictorial report on the Gallery page.
15/3/08 Blackpool Chess Conference2008
This years Blackpool Tournament prize money again went back overseas when A Dgebuadze won with 4½/5. The game between Alan Walton and Nigel Davies has been added to the games page. Also a video of Mike Sutees' exciting finish to his fifth round game can be seen on the videos page.
The Correspondence Page is now up and running and shows details of the current match. Results will be added as notified.
My Sport 4 Lifewho did such a splendid job on the Manchester Rapidplay, are organizing a new unique event to take place in Eastlands on Sunday 13th July 2008. Diane Modahl will launch the race known as the Urbanathlon and it will be Europes first. 1000 people are expected and it deserves full support. See the website for details. News article.
5/3/08 ManchesterRapidplay Tournament 2008
The Manchester Rapidplay was played on Sunday 2nd March at the imposing venue of the City of Manchester Stadium. One would be hard pressed to find a better place to play chess, with it's spacious well lit playing area and cafe and restroom just off. Ample car parking is to be found right outsde the front door and traffic on a Sunday is quiet. Those who did not make it this time, must give it a go in future if they can keep the tournament here. A picture report is on the Gallery page.
27/2/08 Results Service
The current results service will unfortunately have to be put further on hold, as the Results Secretary has hit computer problems. It is hoped that a normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. Your continued patience will be appreciated.
The Stobo-Bland Trophy which is a friendly match between Manchester and a combined Morecambe and Lancaster team, will take place at the Stretford Bridge Club on April 12th. This is for all grades of players and you can get in touch with John Reyes at e-mail if you are interested in playing. I think there are one or two places yet to be filled.
16/2/08 Morelia/Linares
The second of the big winter tournaments Linares, is now in full swing in the first half of the event in Mexico. Now called Morelia/Linares due to the split venues started two years ago, the tournament now runs from February 14th to 8th March in the Spanish finale. Most of the big guns are playing and the first round saw wins for Anand, Topalov and Leko.
The official website can be reached here. Live games, late in the evening, are available on the site.
Congratulations are in order to the Gtr. Manchester team for retaining their M.C.C.U Open Championship title. They finished first over a strong Warwickshire side. The team now progresses to the E.C.F. National stages, with the first match likely in March. Details of the matches can be seen on the competitions pages.
25/1/08 6th Gibtelecom Chess Festival
This Gibraltar chess tournament gets better every year and it now draws large quality fields. As well as a strong British entry, there are also many of the Chinese national squad playing.
Denton chess have moved and now play at ' The Boundary ' pub at Guide Bridge. Directions:From Denton centre (Crown Point) take the A6017 for Ashton. Travel for 1.4 miles along Ashton road - Denton road - and Guide lane. When you reach Guide Bridge railway station you can see the pub 100 yds ahead at the ' T ' junction. Keep in the left lane, and as you go through the traffic lights immediately turn right into the pub car park alongside the restaurant.
18/1/08 Robert James Fischer (1943-2008)
The death of Bobby Fischer aged 64, has been announced from Iceland. He had been hospitalised for some weeks with kidney problems, and it would appear he lost his fight against this. It will be interesting to see how the world greets this news as he has made many enemies as well as friends in his life. Regarded as a genius at the chessboard his comments on America, the Jews and Russia have been well documented and brought him headlines worldwide. There can be no doubt that he was good for chess, his match with Spassky in 1972 was broadcast on the 9 0'clock news night after night and helped to make chess a boom sport. He and Spassky fought the cold war by themselves. May he at last find peace after a turbulent career. An excellent obituary by Leonard Barden can be seen here. A Sky News report with Gary Kasparov on Fischers death can be seen on the Chess Videos page.
16/1/08 Corus 2008 Tournament Wijk aan Zee
The annual Corus tournaments after the Christmas break, must be one of the most eagerly awaited events in the chess calendar. Not only do you get a Super Grandmaster tournament but two other strong sections as well. This year Micky Adams is in the A tournament and Nigel Short in the B section. Adams has had a steady start with all draws in the opening four rounds, including playing Magnus Carlsen the norwegian "super-kid" who leads this tournament along with Levon Aronian on 3/4. Half a point behind is Kramnik who has just warmed up with his first win. Topalov, Anand and Gelfand have made dismal starts but it is early days yet. Nigel Short has also made a mixed start including a loss to a 13 year old chinese girl who can really play!
Latest: Group A was won by Aronian on tie-break with Carlsen on 8/13, third was Anand on tie-break with Radjabov fourth on 7½/13. Mickey Adams was eighth with6½. Group B was won by Movsesian on 9½/13, with Nigel Short second on tie-break over Bacrot with 8½/13.
2/1/08 County Chess
Just a quick note to confirm our final Open team qualifier match will be at Brewood,near Stafford, on Saturday 26th Jan, starting at 12.30pm. v Worcestershire.
If players could make a note of this date and let me know provisionally if they are available to play, I`d be grateful. I`ll just say we`ve made a good start to the season, with two wins... and had some good matches so far....and Worcestershire should also be a good match.
Our matches are open for players from all clubs in our area, which stretches for approx 25 mile radius of Manchester, and we`re always looking to add to the team squad....so please pass this on to others who might be interested.
Can I also remind players regarding our next U150 county match v Staffs, at home on Saturday 19th Jan. Please contact Jon Lonsdale <jon@jlonsdale.net>if you can play in that match.
Best Wishes Dave P.
20/12/07 ManchesterRapidplay Tournament
Clayton Eagles are organising a rapidplay tournament to take place on Sunday 2nd March 2008. You can view this on www.mysport4life.com This event adds further spice in the fact that it is being held in the City of Manchester Stadium, where some team in blue play. Finally a Merry Christmas to one and all and may you get all your chess presents!
Entry Form (click here to download file) This download file contains the wrong playing schedule. The correct schedule is now on the My Sport 4 Life website.
13/12/07 Website Update
The latest batch of results have been added, except cup games, which will follow shortly. It would be appreciated if when submitting results, captains filled in the competition, and round of cup games, to speed up insertion and for accuracy.The Bury Rapidplay Congress has also been added on the Gallery page along with the Bolton Rapidplay if you have not seen this yet. The Junior section is popular with the kids as it contains many pictures,some excellent. Thanks to people who have submitted these as it takes time and effort, Julian Clissold and Mick Norris especially. Also coming is a section on correspondence chess, and reports I understand, on the MCF council meetings when Matthew finds time. Don't forget to look in the County Chess sections for full reports on our successful sides. Finally a games viewer has been added on the Games page giving viewers the choice of printing off or playing the games instantly. More games will be added in due course.
23/11/07 British Rapidplay 2007
The British Rapidplay Championship took place last weekend,17th/18th Nov. in Halifax, at the Nortbridge Leisure Centre. Many MCF league players were participating, not without success. The event was won by GM Peter Wells with 9½/11,second was GM Mark Hebden on 9 and GM Stewart Haslinger 8½ was third. Equal fourth came Manchesters Adam Ashton and Liam Rabbitte. The official website can be reached here.
15/11/07 Congress News
Photos of the BOLTON RAPIDPLAY are now on the Gallery page. The event played on Sunday 4th November was won by Dominic Rabbitte. Leading scores are: D. Rabbitte (Heywood) 5. I. Campbell (Widnes), P Seery (Bare Villiage), P Mulleady (Atherton) 4½. More results with photos. (Thanks to Harry Lamb for photos and data.) Coming soon is the PRESTON CONGRESS on 23-25th November. Contact details are: County Council Offices, Pitt Street, Preston. M Peacock, 10 Cromwell Road, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9AT. Tel: 01772 740882. Email: malcolm@mpeacock.demon.co.uk
8/11/07 County Chess
Dave Pardoe has sent in a full report on the first U150 county match of the season, you can read it on the relevant competitions page. It proved hard going but the match had it's moments. He is also looking for players for the next Open Championship Match, to be held in Cheadle Hulme on the 8th December. You can contact Dave on 0161-4852413. Also players are wanted for the next U150 match at home on January 19th against Staffordshire.Interested players contact Jon Lonsdale at jon@jlonsdale.net
6/11/07 Correspondence Chess
Eric Nowell is still seeking two players for the correspondence team. Play is due to start on the 7th, so if you want to play get in touch now on 0161-2562198.
30/10/07 Announcement
Bury Rapidplay
The nextBury Rapidplay tournament will take place on Sunday 9th December 2007. Full details and an entry form are available at: http://www.burychessclub.co.uk/
Captain of the MCF/GMCCA correspondence team, Eric Nowell, has made an appeal for players to fill spaces for the team to play in the National Team Competition. This is due to start imminently and he's three players short. They will be playing in Division 2 for the Sinclair Trophy. So if you fancy some correspondence chess in the comfort of your own home this winter, give Eric a ring on 0161-2562198 or e-mail here. Also I have added details of Heywoods new venue , and details of Didsbury Dynamos, see the Clubs page.
12/10/07 Announcement
26th Bolton Rapidplay
This one day Congress organised by Bolton Chess Club takes place on SUNDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2007. The venue is: BOLTON EXCEL CENTRE, LOWER BRIBGEMAN ST., BOLTON BL2 1EN. Tournaments: MAJOR- for players graded below161. KNIGHTS- for players graded below 120 plus various other events. £490 in PRIZES. Contact info:e-mail
1/10/07 16th Monarch Assurance Isle of Man International
We mustn't let the opportunity pass by without sending our congratulations to Jeff Horner of Bolton, for at last gaining his final norm for the International Master Title. Jeff finished with 4½/9 score against an opponent average rating of 2500+! Also this weekend the World Championship Tournament finished with Vishy Anand victorious in Mexico. He won convincingly with current champion Kramnik a full point behind with Gelfand. We look forward to a proper match next year with Kramnik. Monarch website World Championship Website
30/9/07 County Match Team News
GMan County Open team
The first match of the season will be at Homev Warks on Sat 13th October, starting at 1pm, in the function room, at the Greyhound pub, Cheadle Hulme....junction of Councillor Lane with Bird Hall Lane. The pub car park is in Councilor Lane. Players from all clubs in our area are welcome, and those who would like to play are asked to contact myself, David Pardoe asap tel 485-2413. Its an attractive fixture so it would be good to have a good turnout for this match. Please pass this on to other players who may be interested. More of this on the County Chess page.
30/9/07 e-mail
I'm sorry if anybody has sent in e-mails using the e-mail address previously on screen but this was not working properly. In future will you use the contact above or as stated on the Officials page. Please submit any previous e-mails.
24/9/07 Peoples
Peoples chess club has folded and their details, along with Manchester University, have been deleted from the site. Worsley have added a second team to the league in division D. Urmston Chess Club new venue added.
20/9/07 Feedback
Thanks to the people who so far have submitted ideas and corrections to the site. One problem area I suspect is the Club page which must be out of date with the coming and going of officials. Can the secretary of each club scan their entry and inform me of any changes. Many Thanks.
17/8/07 This Website
Welcome to the new Manchester Chess Federation website. Some may say yet another, and while I had no control over preceding events, the main purpose of the change this time was to make a website less technical and so make change overs of webmasters so much easier.This also made it possible for a more modern, sleeker and graphical design. I hope also to make regular updates to the site especially match results which have been a bone of contention previously. Finally I would like contributions from players on games and any comments and articles on Manchester events of chess.
12/8/07 British Championship 2007
North West players distinguished themselves at the championships held this year at Great Yarmouth from July 30th-10th August. Stephen Gordon of 3Cs, finished in second place half a point behind winner Jacob Aagaard. Aagaard now represents Scotland and so strengthens the hold the scots have on the championship. Holder of the championship Jonathon Rowson finished third, beaten on tie break by Gordon. Top placings are:- Aagaard 8½/11, Gordon,Rowson 8/11, Kosten, Hebden, Haslinger and Howell 7½/11.
The official website can be reached here Photo's of the event are on the Gallery page.
7 British Championship 2007 
