Stourbridge Chess Club through to the second round of the Terrill Trophy
The Birmingham league trophy week saw both the Stourbridge teams playing in round 1.
On the Monday, the second team faced Oscott away in the Townsend trophy. Several Stourbridge players were off form and lost against lower rated opposition. In form Dan Jones won his game and Paul Sharratt drew his game on board 1. The final score was 3½-1½ .
The first team normally play in division 2 and on Tuesday, faced Central Birmingham’s second team who play in division 1. The tournament is based on a handicap system so Stourbridge started with a 2.5. point advantage. This meant that they only have to score 2 points to win the 6 board match but even this was a tall order as they were out graded on 5 of the boards. Julie Wilson and John Foxall finished their games first and both lost. Then this was followed by a win for Nic Fallowfield who out-played his opponent in a complicated game. Paul Sharrat then lost leaving 2 boards still playing. Joe Friar drew in a bishops of opposite colour endgame and captain Adam Ware played precisely to win his game. The final score was 3½-2½ meaning that Stourbridge win 3½-5 with the handicap and are through to round 2.
On the same night, the second team played at home against Bushbury and won 2½-1½. Dan Billingham and Otunla Dolapo both won their games and Chris Evans drew on Board 1.
The club meets at the Queen’s Head pub Enville St, at 7.30pm every Tuesday evening and is looking for new members to strengthen its squads for the 2025/26 season. Anyone who is interested in joining Stourbridge chess club, should contact Dan Billingham on 07752 046656 or visit stourbridgechess.f9.co.uk for more information.
