CLUB UPDATES AND GREEN SHOOTS OF SPRING

With the better weather and blue skies there is a good time to update a few things within our chess world.

Firstly, let us congratulate Steve Bailey in coming equal 1st  in the Challengers section of  Big Bash Braille competition played over the last two weeks. Here is an extract of the summary sent by the organisers.

We said there’d be a winner in the Challengers section and it’s a very close call because three of the Challengers (Stephen Thacker, Steve Bailey and Gill Smith) have tied on 34 points.  Gerry and I applied the tie-break (sum of opponents’ scores) and the totals for each player are as follows:
Steve Thacker 157
Gill Smith 173
Steve Bailey 217
So we declare Steve Bailey to be the Biggest Basher in the Challengers Section!

Well done Steve, we all need to watch out when we return to over the board chess now!

GENERAL NEWS

I have heard the ECF have said they are hoping over the board chess games can resume when the Govt guidelines allow which is mid June at the moment given all conditions being met. I/we have not been in touch with the British Legion yet as it still early days but am confident they will be very keen for us to return as soon as possible.

Maybe as in between the lockdowns last year we will meet in the downstairs bar on a Friday night which seemed to be fine and worked well for casual chess. But as soon as I hear anything I will be in  touch.

All updated on local chess are on the www.dorset chess site including the online Rapid play event scheduled during March if anyone would like to play.

ONLINE CHESS AND TEAM BATTLES

Our online chess continues every Thursday night but the numbers vary quite a lot and we could do with some more support from you to make it worthwhile. The time control is fast at 5=3 which I understand and this puts some players off. We could start a second session with a slower time control if you were interested so let me know and I can arrange this.

The fortnightly team battles continue and we are still leading the pack but Southbourne are getting close now so any support you can give is appreciated. The next battle is Tonight at 7.30 so please join in if you can, your club needs you!

JUNIOR CHESS

You know this is close to my heart and I am so pleased to report we are maintaining high level of interest from parents and kids to learn and play chess. We have our ONLINE weekly event every Saturday morning where we play games and an averae of 15-20 juniors join in.

Recently we have added lessons on both Zoom and Lichess. This is in its early stages but again the interest is wide and growing all the time. Its a pleasure seeing the kids taking this sort of interest and some playing continuously every day.

Of course none of this would be possible without the huge support of Graham Morris who manages our www.bournemouthjuniorlibrary chess site and thanks to both Steve Bailey and Simon Fox who make up the numbers most Saturdays.

If you have any juniors that would like to join in please contact me.

We all should appreciate the future of chess is with the juniors and we should be proud to see our Poole chess club doing what ever possible to encourage this.

If you have any news or other updates  please contact me so in the meantime, stay safe, and I look forward to seeing  you sometime in the not too distant future.

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March 1, 2021