Birstall Cup

The first team lost their semi final to Loughborough 3-0. However, fortunately for us late replacement Brandon Clarke (97) beat Alan Jex (155) to secure the one point required for a win on handicap!! In the final we will play the winners of Scraptoft Valley and Littlethorpe2. If the second team make it we might need a minibus for the trip to Loughborough for the final!

Our Man in Havanna

Or, more accurately, Our Boy in Austria (Mureck to be precise). Yep, Brandon is on his travels again, playing in the U12 section of the European Union Youth Chess Championships from 31 July - 9 August. Hopefully we will have reports here but you can follow his progress via the official results site by clicking here Or you can play through his games online by clicking here

Coaching Sessions

I will be available for swindling coaching lessons Tues evening in the bar at The Plough. I feel that I am an expert following this effort in the U125 County Championships this week.

White - Johnson, Andy ; Black - Crane, David

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. c3 h6 7. O-O c6 8. Re1 Qc7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Nf6 12. Bd3 Bd7 13. Bd2 b5 14. a4 a5 15. axb5 cxb5 16. Qe2 Qb7 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. Qxe5 Bc6 19. Bf1 Bd5 20. Bf4 Qc6 21. Qc7 Qxc7 22. Bxc7 O-O 23. Bxb5 Rfc8 24. Bxa5 Rab8 25. Ba6 Re8 26. Bb4 Ne4 27. Bd3 Nd2 28. Ra3 Nb3 29. Bc2 Nxd4 30. cxd4 Rxb4 31. Ra5 Rxb2 32. Rxd5 Rxc2 33. Rd7 Rec8 34. g3 Rd2 35. Kg2 Rcc2 36. Rf1 Rc4 37. Rd8+ Kh7 38. Rd7 Kg6 39. d5 Rxd5 40. Rxd5 exd5 41. Kf3 Kf5 42. Ke3 g5 43. h3 Ke5 44. f4+ gxf4+ 45. gxf4+ Kf5 46. h4 h5 47. Kd3 Rc5 48. Kd4 Ra5 49. Re1 f6 50. Re7 Kxf4 51. Rf7 f5 52. Rh7 Kg4 53. Rg7+ Kxh4 54. Rg1 f4 55. Ke5 f3 56. Kf4 f2 57. Rh1# 1-0

Littlethorpe Quickplay

A fun evening was had by all as another of our quick play evenings was held. Five rounds of mayhem saw the "foreigner" Martin Burrows win with 4½/5. Highest placed Littlethorpians were Sean Hewitt and Ioannis Karsisiotis with 3½/5. Click here for full details.

2007 ECF Grades

The new ECF grades are out. Brandon Clarke wins the David Ward Memorial Trophy with a fantastic 25 point increase. Lets hope for a similar increase next season!

Harrod Cup

The Harrod Cup 1st team take a giant leap to retaining the cup with an impressive 6½-1½ win over the previously unbeaten Ashby. Full details here.

Club Diary

Want to know whats happening at the club? Well, now you can find out via our new diary where all the events and match details can be found.

Juniors

The club has decided to run coaching sessions for Junior players every Tuesday from 4th September 2007. The club has more Juniors playing for it than any other club in the county and consequently, we will operate a junior section every Tuesday starting 4th September 2007. The section will operate 6pm - 7pm and will cost £1.50. The idea is to give the players somewhere to play other juniors as well as get some coaching and we will be looking at entering junior teams in suitable events. We will also actively encourage those who want to to play for one of our adult league sides, as we do now.

For more details please contact our Junior Chess Manager Paul Findley either by email paul.findley@littlethorpechess.co.uk or call him on 07896 810 401.