Northwich Chess Club

07/09/2023

Match Report: Northwich A vs Culcheth A (Peninsular Cup) by James Harrison

🔹 Northwich Chess Club kicked off the season against Culcheth in the Peninsular Cup. With Culcheth fielding only 4 players, Northwich had a head start with a 2-0 score.
🔹 Despite being out-rated on all boards, Northwich showcased determination and skill.
🔹 Highlights:

Board 3: Ingmar played a strategic game, but a critical error led to a win for Rob Furness of Culcheth.
Board 1: James Harrison faced Marek Mazek in a game filled with tactical decisions and positional play.
Board 2: Adrian, playing against Damien McCarthy, offered a draw considering the wider match situation.
Board 4: Sumedh, in his English chess debut, managed a commendable draw against the higher-rated Ilya Dubov.

🔹 Final Score: Northwich 4 - Culcheth 2. A promising start to the season for Northwich!

Read the full report at

We started the season with some new players, a new captain (me) and an old opponent (Culcheth). It was a Peninsular Cup match with 6 boards, and we had a stroke of luck when they announced they would only field 4 players.

08/08/2023

Ever caught yourself being a tad too confident at the chessboard or making excuses after a loss? We've all been there!

Our latest piece, "The Hidden Battle with Ourselves in Chess," takes a look at these all-too-human moments.

Let's keep growing and enjoying the game together!

From overconfidence during play to rationalising mistakes after the game, self-deception can be a complex and paradoxical part of your chess strategy.

03/08/2023

♟️Manchester Summer Chess Congress 2023 is taking place from Aug 18-20. Experience the thrill of competition, the beauty of strategy, and the camaraderie of the chess community.

With categories including the Harry Lamb Memorial FIDE OPEN, ECF Rated Major, Knights, and a free-to-enter Junior Championship, there's a game for everyone.

Ready to join the excitement? Learn more at 👉

This year, the city gears up to host one of the most prestigious events on the chess calendar, the Manchester Summer Chess Congress 2023.

03/08/2023

📢 Exciting News Update! 📢

Did you catch yesterday's article about the funding boost for English chess? The government is all set to invest £500,000 in the English Chess Federation, and there are plans to expand chess in schools and public parks! 🎉🌳

We're thrilled about this fantastic development and can't wait to see the positive impact it will have on our chess community! ♟️🤩

Join us on the chessboard and be part of this exciting chess revival! See you soon! ♟️😃

The government is all set to announce £500,000 of funding for the English Chess Federation

02/08/2023

Strategic brilliance, daring sacrifices, and stunning checkmates have become the norm in our Summer Chess Tournament! 🤩

In Round 4, James Harrison's tactical brilliance, Adrian's daring moves, and Darren Birch's precision stole the spotlight! Perry Moore's time trouble cost him, while Henry Booth's queen wreaked havoc! 👑

Young Cade Birch showcased resilience, while Chester embraced the learning curve of slower OTB games. 🧠💡

The final round is coming up! Brace yourselves for more mind-blowing chess action! 🔥

There was potential for an upset on the second board, but it wasn’t to be, and the two pre-tournament favourites (Adrian and yours truly) did the business.

02/08/2023

Exciting news alert! The UK government is on a mission to get more kids into chess, and we couldn't be happier about it! 🤩👏

Inspired by students 3D printing their own chess sets in a US school, there are plans to bring the magic of chess to British children. 🧠🏆

Get ready for some chess-tastic plans, including funding for the national chess team, chess in schools, and even chess tables in public parks! 🏰🌳

Get ready for some fantastic news! Our very own Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is all about embracing the nerdy side of life, and now he’s on a mission to get more kids into chess – how amazing is that?

31/07/2023

🔥 Get ready, chess enthusiasts! Week 2 of our Summer Chess Workshop is here, and it's all about 'The Attack'!

👥 You'll pair up, get hands-on with various attack scenarios, and then we'll discuss how a Grandmaster might have played the same game. This week is about sharpening your attack strategies more than just winning. So, let's get stuck in and have some fun!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For those here to support (like parents of our young participants), please make yourselves comfy away from the learning area. It helps our instructor to quickly spot who's in the game.

🤔 Got questions? Fire away! Let's gear up for a week of bold moves!

📍Our journey continues tonight at The Gladstone Club, Station Rd, Northwich CW9 5RB at 18:30.

See you there! 🎉👑🏁

24/07/2023

🔥 Round 3 of the Northwich Chess Club Summer Tournament is tonight at 8PM! Prepare for an evening of strategy, excitement, and close calls. 🏁

The past rounds have kept us on the edge of our seats - let's see what tonight brings! 🏆

24/07/2023

LAST CALL: SUMMER CHESS WORKSHOP STARTS TONIGHT! 🏁

Chess enthusiasts, it's your final chance to register for our FREE SUMMER CHESS WORKSHOP starting tonight! We're looking for players who want to elevate their game to the next level. ♟️

Don't worry if you can't make every workshop session. As long as you are committed to learning and improving, joining as many sessions as you can will still help you progress.

📍This is a face-to-face workshop, perfect for learning, interacting and challenging your skills in real-time! So, clear your schedule and make your summer all about mastering your chess skills!

Register here: 👇
https://northwichchessclub.com/summer-workshop/

23/07/2023

🔍 Chess Puzzle Alert! 🧩 From the second round of the Northwich Chess Club Summer Tournament, here's a situation that will tickle your brain cells!

We had an Italian opening, and while the early stages seemed calm, the drama unfolded on move 10 when Ashley allowed a combination.

⚪️ It's White's turn to play... and win! Can you spot the winning move?

Post your solutions in the comments.

22/07/2023

See how James Harrison skillfully dealt with John Martin's Catalan attack, and how Jake Sullivan, facing a near loss, managed to flip the game against Darren Birch's trendy Caro-Kann variation. Also, don't miss out on Adrian Breakspear's enlightening win over William Smith and more!

Jump in and immerse yourself in the strategic world of chess! 👉

Discover the excitement of our latest chess matches. See how Harrison and Sullivan navigated complex strategies for thrilling victories. Learn from real games.

20/07/2023

Today is International Chess Day! Let's take a moment to remember the courageous pawns we've lost and the noble Queens we've had to sacrifice on the chessboard.

As Grandmaster Savielly Tartakower wisely noted, 'The mistakes are all there waiting to be made.' So here's to both missteps and masterstrokes, each a precious lesson in strategy and resilience.