Shrewsbury Chess Club

16/06/2026

In light of England opening their World Cup campaign against Croatia tomorrow night, we've decided to call off this week's club night.

We'll be cheering on the Three Lions from our homes, and will return to Cromwell’s Tap House next week 🙂 See you next Wednesday from 7.30pm!

31/05/2026

Something to keep chess players across the county busy over the summer!

All players are invited to a series of summer blitz tournaments taking place at Newport Chess Club. These events are a great way to sharpen your chess skills!

Tuesday 30th June
Tuesday 28th July
Tuesday 8th September

✅ Rated Events
✅ Cash Prizes
✅ Fast-Paced Blitz Chess
✅ No pre-registration - just turn up and play

http://www.newportchessclub.com/.../blitz-tournament-rules/

29/05/2026

**MIXED FORTUNES ON JOURNEY TO OS**

Wednesday's trip up the A5 to Oswestry was a bittersweet one.

When Shrewsbury A picked up five points out of a possible six to finish their Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League division one campaign with a flourish, under classical time conditions Shrewsbury B went down to a 3-1 defeat to Oswestry B to be eliminated from the Minor Knockout at the first opportunity.

The As secured a fifth place finish in the eight-team rapidplay league thanks to an eye-catching 2.5-1.5 win over fierce rivals and league runners up Telepost A and a 2-2 draw with hosts Oswestry A (what finished third), before benefitting from a 4-0 default win over Telford A.

Mark Smith was the star performer with 2/2, while Olusegun Ilesanmi, Stephen Priestley and captain Dan Lockett all made useful contributions.

Meanwhile, B team captain David Edwards secured a spectacular sacrificial win on board two against Peter Fisher. But he then had to watch on as the hosts gradually regained control of the match, winning tight battles on all three of the remaining boards.

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Shropshire Rapidplay League division one

Shrewsbury A 2.5-1.5 Telepost A
1. Olusegun Ilesanmi (b) 0-1 Nigel Ferrington
2. Stephen Priestley (w) 0.5-0.5 Phil Zabrocki
3. Mark Smith (b) 1-0 Mykhailo Muraviov
4. Dan Lockett (w) 1-0 Martin Ayres

Oswestry A 2-2 Shrewsbury A
1. Robert Clark 0-1 Olusegun Ilesanmi (w)
2. Rudy van Kemenade 1-0 Stephen Priestley (b)
3. Adrian Bailey 0-1 Mark Smith (w)
4. Julie van Kemenade 1-0 Dan Lockett (b)

***

Minor Knockout round one

Oswestry B 3-1 Shrewsbury B
1. Joe Muxlow 1-0 Patrick Fitch (b)
2. Peter Fisher 0-1 David Edwards (w)
3. Gary Slegg 1-0 Ivor Salter (b)
4. Jonathan Smith 1-0 Ian Davies (w)

27/05/2026

**TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD AS B TEAM FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH**

Shrewsbury B won two of their final three fixtures to round off a strong end to their campaign in Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League division two.

Victories over Newport B and Darwinian Knights C were followed by a defeat to a Telford B side who clinched the division title with the triumph in the final match of the season to finish.

Although Shrewsbury B finished fifth out of six teams, they were only six points off top spot in the final table and regularly upset the top teams with strong performances on the final few rounds.

This had an impact on the destination of the championship - the top three all finished level on 19 points with Telford B edging out Newport B and leaders at the start of the night Darwinian Knights B on points difference. While Shrewsbury found Telford something of a bogey side, they have over the past week recorded convincing wins over the other two challengers.

During last night's fixtures at Newport, Ben Howells was the team's top scorer with 2.5/3 on bottom board, while David Edwards and David Walton both scored 2/3.

Congratulations to the team on a great competitive effort this season!

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Shrewsbury B 4-0 Newport B
1. David Edwards (b) 1-0 Mohanaditya Poluru
2. Ian Davies (w) 1-0 Danny Griffiths
3. David Walton (b) 1-0 Ellick Spiers
4. Dafydd Howells (w) 1-0 Hriday Patel

Darwinian Knights C 1-3 Shrewsbury B
1. Daniel Tumanyan 0-1 David Edwards (w)
2. Ellis Sharp 1-0 Ian Davies (b)
3. Gabriel Tumanyan 0-1 David Walton (w)
4. Dennis Bonner 0-1 Dafydd Howells (b

Shrewsbury B 0.5-3.5 Telford B
1. David Edwards (b) 0-1 Richard Szwajkun
2. Ian Davies (w) 0-1 Stefan Tennant
3. David Walton (b) 0-1 Roger Brown
4. Dafydd Howells (w) 0.5-0.5 Keith Butler

26/05/2026

**EDWARDS SOARS ON TOP BOARD AT RAPIDPLAY**

A 50 per cent record represented a decent night's work for Shrewsbury B at last week's Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League division two night.

Captain David Edwards (pictured) led the way at Darwinian Knights' Salop Unison Club with 2/3 on top board as the Bs defeated league leaders Darwinian Knights B 3.5-0.5, drew 2-2 with Darwinian Knights C and lost 3-1 to title-chasing Telford B.

It leaves the Bs fifth in the six-team table ahead of tonight's (Tuesday) season finale at Newport.

All six teams will play their final three fixtures, with Shrewsbury B taking on Darwinian Knights C, Telford B and hosts Newport B.

Best of luck to the team!

Full scores from last week (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Darwinian Knights B 0.5-3.5 Shrewsbury B
1. Mike Etchells 0-1 David Edwards (w)
2. Cesar Pileggi 0.5-0.5 Ian Davies (b)
3. Steve Wilson 0-1 David Walton (w)
4. Shane Sweeney 0-1 Dafydd Howells (b)

Shrewsbury B 2-2 Darwinian Knights C
1. David Edwards (b) 1-0 Georgi Tumanyan
2. Ian Davies (w) 0-1 Ellis Sharp
3. David Walton (b) 1-0 Gabriel Tumanyan
4. Dafydd Howells (w) 0-1 Dennis Bonner

Telford B 3-1 Shrewsbury B
1. Richard Szwajkun 1-0 David Edwards (w)
2. Stefan Tennant 0-1 Ian Davies (b)
3. Roger Brown 1-0 David Walton (w)
4. Keith Butler 1-0 Dafydd Howells (b)

20/05/2026

An incredible 20 people are crammed into the main playing room tonight! That includes three juniors, while there are four club championship games being contested too.

An amazing turnout considering we're approaching the end of the competitive season - let's hope it stays this busy over the summer!

19/05/2026

David Edwards tonight (Tuesday) leads Shrewsbury B into action in the penultimate round of Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League division two fixtures.

The team makes the short trip up Abbey Foregate to Salop Unison Club to take on Darwinian Knights B and C and Telford B.

Edwards is joined by Ian Davies, David Walton and Ben Howells for tonight's fixtures.

Best of luck team!

19/05/2026

Two hard-fought draws represented a decent night's work for Shrewsbury A in Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League.

Despite being outgunned 4-0 by a hosting Newport A side that would end the night crowned as division one champions, Dan Lockett's side picked up 2-2 draws against Maddocks B and then Maddocks A to edge back into fifth place in the eight-team division.

Lockett, Stephen Priestley and Ben Howells all came into the side, with only Peter Kitchen retaining his place from the previous rapidplay night at Telford.

Both Priestley and Lockett claimed an impressive 2/3 in the middle order, although Kitchen and Howells found the going tough on top and bottom boards.

Shrewsbury will aim to cling on to fifth place in the final round of fixtures at Oswestry on May 27.

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Maddocks B 2-2 Shrewsbury A
1. Steve Tarr 1-0 Peter Kitchen (w)
2. Dave Gostelow 0-1 Stephen Priestley (b)
3. George Viszokai 0-1 Dan Lockett (w)
4. Harrison Whitehouse 1-0 Dafydd Howells (b)

Shrewsbury A 0-4 Newport A
1. Peter Kitchen (b) 0-1 Nick Rutter
2. Stephen Priestley (w) 0-1 Muhammad Qadri
3. Dan Lockett (b) 0-1 Waylon Chan
4. Dafydd Howells (w) 0-1 Chris Lewis

Maddocks A 2-2 Shrewsbury A
1. Tony Preece 1-0 Peter Kitchen (w)
2. Glyn Pugh 0-1 Stephen Priestley (b)
3. Munroe Morrison 0-1 Dan Lockett (w)
4. Andy Tunks 1-0 Dafydd Howells (b)

12/05/2026

Congratulations to this year's rapidplay league division one champions Newport A 👏👏👏

Absolutely frightening strength in depth in this squad - David Lord, their board one from the recent rounds at Telepost, didn't even make the team tonight! 😱

Div 1 Rapidplay Champions - Newport A 🏆🥳🥳

A brilliant team effort from all!

12/05/2026

Tonight's Shrewsbury A squad competing in Shropshire Rapidplay Chess League division one at Newport tonight. After scrambling a 2-2 draw against lowly Maddocks B, we had time for a team selfie and a few friendlies seeing as Newport A and Maddocks A were taking things seriously 😂 We've got those two teams next!

There's three changes to the Shrewsbury side from last week's rapidplay at Telford - only Peter Kitchen keeps his place.

Pictures, from left: Peter Kitchen, Stephen Priestley, Dan Lockett (captain) and Ben Howells.