Shrewsbury Chess Club

12/10/2026

**UN-B-LIEVABLE RESULT AS HIGHLY-FANCIED MADDOCKS SENT PACKING**

A revitalised Shrewsbury B got their Shropshire Chess League division two campaign off to a flying start with a terrific 3.5-1.5 win over Maddocks B.

Olusegun Ilesanmi, skipper David Edwards and Mark Smith all won on the top three boards, while Ian Davies picked up a solid draw on bottom board.

It was a statement win against a Maddocks B side featuring a number of players heavily involved for Maddocks A in division one last season.

Both sides finished in the bottom two last season, but having had reprieves from relegation look a lot stronger this time around.

But it was Shrewsbury's new top order who helped make the difference. Ilesanmi defeated the dangerous Steve Tarr in just 23 moves with the black pieces.

Edwards got revenge for a previous loss against Dave Gostelow with victory on board three to double his side's lead. Although Ivor Salter lost a tight game against Munroe Morrison on board four, Davies drew with Ian Jamieson and Smith navigated his way through the complications after a Gary White piece sac on board two to seal the deal.

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Shrewsbury B 3.5-1.5 Maddocks B
1.Olusegun Ilesanmi (b) 1-0 Steve Tarr
2.Mark Smith (w) 1-0 Gary White
3.David Edwards (b) 1-0 Dave Gostelow
4.Ivor Salter (w) 0-1 Munroe Morrison
5.Ian Davies (b) 0.5-0.5 Ian Jamieson

A full report and reaction will be available later in the week at www.shrewsburychessclub.org

The Bs are next in action away to Telford C on October 28.

12/10/2026

Shrewsbury B captain David Edwards has named a strong team for tonight's opening Shropshire Chess League division two match against Maddocks B.

Olusegun Ilesanmi and Mark Smith - both A teamers last season - form a new-look top order, but Shane Greenwood is unavailable.

Maddocks have also beefed up their second string over the summer and are close to full strength. Former county champion Simon Maydew drops out of the side that beat Oswestry B 3-2 in their first match, Ian Jamieson comes in on bottom board.

The match is under way and we'll have an update later!

12/10/2026

"The biggest positive though is the strengthening of our top boards, which will allow us to utilise last term’s players on boards where they will be more competitive.

"It’s noticeable that we are not the only team to reinvent our squad – not least Maddocks B, our first opponents on Monday."

Shrewsbury B captain David Edwards is hopeful his side will enjoy a stronger campaign ahead of tonight's tough season opener.

Read the full preview here:

A lot can happen in the space of 12 months – just ask Shrewsbury B captain David Edwards. This time last year, Edwards and his side were reeling from the rude awakening of an opening day 5-0 defeat away to Oswestry B. The euphoric bubble of winning division three a few months earlier was well

12/10/2026

The third time really did prove the charm for Shrewsbury Pirates as they picked up their first 4NCL Online win of the season - but it wasn't a bit of drama along the way...

Read the full match report here:

A frantic scramble submitting the teamsheet and a subsequent half-point penalty weren’t enough to stop Shrewsbury Pirates getting their 4NCL Online division four campaign up and running at the third time of asking. The Pirates defeated an inexperienced Colchester JFF C side 3.5-0.5, with all four ...

12/10/2026

"Considering the two sides finished in the bottom two places in division one last season and needed reprieves from relegation, it was clear from the outset both are determined to avoid a repeat this time around – and both already look better equipped for the new campaign."

Read the full report on Shrewsbury A's hard-fought 3.5-1.5 victory over Telford A as Dan Lockett's side got their Shropshire Chess League division one campaign off to a great start:

The “old guard” and the new came together to help a new-look Shrewsbury A get their Shropshire Chess League division one campaign off to a winning start. While one of the side’s stalwarts Peter Kitchen gave the hosts the lead in Wednesday’s tight match with Telford A, it was one of the new g...

09/10/2026

A massive best of luck to two of our former players who are competing in the first ever Shropshire Champion of Champions tournament this weekend!

Nathanael Paul and Jamie Hopkins - both past Shrewsbury A board ones - are in an elite field of eight former county champions competing for the title.

The pair are up against each other in tonight's opening round, with Hopkins having the white pieces.

The tournament is being held by Shropshire Chess Association to mark the centenary of the Shropshire County Individual, the winner of which is declared each season's county champion.

The games - all being played at the home of tournament controller Chris Lewis in Market Drayton - can be followed live on Lichess. Several of our members are following round one tonight!

Find out everything you need to know about the tournament, including links to the live games, using the link below:

https://shropshirechess.org/champions-tournament/

Best of luck to Nat and Jamie!

08/10/2026

**D TEAM DOWNED AS JUNIORS FIGHT BACK**

Shrewsbury D let an early lead and a number of opportunities slip to fall to a narrow 2.5-1.5 defeat against Maddocks Junior.

Captain Nick Nuthall put his side ahead with a swift win against Eli Kynaston on board three, and the visitors looked to be taking command with debutant Scott Beard a couple of pawns up on top board and his dad Richard looking promising on bottom board.

Richard Vernon's defeat against Harrison Whitehouse seemed a temporary setback - but then matters became more complicated in the remaining games.

Scott Beard was held to a draw by Connor Oswin on top board and despite being a piece up and ahead in the clock, things went wrong for Richard Beard and he lost the deciding game against Bradley Gordon.

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Maddocks Junior 2.5-1.5 Shrewsbury D
1.Connor Oswin 0.5-0.5 Scott Beard (w)
2.Harrison Whitehouse 1-0 Richard Vernon (b)
3.Eli Kynaston 0-1 Nick Nuthall (w)
4.Bradley Gordon 1-0 Richard Beard (b)

A huge congratulations to our hosts on their first ever league win 👏

The result leaves the Ds with one win and one defeat so far in Shropshire Chess League division three ahead of a local derby away to Darwinian Knights C on October 20.

08/10/2026

**FATHER AND SON LINE UP TOGETHER AS SCOTT MAKES FIRST START**

Scott Beard makes his competitive debut for the club on top board for Shrewsbury D - in the same team as his dad Richard.

Nick Nuthall's side has two changes from the team that beat clubmates Shrewsbury C for tonight's Shropshire Chess League division three match at Maddocks Junior.

Scott Beard and Richard Vernon come into the team, with Chris Warrilow and Tom Osenton dropping out.

Tonight's match is just getting under way, and we'll have an update with the result later. Good luck Ds!

07/10/2026

**A TEAM UP AND RUNNING WITH TELFORD TRIUMPH**

Peter Kitchen and Fred Bench secured the all-important wins as a new-look Shrewsbury A got their Shropshire Chess League division one campaign off to a victorious start.

Dan Lockett's side deservedly defeated a full-strength Telford A side 3.5-1.5 at Cromwell’s Tap House - and ended the night with a clean sheet with none of the team losing a board.

But the visitors deserve credit for putting up a stiff fight and will no doubt be competitive opposition for any side in the division this season.

It was a typically tight match between two sides that finished in the bottom two last season but already look better equipped for the new season.

Shrewsbury gave league debuts to new signings Nigel Ferrington and Bench in boards one and two, while Telford welcomed Mark Keady back into their ranks after a two-year break.

The match started with two relatively quick draws. Lockett and opposing captain Richard Szwajkun drew a quiet game in just 19 moves on bottom board, while Ferrington was held to a draw in 23 moves against an impressive Tiago Faustino on top board.

But after Stephen Priestley had a draw offer turned down by the visitors' Toby Neal in board four, the match started to swing Shrewsbury's way.

Kitchen defeated an out-of-sorts Keady with the black pieces on board three, before Bench drove home a hard-earned advantage secured in the middle game to force Richard Parry's resignation after 51 moves on board two.

With the points sealed in the home side's favour, Priestley and Neal continued to duke it out on board four, with the Telford man running very short of time. But a close battle ended in a draw.

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Shrewsbury A 3.5-1.5 Telford A
1. Nigel Ferrington (b) 0.5-0.5 Tiago Faustino
2. Fred Bench (w) 1-0 Richard Parry
3. Peter Kitchen (b) 1-0 Mark Keady
4. Stephen Priestley (w) 0.5-0.5 Toby Neal
5. Dan Lockett (b) 0.5-0.5 Richard Szwajkun

Full reaction and an in-depth match report will follow at www.shrewsburychessclub.org in the next few days.

The As will next be in action on October 21 when they travel to face Oswestry A.

(With thanks to David Edwards for the pictures)

07/10/2026

**DEBUTS FOR TWO NEW SIGNINGS AT SEASON OPENER**

Nigel Ferrington and Fred Bench make their competitive debuts for Shrewsbury A's opening fixture of the new Shropshire Chess League division one campaign.

The former Telepost pair make up the top order of Dan Lockett's side in boards one and two. Fellow new signing Phil Zabrocki is unavailable.

The visitors have named a strong side, close to full strength.