21st Feb 2012 The NSDCA have revised the estimated grades for all of our members who are currently ungraded, and the members page on this site has been updated accordingly.
Team captains please take note that the new grades are to be applied for the remainder of this season.
(We have queried Frank's grade as it appears to be too low, but in any case revised grades will be applied until we hear otherwise. )
18th Feb 2012 It has been a while since the games page has been updated. You can look at Steve Brown's excellent win at Newcastle played in the Major cup two weeks ago here.
We are always looking for new games to publish - for any members who would like to see their game annotated, please pass your game sheet on.
Alsager A Turn the Tables on their Newcastle Counterpart.
15th Feb 2012 Having suffered a heavy defeat against Newcastle A back in November, Alsager were in the mood for revenge tonight away to a marginally stronger Newcastle A.
We were not disappointed with a tremendous 3.5 to 1.5 win, and with no losses, and thanks to wins from Julian and Klaudia.
Newcastle remain at the top of the table, however Alsager are now only two points behind but with a game in hand.
Alan Paling 0.5 Simon Hood 0.5
Barry Jones 0.5 Kamil Zak 0.5
Ian Jamieson 0 Julian Kirk-O'Grady 1
Robbie Coats 0.5 John Booth 0.5
Martyn Harris 0 Klaudia Zak 1
Alsager through to the U150 Major Cup Semi-Final
9th Feb 2012 Alsager achieved a convincing win away to Newcastle in the Major Cup replay, with no losses. We will face Fenton in March for the semi-final.
Sam Onions 0.5 Alan Thomason 0.5
Nick McLean 0 Gordon Parker 1
John Day 0.5 Doug Barnett 0.5
Watson Fuller 0 Steve Brown 1
Pete Shaw 0.5 Andrew Barker 0.5
9 games - and only one point!
9th Feb 2012 Alsager league results were not too inspiring this week- with a single half point (thanks to Oliver) from our division four match against Cheddleton.
James Kingston 0 Matthew Wyza 1
Oliver Horrocks 0.5 Jack Healings 0.5
Richard Martin 0 Jacob Boswell 1
Les Hall 0 Samuel Beardmore 1
On the same night our first team avoided a whitewash at home to bottom of the league Stafford, when Frank on board 5 achieved a draw.
Simon Hood 0 Gerald Acey 1
Julian Kirk-O'Grady 0 Lee Grinsell 1
John Booth 0 Malcolm Armstrong 1
Brian Birchall 0 Stephane Pedder 1
Frank Clarke 0.5 Pavlo Nefyodiv 0.5
Alsager B Lose to Macclesfield in Division Two
2nd Feb 2012 A single win from Kamil and draws from Doug and Michael were not enough to gain any points away to Macclesfield last night.
David Risley 0 Kamil Zak 1
John-Paul Taylor 1 Klaudia Zak 0
Phil Cattermole 0.5 Doug Barnett 0.5
Ray Pomeroy 1 Andrew Barker 0
Alan Sime 0.5 Michael Matar 0.5
Alsager D Road to Recovery
31st Jan 2012 With wins from Oliver and Andy on boards two and four, Dick's team continued on the long upward haul from the bottom of Division 4 with a draw against Fenton D in Division 4 last night. Alsager have overtaken Meir B and are now level with Fenton D in 5th position - a good start to the second half of the season.
Neal Davies 1 Neville Jones 0
Joe Orsolics 0 Oliver Horrocks 1
Roy Hammersley 1 Richard Martin 0
Keith Plimmer 0 Andrew Barker 1
Oliver is now in second place behind Alan on 62% performance and with a few more wins has a good chance to take the Club Trophy.
January grades have now been issued - however, except where a player was previously ungraded, the July 2011 grades will remain in place for league games played during the rest of this season - the only league players affected are Kamil (159) and Steve Brown (126).
January grades will however be in force for the South Cheshire Shield U140 this year, which runs from April to September.
Alsager Trounce Cheddleton A
28th Jan 2012 After a no-show from our board two, Kamil, a weakened Alsager A put in a very strong performance to beat Cheddleton A 3-2, with wins from Simon, Julian and Alan - Alsager A are now second in the table behind Newcastle.
Simon Edwards 0 Simon Hood 1
Dave Buxton 1 Default 0
Rafal Stepien 1 John Booth 0
Lezcek Stepien 0 Julian O'Grady 1
John Yee 0 Alan Thomason 1
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Alsager B lost narrowly to Newcastle in division two - with Sam winning on board 3 deciding the match in Newcastle's favour. In any case, we were pleased to welcome Frank Clarke to the club - after many years break from chess he achieved an easy draw against John Day - well done Frank.
John Booth 0.5 Alan Paling 0.5
Douglas Barnett 0.5 Martyn Harris 0.5
Brian Birchall 0 Sam Onions 1
Frank Clarke 0.5 John Day 0.5
Neville Jones 0.5 Paul Clapham 0.5
... and a mystery result on Wednesday when Alsager C played an away game against Stafford B in division 3. At this point neither captain has reported the results to the league - come on Neville - who won?
Club Trophy Race is on
18th Jan 2012 Prompted by the recent addition of a members performance page on Fenton's fine site, you can now view player statistics via the members page, or click here .
The player with the best performance percentage at the end of the season will be Club Trophy holder.
You have to have played at least eight games during the season to take part- and there's still plenty of time to knock Alan off the top spot - let's see what you can do.
Alsager D Move up the Table
17th Jan 2012 Last night, Alsager gained the full two points away to Meir B with two wins and a draw.This was enough to relinquish the bottom position in Division 4 to Newcastle E. A very close battle in this division promises some exciting matches ahead.
Clive Ferry 0 Neville Jones 1
Tom Healey 0.5 John Smith 0.5
Eddie Burke 0 Oliver Horrocks 1
Stuart Green 1 Richard Martin 0
Good News for A- Bad News for C12th Jan 2012 With 3 of Alsager's top players unavailable, a weakened Alsager A defeated the Kings in a very close match at home on Tuesday. The score after boards 1 3 and 5 had finished playing was 2-1 to Holmes Chapel Kings. John (with Queen against Rook and Knight) and Klaudia (with a one pawn lead in a 3 minute time scramble), were able to produce wins on boards 2 and 4 to take the match.
Kamil Zak 1/2 Pat Bennett 1/2
John Booth 1 M. Hancock 0
Alan Thomason 0 John Turner 1
Klaudia Zak 1 Andrew Raeburn 0
Doug Barnett 1/2 Ian Bates 1/2
Alsager C moved to the bottom of division three after losing at home to a much stronger Cheddleton C.
Brian Birchall 1/2 Roger Edwards 1/2
Andy Barker 0 Alastair McFadden 1
Neville Jones 1/2 David Hallen 1/2
Richard Martin 1/2 Frank Bruce 1/2
South Cheshire Shield 2012
8th Jan 2012 We are keen to build on the success of the U140 South Cheshire Shield which was launched in 2011. This year, the competition will be slightly extended to run from April until end of September, and again Alsager, Holmes Chapel and Kidsgrove will participate.
With three clubs taking part, each team plays four matches (4 persons per team - one home and one away game.)
We would like one other club to join in - with an additional club, each team would play 6 matches, which would work out nicely at one match per month.
If you think your club may be interested, please get in touch with us here.
First Game of the Year - Victory!
8th Jan 2012 Alsager D started the year well with a 3-1 win against Newcastle E on Monday.
Brian Birchall 1 Pete Shaw 0
Neville Jones 0 Paul Clapham 1
Oliver Horocks 1 Steven Cooper 0
Richard Martin 1 Hamid Shabani 0
Happy New Year To All - A Mid Season Report
8th Jan 2012 After a strong start to the season in all four divisions, Alsager tailed off badly in the last quarter, and managed only one draw and 12 losses out of the last 13 matches played.
We ended the mid-season at the middle of the division one and two league tables, next to bottom of division three, and bottom of division four.
It was disappointing to concede the Open Cup match against Stafford back in November in the first round, but it was impossible to put a team together, with all five of our top players unavailable - either out of the country or working away.
For all of that, we are pleased to report only one defaulted board throughout the season and only one postponed match - a major improvement on past seasons.
We are also pleased to have been able to give our new players some games this season, and I am sure as they get more experience their results will improve. Well done to Andy with only 2 losses out of the five games he has played so far this season - not bad after a 30 year break from chess, and a special thanks to Les who has turned out at very short notice for away games.
In 2010, Brian was our most prolific player, accumulating over 30 games for the club. This season, chess has taken a back seat to his other occupation as a band musician, which means that he has only really been available for home games - a bit of a set back for the club, and without doubt this has cost us points. Put the trumpet away Brian - we need you!
A special thank you to Oliver, Neville, and Dick who between them have notched up close to 40 games, contributing between them more points than any other player.
To all of our members and any other visitors - Very Best Wishes for 2012 and Thank You for your support.
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