Culcheth Chess Club Blog

by Nick

Unlike football chess doesn’t have a transfer window. If it did our club would be seen as one of the more active in the ‘market’ with no less than 5 new members joining during the summer recess. Together with a few of our existing members the new intake made club nights vibrant and worth attending – something that had rarely been the case in recent years. Their enthusiasm for the club and the game of chess was a tremendous bonus and illustrated what a difference just a few people can make in a short space of time. 

The British Chess Championships were held this year on our doorstep in Liverpool and some of our members participated in them – and in some cases in more than one section. Jonathan Miller was in the prize money in the U1600 section, but found the going rather tougher in the Over 50’s section which was peppered with players of master strength. Shlok Maheshwari did very well in the U12 Rapidplay whilst Damian McCarthy and Andy Coe performed creditably in the Major section. Shlok also enjoyed immense success in the Major section of the Leyland Congress where he finished 4th having been ranked 17th before the start of play.

At our AGM it was decided that the annual membership fee would be pegged once again at £20 and not be payable until a member had completed 4 games in either League or Cup matches. So playing chess for Culcheth remains a very inexpensive hobby.

The new season is well and truly upon us and we have teams in Divisions 1 and 2, the Richard Furness League, two in the Peninsular Cup as well as one in both the Kalmar Cup and George Davison Shield. As current holders our victory in the first round of the Kalmar Cup at Atherton was very satisfying, and our B Teams first match in Division 2 ended in a creditable draw at Northwich. It’s a long season comprised of dozens of tough matches but the early indications are positive and, thanks to our new members, we have a larger than anticipated squad from which to draw. Onwards and upwards!

As the 2025 WDCL season draws to a close our side on Monday night took part in the Final of the Kalmar Cup. They were to face a Northwich team who had recently been crowned league champions.

Our night didn’t get off to the best of starts when one of our players confirmed to play on board 2 didn’t arrive. A quick phone call and it seemed there had been a mix up with the dates. Most fortunately team captain Andy Coe had come along for the match in a non playing capacity and as he was a similar grade to the missing player he could slot straight into the lineup.

The teams lined up like this:

The first game of the night to finish was on board 3. Shlok, who had felt he had a promising position somehow touched the wrong piece. Unfortunately for Shlok this mean the unavoidable loss of material and therefore his position soon after collapsed. 1-0 to Northwich

The match was soon level again when Damian won on top board, this game had emerged from a quiet opening but an early opening of the a file led to some pressure on James’s A pawn. This pawn ended up dropping and with no counterplay and a passed white b pawn about to race up the board James decided to resign 1-1

New recruit Ambrose Lam was in fine form against Liam Whittaker, Ambrose used a nice tactic early in the game to win a pawn, at one stage both players had pawns on the seventh rank but it was the Culcheth player who calculated his way to victory 1-2 Culcheth

Whittaker V Lam – Big Board

Isaiah Slater on board 5 had achieved an excellent position early on in his game. Whittaker managed to keep this game going longer then had looked likely at the start but eventually Isaiah manged to break through on the Kingside finishing the game with a nice checkmate. 1-3 Culcheth.

Slater V Whittaker Big Board

On board 2 Adrian Breakspear had Andy Coe on the ropes for much of the game, it seemed likely that Northwich were going to pull this point back as the game headed into Rook and 3 pawns v Rook and 1 Pawn in the Northwich player’s favour. But then something extraordinary happened, pushing for the win in time pressure Breakspear went wrong and allowed Andy to win back a pawn, worse still this pawn had unleashed Andy’s one remaining pawn as a lethal passer. With the white king but off there was no stopping it’s promotion as Andy went on to take advantage and convert the position. 1-4

So well done everyone, we at last have some silverware from this season.

The A team will play in the Peninsular Cup final next week to see if they can add to this.

Grandmaster Keith Arkell

Opportunities to play against Grandmasters don’t occur regularly for us Journeyman level club players. So I was particularly pleased to be drawn against Grandmaster Keith Arkell in round 3 of the Rhyl Open.

I was even more pleased to hold the draw! I even wondered at one point if I might be able to get more but he is a stubborn defender. Game below:

Link to pop out board

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