CHECKMATE – Rugby Chess Club has celebrated a double victory.
The club’s A and B teams have won trophies in the Coventry Chess League this season.
The A team clinched the Division Two title with a convincing 3-1 win over Coventry Chess Club in the final round.
The team, comprising captain John Hall, Martin Wilson, Dave Riley, Simon Turner, Arthur Hibbitt and Cristian Lungu, scored a total of 19 points out of 24 games.
Across the season, the team won 11 of their 14 matches, drawing one and losing two.
John said: “It was a great team effort and we are delighted to win the division. We had some tough matches along the way, but we always played with confidence and determination.”
Meanwhile, the B team won the Plate Trophy knockout competition for the first time.
The team, led by Malcolm Harding, beat three higher-ranked teams in the competition, thanks to the handicap system and some fine individual performances.
Malcolm said: “It was a challenging competition, but we showed our fighting spirit and managed to pull off some upsets.
“We especially enjoyed the final match against Coventry Chess Club B, where Mick Perchard and I won two close games to seal the victory.”
The trophies were presented by Mike Johnson, the president of the Coventry Chess League, at a ceremony held at Rugby Chess Club. Mike congratulated both teams on their achievements and praised the club for its contribution to chess in the region.
Rugby Chess Club meets at 7:30pm on the first and third Monday of each month at Rugby Workers Club in Oliver Street. Visit www.rugbychessclub.co.uk or contact Malcolm Harding at [email protected] for more information.
