AGM Headlines

The Annual General Meeting on Monday 25th July saw one major change. Keith Escott was re-elected as Secretary, but stood down as Chairperson (which he had been since 1995) in favour of John Mildenhall. Keith was given a vote of thanks, plus the new Open Championship Trophy will be called the Escott Trophy.

Other news in brief: Rob Marks was appointed Member of the Year not to mention re-elected as Treasurer and as Equipment Secretary. Marek Soszynski was elected to the new post of Membership Secretary.

Diary Dates

Sutton Coldfield Chess Club @ Minworth Social Club

• Monday 25th July 19:30 — Annual General Meeting — Members are strongly encouraged to attend in order to discuss and decide Chess Club matters.

• Monday 8th August 19:30 — Bobby Fischer — Brian Denny gives a talk (with slides) on the controversial American Grandmaster, including his World Championship match in 1972 against Boris Spassky. Non-members welcome.

2022 Major Champion

Congratulations to Iqbal Dhesi who is the Sutton Coldfield Chess Club, 2022 Major (U1750) Champion! He dropped only half a point, which was to second-placed Larry Hayden.

1st Iqbal Dhesi 4½
2nd Larry Hayden 4
=3rd Jet Ajimal 3
=3rd Steven Mildenhall 3

13 Players started, 8 finished.

17 Curries

A great Curry Knight at the Indian Chef in Walmley! Many thanks to Golam Ali for making it possible. Seventeen of us sang songs — Happy Birthday to Mircea-Marius Mesesan, had selfies with Grandmaster Mark Hebden, reminisced about chess games that should have been won, and of course ate really good food like Marek Soszynski’s Garlic Salmon Jalfrezi.

Grand Curry Knight 12th May

Members are invited to an extra-special Curry Knight to be held 8pm Thursday 12th May (postponed from 3rd May) at the Indian Chef, 2 Berkeley House, Walmley Road B76 1NR https://www.indianchefsutton.com/. The evening will be special for several reasons including the welcoming of two very strong chessplayers who will be joining our Club to strengthen our top teams. One is a Grandmaster, the other has Grandmasters among his victims!

No Chess on Bank Holidays

A quick reminder that as usual the Chess Club does not meet on Bank Holidays — such as 18th April (Easter Monday) and 2nd May — though our venue the Minworth Club stays open.

Well-earned Promotion

Congratulations to our 3rd Team, captained by Rob Marks, who have come runners-up in Birmingham League Division 3 and thus earned themselves promotion. And a special mention to the only player of ours who played in every match, Larry Hayden, who scored 61%.

Our Best Gamer

Congratulations to Marek Soszynski on winning the BH Wood Best Game Trophy 2021-2022. The award by the Birmingham League comprises a trophy, certificate and £30. This is the second time Marek has won the award.

Triple First Again!

Monday 21st March we hosted another three home matches that we won:

• Division 1: Sutton Coldfield 4 Warley Quinborne 2
• Division 3: Sutton Coldfield 4 University of Birmingham 2
• Division 5: Sutton Coldfield A 3½ Mutual Circle ½

Noise Abatement

On match nights…

• Mobile phones and devices should be off.
• Drinks should be ordered at the main bar (though can be brought to the lounge bar counter by the staff).
• The lounge radio/PA should be turned off (by the bar staff) and the TV sound, at least, should also be off.
• Over-talkative players should be requested to reduce their noise or advised to take a plastic and vinyl set into the bar.

At the start of matches Captains should echo/respect the above as well as point out the location of the main bar and the toilets (so no one needs to ask).