Shropshire chess players return from tournaments

Shropshire chess players have been returning with plunder from various tournaments around the country.

Teenager Athar Mehmood, who plays for Newport, led the way by becoming the under-16 champion after competing in the Staffordshire Junior Chess tournament.

Meanwhile Telepost's John Bashall came away from the Scarborough congress with £500 after winning all five games to take the first prize in the Major section, for players graded under 171. Francis Best won the Major last year so that makes it two in a row for Shropshire, and this year his son Matthew Best was joint third in the Foundation section (U106) with 4/5.

A clutch of Shropshire players took part in the Birmingham rapidplay, where among the prize winners were Vikas Sharma who was joint third in the Open with four points (out of six).

Steve Rooney was joint second in the Major (U175) with 4.5/6, and Richard Szwajkun joint third in the Minor with 4.5/6.

On the home front Shropshire's team for players graded under 140 went down to a 9-7 defeat against Staffordshire at Shifnal.

Winners were John Westhead, Gary White, Stefan Tennant, Ivor Salter, plus one default, and draws were from Peter Crean, Marvin Carbin, Ian Davies, Andrew Lewis, George Viszokai, and Derrick Powell.

But Shropshire's open team is heading for a crisis unless a new captain - or team of people willing to take on the captain's role - is found.

The next match is on Saturday against Lincolnshire and, unless an organiser comes forward, the team will have to be scratched, meaning an effective end to the open team.

Coddon Chess Club has been the most stable of clubs in terms of venue, but that is about to change with news that the Coddon Sports and Social Club in Donnington is to close on April 2.

There was a rumour some while back that the social club might close, so this latest development, although unwelcome, will not have come as a total surprise.

By TOBY NEAL