News Archive 2022

Winter tournaments

The pre-covid tournaments were concluded, with Robert Reynolfds beating Richard Liszewski in the semi-final and then winning the final after tie-break match against Richard Reynolds in the final.

In the Minor section, Jim Gillespie beat Dave Reeves in the final.

Summer Tournament 2023

Standings

No	NAME	Grade	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Pos
1	Garry Evans	1622	1	1	2	2½	3	3	3½
2	Andy Cottom	1716	0	1	1½	2½	3	3	4	5th=
3	Korey Palmer	----	0	0	½	½	½	½	½
4	Richard Reynolds	1817	1	2	3	3½	4½	5	5	1st
5	Robert Reynolds	1789	½	1	2	2½	3	4	5	2nd=
6	Rory Lynas	1686P	0	0	0	1	1	2	2
7	Jim Gillespie	1527	0	0	½	½	1½	1½	1½
8	Warren Archibald	1583	1	2	3	3½	4	4	4½	4th
9	Mark Cundy	1985	1	2	2½	2½	3	4	5	2nd=
10	Garry Hope	1871	1	2	2	3	3	3	4	5th=
11	Richard Liszewski	1781	0	1	1	2	3	4	4	5th=
12	Tom Evans	1638	0	0	1	1½	1½	2½	3
13	Sam Hughes	1613	1	1	1	2	2	2	3
14	Kacper Drukarczuk	1618	1	1	1	1½	2½
15	Jon Asbury	1554	½	½	1	1½	1½	2½	3½
16	Roger Threlfall	1662	0	1	2	2½	3	3½	4	5th=
17	Trevor Holt	1733	½	1½	1½	1½	2½	3½	3½
18

ound 1

Robert Reynolds	½-½	Jon Asbury
Warren Archibald	1-0	Korey Palmer
Sam Hughes	1-0	Andy Cottom
Mark Cundy	1-0	Roger Threlfall
Garry Evans	1-0	Rory Lynas
Richard Reynolds	1-0	Richard Liszewski
Jim Gillespie	0-1	Kacper Drukarczuk
Tom Evans	0-1	Gary Hope
Trevor Holt	½-Bye

 

Round 2

Kacper Drukarczuk	0-1	Warren Archibald
Jon Asbury	0-1	Mark Cundy
Richard Reynolds	1-0	Sam Hughes
Gary Hope	1-0	Garry Evans
Rory Lynas	0-1	Trevor Holt
Andy Cottom	1-0	Jim Gillespie
Roger Threlfall	1-0	Korey Palmer
Richard Liszewski	1-0	Tom Evans
Robert Reynolds	½-Bye

Round 3

Warren Archibald	1-0	Gary Hope
Trevor Holt	0-1	Richard Reynolds
Garry Evans	1-0	Richard Liszewski
Sam Hughes	0-1	Roger Threlfall
Kacper Drukarczuk	0-1	Robert Reynolds
Tom Evans	1-0	Rory Lynas
Jim Gillespie	½-½	Jon Asbury
Mark Cundy	½-Bye
Andy Cottom	½-Bye
Korey Palmer	½-Bye

Round 4

Warren Archibald	½-½	Richard Reynolds
Gary Hope	1-0	Mark Cundy
Roger Threlfall	½-½	Robert Reynolds
Richard Liszewski	1-0	Trevor Holt
Jon Asbury	½-½	Garry Evans
Tom Evans	½-½	Kacper Drukarczuk
Jim Gillespie	0-1	Sam Hughes
Rory Lynas	1-0	Korey Palmer
Andy Cottom	1-0	Rory Lynas (R5)

Round 5

Andy Cottom (R4)	1-0	Rory Lynas
Garry Evans	½-½	Warren Archibald
Richard Reynolds	1-0	Gary Hope
Andy Cottom	½-½	Roger Threlfall
Robert Reynolds	½-½	Mark Cundy
Sam Hughes	0-1	Richard Liszewski
Kacper Drukarczuk	1-0	Jon Asbury
Trevor Holt	1-0	Tom Evans
Korey Palmer	0-1	Jim Gillespie

Round 6

Roger Threlfall	½-½	Richard Reynolds
Richard Liszewski	1-0	Warren Archibald
Gary Hope	0-1	Robert Reynolds
Mark Cundy	1-0	Andy Cottom
Trevor Holt	1-0	Garry Evans
Tom Evans	1-0	Sam Hughes
Jon Asbury	1-0	Korey Palmer
Rory Lynas	1-0	Jim Gillespie
Kacper Drukarczuk

Round 7

Robert Reynolds	1-0	Richard Reynolds
Mark Cundy	1-0	Richard Liszewski
Warren Archibald	½-½	Roger Threlfall
Andy Cottom	1-0	Trevor Holt
Jon Asbury	1-0	Rory Lynas
Jim Gillespie	0-1	Gary Hope
Garry Evans	½-½	Tom Evans
Korey Palmer	0-1	Sam Hughes

Birmingham Division Three A

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Fixtures 2023-24

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DATE	HOME	RESULT	AWAY
12/09/23	Olton	1-5	Solihull
19/09/23	Olton	4-2	Shirley
20/11/23	Kynoch	2½-3½	Olton
28/11/23	Mercia	3½-2½	Olton
05/12/23	Olton	6-0	Halesowen
09/01/24	Olton	2½-3½	Coleshill
22/01/24	Sutton Coldfield	3-3	Olton
13/02/24	Olton	3-3	Mutual Circle
26/02/24	Stourbridge	1½-4½	Olton
05/03/24	Olton	1½-4½	South Birmingham
28/03/24	Lichfield	4½-1½	Olton

Terrill Trophy 2023-4 - Stourbridge III 5-1 Olton III

Homer Trophy Roand 1 - Warley Quinborne 2B 4½-3 Olton

DIVISION 3	PERF	SCORE	GAMES	%
Korey Palmer	1200	1	1	100
Rory Lynas	1673	1½	2	75
Richard Evans	1719	6½	9	72
Garry Evans	1714	6	10	60
Roger Threlfall	1732	6	11	54.5
Trevor Holt	1529	1½	9	17
Andrew Cottom	1762	5	10	50
Tom Evans	1551	4	10	40
Oliver Harrison	1674	1	2	50
Jim Gillespie	1362	½	2	25
Terrill
Roger Threlfall	1749	½	1	50
Kacper Drukarczuk	1637	½	1	50
Andrew Cottom	1354	0	1	500
Oliver Harrison	1324	0	1	0
Tom Evans	1329	0	1	0
Richard Evans	1292	0	1	0
Homer 3
Roger Threlfall	1808	½	1	50
Andrew Cottom	1436	0	1	0
Tom Evans	1749	½	1	50
Garry Evans	1651	0	1	0
Sam Hughes	1297	0	1	0
Rory Lynas	1275	0	1	0

 

Birmingham Division Four

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Fixtures 2023-24

DATE	HOME	RESULT	AWAY
05/09/23	Olton	2½-2½	Stourbridge
25/09/23	Rushall	3½-1½	Olton
17/10/23	Olton	3-2	Solihull
23/10/23	Sutton Coldfield	½-3½	Olton
07/11/23	Olton	5-0	University
04/12/23	Oscott	1½-3½	Olton
19/12/23	Olton	½-4½	Redditch
11/01/24	Shirley	1-4	Olton
30/01/24	Olton	1½-3½	South B'ham B
28/02/24	South B'ham A	2-3	Olton
18/03/24	St Georges	½-4½	Olton
02/04/24	Olton	5-Def	Kynoch

DIVISION 4	PERF	SCORE	GAMES	%
Oliver Harrison	1891	7	9	88
Kacper Drukarczuk	1740	6½	9	72
Sreve Chadaway	1673	7	11	64
Warren Archibald	1519	5½	10	55
Sam Hughes	1543	3	7	43
Rory Lynas	1359	1	3	33
Jim Gillespie	1239	1	4	25
Akbar Khan	948	0	2	0

South Birmingham v Olton 2023

	SOUTH BIRMINGHAM		V	OLTON
1	Neil Clarke	1974	0 - 1	Mark Cundy	1963
2	Muhammed Oguz Isik	1864	1 - 0	Martin Smyth	1914
3	Darren Whitmore	1858	0 - 1	Gary Hope	1880
4	Tim Lane	1844	1 - 0	Richard Reynolds	1794
5	Rob Glass	1841	½-½	Richard Liszewski	1795
6	Milenko Walner	1798	0 - 1	Robert Reynolds	1789
7	Bruno Silva	1780	½-½	Trevor Holt	1789
8	Terry Walker	1753	0 - 1	Andy Cottom	1716
9	Steve Edwards	1752	½-½	Chris Pitt	1625
10	Mark Drugan	1742	1 - 0	Sam Hughes	1607
11	Kacper Sikorski	1761	0 - 1	John Asbury	1575
12	Matthew Little	1649	1 - 0	Frank Jimenez	1560
13	Dominic Heining	1639	1 - 0	Jim Gillespie	1524
14	Derek Green	1607	0 - 1	Akbar Khan	1472
15	Sean Doherty	1473	1 - 0	Chris Moore	1553
16	Luke Lambert	1522	½-½	Rory Lynas	1686 R
17	Paul Heeney	1470	½-½	Robert MacIntosh	1320 E

 

Friendly match v Shirley

BOARD	OLTON	RESULT	SHIRLEY
1	Mark Cundy 1963	½-½	Phil Purcell  2113
2	Gary Hope  1880	1-0	Don Mason  2095
3	Richard Reynolds 1794	½-½	Jon Dale  1920
4	Richard Liszewski 1795	0-1	Keith Ingram 1846
5	Robert Reynolds 1789	1-0	Arnold Peace 1651
6	Andy Cottom 1716	1-0	Nigel Foster 1620
7	Roger Threlfall 1661	1-0	Kim Gilbert 1587
8	Garry Evans 1616	0-1	John Asbury 1575
9	Sam Hughes 1607	1-0	Frank Jimenez 1560
10	Rory Lynas 1686P	½-½	Dave Cotterill 1570
11	Jim Gillespie 1524	1-0	Roger Ball 1454
12	Korey Palmer --	0-1	Barry Knee 1454

Leamingon League

DATE	HOME	RESULT	AWAY
12/09/23	Stratford A	2½-1½	Olton
19/09/23	Olton	2½-1½	Banbury A
25/09/23	Kenilworth A	3-1	Olton
31/10/23	Olton	½-3½	Solihull A
13/11/23	Shirley A	1½-2½	Olton
28/11/23	Olton	1½-2½	Kenilworth B
04/12/23	Shirley B	1-3	Olton
19/12/23	Olton	½-3½	Stratford A
01/02/24	Banbury A	2-2	Olton
13/02/24	Olton	3-1	Shirley B
21/02/24	Solihull A	1½-2½	Olton
26/02/24	Kenilworth B	3-1	Olton
23/04/24	Olton	1-3	Kenilworth A
09/04/24	Olton	3-1	Shirley A

 

Trophy Matches

Round 1 - Kenilworth ½-½ Olton (loss on board elimination)

DIVISION 1	PERF	SCORE	GAMES	%
Mark Cundy	2037	8	14	57.14
Robert Reynolds	1898	2	4	50
Alan Lloyd	2009	6	14	42.86
Richard Reynolds	1799	5	14	35.71
Richard Liszewski	1727	3½	10	35
Open Cup
Richard Liszewski	2418	1	1	100
Alan Lloyd	2241	½	1	50
Mark Cundy	2203	½	1	50
Richard Reynolds	2131	½	1	50
Robert Reynolds	1695	0	1	0

Division 2

DATE	HOME	RESULT	AWAY
26/09/23	Leamington A	4-0	Olton
03/10/23	Olton	3-1	Rugby
09/10/23	Kenilworth C	2-2	Olton
06/11/23	Kenilworth D	2-2	Olton
21/11/23	Olton	2½-1½	Banbury B
10/01/24	Solihull B	2-2	Olton
15/01/24	Rugby	1-3	Olton
23/01/24	Olton	1½-2½	Kenilworth D
30/01/24	Olton	1½-2½	Solihull B
06/02/24	Olton	1½-2½	Kenilworth C
20/02/24	Olton	1-3	Leamington A
21/03/24	Banbury B	2½-1½	Olton

Trophy Matches

U8750 Round 1 - Daventry Def-5 Olton

Round 2 - Olton 3½-1½ Leamington.

Final - Olton 2½-2½ Kenilworth (loss on tie-break)

DIVISION 2	PERF	SCORE	GAMES	%
Oliver Harrison	1977	2	2	100
Robert Reynolds	1799	2½	7	36
Tom Evans	1908	2	3	67
Andrew Cottom	1747	2½	6	42
Richard Liszewski	2013	5½	8	89
Rory Lynas	1540	1½	4	37.5
Warren Archibald	1538	2	7	29
Roger Threlfall	1641	½	2	25
Garry Evans	1401	0	2	0
Richard Evans	1329	0	2	0
U8750 Cup
Richard Liszewski	2194	2	2	100
Richard Evans	2048	2	2	100
Andrew Cottom	1323	0	2	0
Richard Reynolds	1901	1	2	50
Robert Reynolds	1833	1	2	50

Division 3

DATE	HOME	RESULT	AWAY
12/09/23	Olton	½-3½	Coventry
19/09/24	Stratford B	1-3	Olton
10/10/23	Olton	2-2	Shirley C
08/11/23	Solihull C	2½-1½	Olton
14/11/23	Olton	½-3½	Leamington B
27/11/23	Shirley D	½-3½	Olton
05/12/23	Olton	1-3	Banbury C
12/12/23	Coventry	3½-½	Olton
08/01/24	Shirley C	3-1	Olton
16/01/24	Olton	3½-½	Shirley D
13/02/24	Olton	3-1	Solihull C
27/02/24	Leamington B	2-2	Olton
05/03/24	Olton	1-3	Stratford B
11/04/24	Banbury C	1-3	Olton

DIVISION 3	PERF	SCORE	GAMES	%
Oliver Harrison	2007	7	8	88
Rory Lynas	1630	1	12	58
Steve Chadaway	1567	½	1	50
Tayeb Kazemi	1549	½	1	50
Warren Archibald	1581	4	10	40
Kacper Drukarczuk	1606	4	11	36
Jim Gillespie	1423	1½	5	30
Sam Hughes	1443	1½	6	25
Akbar Khan	1156	0	2	0

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31/07/2023

Phil Holt Commemorative tournament

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23/06/23

Leamington League AGM

The Leamington League Under 8750 Knockout trophy was presented at the League AGM last night.

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Robert Wallman

Update 08/05/23

We have just been informed that Robert's funeral is on Wednesday 10th May at 2.00pm at Robin Hood crematorium, followed by tributes, refreshments and memories at Monyhull Church, B30 3PS.

It is my sad duty to inform fellow players of the death of former Olton player, Robert Wallman. Robert had stopped playing over-the-board during the restart after the Covid pandemic to look after his mother. We had not received any news from him recently, but he was playing internet chess against League players. It was only a few days ago that a player had remarked that he had stopped even that.

Robert had worked in accountancy for many years and enjoyed running and playing football. He supported West Bromwich Albion and often went to home matches.

Robert was at the club when I joined in the early eighties. Playing in our second team. He was  well known for playing extremely quickly, but well at the same time. Divisions 2 & 3 in BDCL were quite strong, but Robert’s results justified a place in the team. Robert rarely drew games. There were lots of double-edged games,  spectacular wins and sharp openings with varied results. Robert was a keen player, travelling to matches by public transport and on occasion playing two or three games a week.

Later, Robert would be either in Division 1 or first reserve from the Division 2 side and contributed greatly to whichever team he was playing in. He particularly enjoyed the League 10-second tournament.

Having retired, he was hoping to spend more time on other pursuits, but took up some part-time work. He did not say much about his personal life, but was happy to discuss chess games at great length. He was 63.

At is time, we do not have any funeral details. We will pass on any details when known.

Richard Reynolds

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BDCL Lightning Tournament

The Birmingham League Lightning Tournament took place at Olton's venue on Tuesday 14th March, after a 3-year absence. Teams of 4 competed in 3 section at the rate of 10 seconds per move, there were 12 teams in total.

 

The home club entered teams in Sections A and C. Olton A came 3rd and Olron B won the section. Andy Cottom won the individual prize, with 6/6.

Pictures courtesy of Asim Qureshi.

 

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Phil Holt

It is with great sadness that I report the death of the club's top player, Phil Holt, on Sunday 6th November. A full obituary appears here...

Our condolences go to Phil's family, especially his Father Trevor.

The Funeral is on Tuesday 6^th December at Robin Hood crematorium, Streetsbrook Road, Shirley, Solihull, B90 3NLat 12.30.

Then to

Hall Green Home Guard Club, 21A Doveridge Rd, Birmingham B28 0LS.

Richard Reynolds

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Richard Smith's Funeral

Richard's Funeral took place on Monday 22nd August. It was well attended and there was a gathering at the West Warwickshire Sports club afterwards. Here is a game from a trophy match from 2009, where Olton 1 faced Olton 2A. After analysis, the result should have been different, but this game summarises the way Richard's games often went. See the game...

Club Blitz Tournament

A second club blitz was held on Tuesday 9th August played at 10 minutes plus 3 seconds per move.

1 Reynolds, Richard        4.5
2 Reynolds, Robert         4
3 Cottom, Andy             3.5
4 Threlfall, Roger           3
5-6 Hughes, Sam            2.5
     Reeves, Dave           2.5
7-8 Islam, Gohar            2
     Drukarczyk, Kacper   2
9 Gillespie, Jim             1

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Richard Smith

It is my sad duty to report thst club member Richard Smith passed away on Friday 29th July. Richard had been suffering from a rare illness and had been undergoing treatment for some time.

Richard joined the club in 2007 and played in the iirst team for the duration of his membership. His games were often exciting and there were many games won in a desperate time scramble. He was always happy to take other club members to matches and go out of his way to help.

Our thoughts are with Richard's wife Susan and his family at this time.

Richard's funeral service is 9.30 on Monday 22nd August at Robin Hood crematorium, B90 3NL. Afterwards at West Warwickshire Sports club, Grange Road, B91 1DA. There will be light refreshments, tea and coffee provided and a (paying) bar. Anyone wishing to attend the refreshments should let me know please, with any special dietary requirements.

Richard Reynolds

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Club Blitz Tournament

A tournament was held at the club on Tuesday 19th July. Five rounds at 10 minutes plus 3 seconds per move. The results were as follows:

Richard Liszewski 4.5

Richard Reynolds 4

Andy Cottom 3.5

 Tom Evans 3

Kacper Drukarczyk 3

Gohar Islam 2

Robert Reynolds 2

Jim Gillespie 2

Akbar Khan 1

Riz Ullah 0

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Ken Allen

It is my sad duty to report that Olton club member Ken Allen sadly passed away on Tuesday 5^th July. He was 71 years old.

 

Ken had played for Olton Chess Club since the 2005-6 season, where he appeared in Birmingham League Division 4. Previously, Ken had played for West Warwickshire club and later Solihull, when the two clubs merged.

Ken was a keen player and studied his openings. Arriving for a match, he was always eager to get started on the game. Whatever the result, would talk enthusiastically about what he should have done and where the opponent varied from the book.

Last season, Ken played in Division 2. There were occasional appearances in the Leamington and Worcester League teams over the years. Mostly these were cover for regular team members, but Ken was always happy to help out when needed. His grade at the start of last season was 1728.

Ken’s funeral is on Monday 25^th July at 11.00am at Waseley Hill Crematorium, New Inns Lane, Rubery, B45 9TS

The wake will follow at The Hop Pole Inn, Friar Street, Droitwich, WE9 8ED

Richard Reynolds

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Summer Tournament

The Summer Tournament has begun, the results are here...

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06/04/22 - Bill Yeomans

I have the sad duty to inform you that Olton Chess Club Life President, Bill Yeomans, passed a way 2 weeks ago, aged 94. Bill had played for the club since the mid 1960s and only stopped playing a few years ago due to ill health. Bill went into sheltered accommodation after his wife Jean passed away and later into a home. The pair were inseparable and relied on each other in different ways.

I first met Bill when I started playing in the early eighties in the division 9 team. Bill and Dennis Bishop shared the top boards. Bill was most noted for the ‘Bill Yeomans opening’ which involved a double-fianchetto against any defence. There wasn’t much more of a plan after that but many a time I would see that Bill had grabbed a Rook in the corner. He would have a big grin on his face. He enjoyed chess immensely but would never be anything other than a bottom team player. That said,  he would have a go against anyone.

Bill once came into the chess room at Tyseley WMC and asked ‘who that scruffy guy was sitting in the lounge ?”. It was the late Tony Miles. I am sure Bill knew that.

In the early days, I recall sitting in the back of his builder’s van on top of a gas cylinder on the way to matches. There was no preparation or comfort then. I would arrive shaken not stirred and covered in cement dust. I spoke to Bill’s son Kevin, one of Olton’s former great players and recalled the people who have played for the club since those times and still do. I also met previously Bill’s other sons Colin and Michael.

In 1995, Bill was elected club Life President, when the previous incumbent was found to have passed away. He was very honoured to hold this post until his death. Even though dementia set in, the one thing Bill could do was remember the moves in chess and he played his grandson up until recently.

Bill’s Funeral will take place at Yardley Crematorium, on Thursday 14^th April at 10:45am

Yardley Road, South Yardley, Birmingham, B25 8NA

Then back to Tyseley Working Mens Club (Olton’s venue)

573 Warwick Road, Tyseley, Birmingham, B11 2EX (approx. 12 noon)

 Richard Reynolds

Olton Chess Club

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League Chess resumes

The 2021-22 season of the Birmingham and Leamington Leagues are ready to start and there will be a friendly match against South Birmingham in the first week of October. Fixtures are available here in PDF format although they may be subject to change.

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Summer Tournament

We are running a Summer Tournament in the next few weeeks. Results will appear here.

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Reopening after Lockdown

The club will meet informally whilst the lockdown is eased, we will be in the games room at the club until further notice for a few friendly games. As soon as the restrictions are eased we will move back upstairs to the function room.

Currently, members are asked to use the hand sanitizer when entering the club and whilst moving around. There is a track & trace registration in the foyer and members should use their fobs at the door. Masks are required in accordance with guidelines are required whilst standing and there is table service only. Social distancing should also be observed and groups of no more than 6 to meet.

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Tom Evans Snr

It is with great regret that we announce that Tom Peed-Evans (old Tom) passed away early in the pandemic last year. Tom was a valued member of the club and his attacking style in the lower divisions was widely acknowledged. He used to set players interesting puzzles and reel off anecdotes and poems in the bar after chess meetings and was wel-liked bu=y many in the game around the midlands scene.

He also excelled in his early years at snooker and dartrs, playing in the sixties for the Argus charity team. Even late into life he was an excellent ten-pin bowler, playing in teams and leagues with other chess members at Acocks Green Bowl. Tom's Darts explots regularly made the Sports Argus pages.

After falling in the house, Tom has a successful hip operation, but caught covid-19 and passed away in early May 2020. He will be missed by many.

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