News

The Monthly Knockabout Returns to Mash and Press in May!

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The return of The Monthly Knockabout looking to further connect Anstey Chess Club with the local community!

Exciting news for chess enthusiasts and community members alike! The Monthly Knockabout is making its highly anticipated return to Mash and Press in Anstey, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Mark your calendars for the last Sunday of May, the 26th, as we kick off this event with the hopes of making it a regular occurrence.

With the exact starting time yet to be confirmed (expected to be at some point between 3 and 5pm), The Monthly Knockabout promises a late afternoon filled with strategic gameplay, friendly competition, and the opportunity to connect with both regular Anstey Chess Club members and pub guests from the local community.

At Mash and Press, chess won’t be just a game but a bridge to bring people together. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just learning the ropes, everyone is welcome to join in on the fun and camaraderie.

As we bring chess out of the club and into the heart of our community, we invite you to be a part of this exciting initiative. Come for the chess, stay for the connections, and let’s make The Monthly Knockabout a staple in Anstey’s social calendar!

See you at Mash and Press on 26th May for an unforgettable evening of chess in the community! ♟️ #Chess #ACCcommunity #AnsteyChessClub #Anstey #Mash&Press

Club Championship and County tournament fixtures and information

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Club Championship

Entries are now invited for the inaugural Anstey Chess Club club championship, open to all players.
The deadline for entries is Friday, 17th May.

Fixtures:

Round 1 – Thursday 30th May
Round 2 – Thursday 20th June
Round 3 – Thursday 18th July
Round 4 – Thursday 15th August
Round 5 – Thursday 5th September

The time control in all events will be 80 minutes for all moves + a 10 second increment throughout. It is currently undecided whether the matches will be rated. If you are looking to participate and have a preference, please contact Ben on ansteychess@hotmail.com or in the Anstey Chess Club WhatsApp group.

All matches will start at 7:30pm on the above dates, for more information please contact Ben on ansteychess@hotmail.com.

Individual County Championship

The Challengers and Minor tournaments will be played at Anstey Chess Club and will be held as per the below schedule:

 

Round 1 – 16th May

Round 2 – 6th June

Round 3 – 4th July
Round 4 – 1st August

Round 5 – 22nd August

The time control in all events will be 80 minutes for all moves + a 10 second increment throughout. For more information on the event, please contact Paul Mottram on paul@paulmottram.com.

Anstey Chess Club Hosts Exciting Junior Tournament Tomorrow!

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Calling all budding chess champions and casual players alike! Get ready to sharpen your strategies and make your moves because the Anstey Chess Club is thrilled to announce its Junior Chess Tournament happening tomorrow, May 9th, at the Anstey Methodist Church. The action kicks off at 7:30 PM sharp!

Spearheaded by the generosity of Alfie’s dad, who is graciously providing the trophy, this tournament promises an evening filled with excitement, camaraderie, and, of course, some fierce chess battles.

Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just starting out on your chess journey, this event is for you. It’s a fantastic opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and learn from one another in a supportive and friendly environment.

But wait, there’s more! Entries are still open, so if you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to join in on the fun. Simply show up at the Anstey Methodist Church tomorrow evening and register to secure your spot in the tournament.

And don’t worry if tournament play isn’t your thing or you’re past the point of being a junior player — our regular club night will also be happening as usual. It’s a chance to mingle with fellow chess enthusiasts, engage in friendly matches, and soak up the vibrant friendly athmosphere of our club.

So why wait? Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just looking for a fun way to spend your evening, Anstey Chess Club is the place to be. Join us tomorrow at the Anstey Methodist Church from 7:30 PM onwards for an unforgettable chess experience. Remember, all abilities are welcome, so come on down and let’s make some lasting chess memories together!

See you at the chessboard!

Exciting summer for Anstey Chess Club after a successful league season!

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An internal poll sees the club opting for an internal club championship over the team summer cups…

The Season

With one game to go for any Anstey Chess Club, tonight will be the official end of the 2023-24 league season for four Anstey teams. As expected, each team had to face challenging opposition and tough venues but no surprise there – our competitors rose to the challenge and went toe-to-toe with the strong opponents they had to face.

Anstey 1 had their debut in Division 1 this season with a slightly underwhelming in terms of rating squad for the elite in Leicestershire. Nevertheless, great performances from Julian, Matt, Boris, Mick and Ben saw our top team clinching the sixth place in the first half of the season, standing just above the relegation zone. Some amazing wins against Thurnby and Loughborough 1 in the beginning of the calendar year meant that our team had practical chances to stay in the top division in the county if they manage to hold off the strong Braunstone 1 and Market Harborough 1 teams. With the end of the season in sight, our top team was joined by an outstanding player in Sooraj who scored a couple of crucial wins to help Anstey 1 not only stay in the league but also finish in fifth place among the eight strongest teams in Leicestershire. It has been a surreal experience for our top team who were competing (with pretty much the same players) two divisions below only two years ago.

Anstey 2 competed in Division 3 where they looked to be one of the strongest teams on the field. However, a few hiccups in games where our team on paper had a slight edge meant that it was not going to be dream championship season for the second team and with one game to go (against the already crowned division champions Market Harborough 2) they sit in fifth position which is still a decent performance among some strong teams.

Anstey 3 also had a decent season in Division 4, finishing sixth out of eight teams. Consistently outrated on most boards on the evening, our third team players did not shy away from playing for the win and frequently gave their opponents difficult problems to solve. The team can also take pride in the two wins against Latimer, a team that has been considered a “boggey team” for Anstey for a long time.

Arguably the hardest task was in front of Anstey 4 in Division 5 where our youngest players (probably fair to call it Anstey Juniors) had to frequently compete against significantly higher opposition in the 1400s and 1500s (sometimes even 1700s). After many bouts closer than the results suggested, our fourth team was unlucky to finish seventh and on the other hand provided many opportunities for many players to compete and even get their debuts in competitive chess.

After a long and gruelling season, our club would like to thank all of our competitors for their commitment and we hope that everyone had an overall positive experience.

The Summer

For our longstanding members and supporters the summer is generally an opportunity for some faster time controls and different competition formats with the variety of summer cups organised by the LRCA. This year, however, El Presidente provided our patrons with the democratic opportunity to decide on the direction the club will take in the upcoming months. In a surprising turn of events, the Anstey Chess Club community settled upon missing out on the LRCA competitions and organising our own Club Championship where both regular competitors and casual players will have the opportunity to try and win the Anstey Chess Club Trophy.

In addition, our spacious venue will host again the Challengers and the Minor divisions in the Individual County Championships, which would be a relief for the 27 competitors in the U1550 race who would be looking avoid tight spaces in the presumably hot sunny weather.

Finally, the Monthly Knockabout will return and the club will host a few other events for fun (as in having fun playing chess, not Mud Race or watching the Euro 2024), starting with the Junior Club Championship in two days’ time. More information on those to follow this week unless our Website Maintenance Guy, The Toaster, decides to abandon his duties again.

Does all of this sound exciting, invigorating and makes you jump from your chair with an enthusiastic shout? Don’t think twice and pop over to the Anstey Methodist Church every Thursday from 7.30pm. All abilities welcome!

The Christmas Club Night this week

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Blitz tournament for Christmas for second year in a row

This Thursday is the last club night scheduled for 2023 in the Anstey Chess Club. As usual, the Christmas spirit will prevail and following on the success of last year’s event, our great club will host another blitz tournament for its members and friends. Starting sharply at 7.30pm everyone will have the chance to taste the dopamine boost of playing fast chess against capable opponents in our always welcoming venue. Although the format is still being finalised based on attendance, it is expected to be a 5-round Swiss 5m/1s.

Following the tournament, some of our members will be looking to enjoy some curry in Passage to India next door.

If you want to enjoy some fast chess, fun and curry, put on your Christmas jumper and join us this Thursday from 7.15pm in the Anstey Methodist Church.

League season 2023/24 kicks off with a double fixture for Anstey Chess Club

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Two of the Anstey teams starting their campaigns tonight as four sides from our club are looking to make an impact this season

The summer is officially gone, and it is time to look forward to the new league season. The pieces have barely cooled down from the busy county championships and summer cups, and we are about to take them out again this evening as two Anstey sides are preparing to take on different challenges.

Anstey 2 will be looking to make their mark in Division 3 as they start their campaign against a solid Loughborough 3 team at home. The second team captain, El Presidente Ben, will be looking to fulfil a strong team as our second side will be bidding for the division title this year.

On the other side of Leicester, Anstey 4 will be making their debut in Division 4 against the talented Wigston 5 side. The match will be a real spectacle of chess, with six boards to be contested by the players from both teams.

Good luck to all Anstey teams as the new season starts! If you want to get involved in competitive chess, or just want to get some casual games, pop down to the Anstey Methodist Church tonight. Club nights happen every Thursday from 7.30pm, parking available at the Nook.

Anstey Chess Podcast celebrates double figures with a special guest

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One year after initiating the podcast, the hosts continue to work hard to provide valuable content and interesting guests

It has been a full year since the launch of the very first episode from our own podcast, the Anstey Chess Podcast. To celebrate the full turn and the transition to double figures in the episode count, the hosts El Presidente Ben and Boris The Toaster were joined by their most decorated guest so far, the British Chess Champion Grandmaster Michael Adams.

In spite of his world class chess player status, GM Mickey Adams as he is well-known around the globe, engaged vividly in the conversation and shared his thoughts on the development of chess, his experience with the great game, and provided a valuable insight for the chess players out there looking to improve their game. In addition, the British Champion and our humble hosts discussed a variety of topics, including rugby, cricket, and the value of keeping active in chess and in life.

In the second part of the episode, the hosts discussed the end of the rocky summer campaign, the presentation evening last Tuesday, and shared their thoughts on the new season which will feature four Anstey teams in the Leicestershire league. El Presidente and The Toaster shared their experiences from the Desford and Anstey social events, and also discussed the great performance from Yuvraj The Silent Destroyer who ended being just short of winning the Minor division in the County Championship.

Follow this link for the full episode…

Further expansion for Anstey Chess Clubs in the new season after the AGM

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Four Anstey teams scheduled to play in 2023/24 season, as the first team take on a tough challenge

On the 3rd August, the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Anstey Chess club took place in our great venue.

The club met for our annual meeting, followed by a curry next door at the Passage to India (or chess for those who did not want a curry).
In a nutshell, the members decided that four teams will represent the club in the next season. Although rumours circulated about the club playing five teams in the weeks prior, the more conservative number was agreed, with chances to extend the 4th team if possible to accommodate more boards.
In addition to the extended number of teams, the top Anstey team were offered the chance to play in division 1. Always the gambler and in accordance with his teammates’ opinion, first team captain Matt did not hesitate and took on the challenge.
For next season, the captaincy does not change much as Matt will continue to lead the first team, Ben will be again the driving force of the second team, while Oskar will continue his tenure as Anstey 3 captain. This star line-up will be complemented by our rising junior Aarav who in spite of his young age offered to take on the responsibility of captaining the 4th team.

As usual, happy faces left the Anstey Methodist Church, as our club will be looking to take part in another exciting league season from September.

Anstey win through in 3-way club jamboree

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8/6/23 – In the first event of its kind for a while, certainly locally and since I can remember, having been involved in club chess for 10+ years, Anstey Chess Club invited 2 other clubs over to Anstey to play in a 3 way ‘Jamboree’ event.

El Presidente (Ben) formulated the idea during discussion with the LRCA (Leicestershire and Rutland Chess Association, to which we are affiliated) and the discussion was around shaking up the Summer Cups in the County. He has previously played for Radcliffe and Bingham in Nottinghamshire and Nuneaton in Warwickshire and, knowing a couple of contacts within the respective clubs, suggested the idea in February of this year. The idea was well received and after lengthy discussions about playing personnel, time controls, board order, and when/where it would happen, the format was decided.

Hosts: Anstey
Visitors: Radcliffe and Bingham; Nuneaton
Time Controls: 20 minutes + 10 second increments
Jamboree style board order: Teams drew lots to be designated as team A, team B and team C and A1 played B1, A2 played C1 etc.

Nuneaton were team A, Radcliffe and Bingham were team B and Anstey were team C.

In what was almost certainly a blessing on the night, El Presidente couldn’t talk, due to an operation in his throat (to cut a long story short) and Matt Connor was forced in to kindly agreed to be the MC on the night – nothing to do with his initials, although that may not be how it looks.

All players arrived in good time for round 1 and some very good chess was played by all teams, in both rounds. The abilities seemed to be very well matched but Nuneaton surged ahead with 5 points out of 6 boards after the 1st round – almost a perfect score. Anstey and Radcliffe had 1.5 and 1 respectively.

Round 2 commenced and, with nothing to lose, Anstey fought hard and scored a whopping 5.5 points in round 2 with Nuneaton only scoring 1 point, meaning that Anstey snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on the night. This was very eloquently put as ‘Sneaking up on the rails on the inside’ by Nuneaton’s captain. Radcliffe also managed to accrue some points in the final round with the totals for the evening being as follows:
Anstey – 7 points
Nuneaton – 6.5 points
Radcliffe and Bingham – 4.5 points

Post match discussions with playing personnel indicated that the night was a huge success and all of the players indicated that they would like to do the same next year, and we will be doing this again, for sure. Anstey will soon be visiting Nuneaton themselves and doing a similar thing with Anstey, Nuneaton and Kenilworth, albeit these discussions are in their infancy.

Well done to all involved for a very special evening, thanks especially to Nick London of Radcliffe and Bingham chess club, Colin Green of Nuneaton chess club and of course to all of the players for travelling and taking part in what was a fabulous night of chess.

Three-way Jamboree this Thursday in the Anstey Chess Club

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Two clubs to scheduled to arrive for some casual rapid games in the Anstey Methodist Church

As usual, El Presidente keeps himself busy and does not waste any club night opportunity to be filled with some extracurricular activities. For this Thursday, our chairman has organised a three-way jamboree in Rapid format, with the participation of Nuneaton Chess Club from Warwickshire and Radcliffe and Bingham Chess Club from Nottinghamshire. The teams will be scheduled to play each other in casual (non-rated, they will still try to win) games over six boards per match.

Another exciting club night in front of us, and with the teams possibly bringing more players for casual games, we encourage all of our players, whether casual or competitive, to attend and have the opportunity to face players from other counties.