Headlines

8/11/2023 - Hastings congress

The 97th Hastings congress takes place over Christmas and the new year, with a series of tournaments for all levels up to international standard. The event takes place from December 28th to 5th January, with weekday and weekend swiss tournaments, taking place alongside the main event. Details can be found here...

6/11/2023 - BDCL Website

The website is currently being maintained by Richard Reynolds and has undergone some revision. Please let me know if there are any errors or omissions.

11/10/2023 Demise of David Pugh (President Longbridge CC) on Sept 22, 2023

With great sadness, the death is reported of David Pugh, President Longbridge Chess Club, who died on Friday September 22nd. David had been president of both Greenlands and Longbridge CC.

A Quaker Memorial Meeting was held at The Friends Meeting House in Selly Oak, on Wednesday October 11th 2023.

A message written in memory of Dave has been added to the Longbridge Website at:https://longbridgechess.wordpress.com/david-william-pugh/

9/10/2023 Wolverhampton (Handicapped) Xmas Blitz - 11 Dec 2023.

Wolverhampton welcome all players to our christmas blitz event. Entry is open to all players in the Wolverhampton league and neighbouring leagues.

Venue: Forty Four Club, Spring Rd, Wolverhampton, WV4 6LQ

Start Time: 7.30

Date: Monday 11th December 2023

Entry Fee: �2.50

Prizes: 1st Prize: 35% 2nd Prize: 25% Grading Bracket 1: 10% Grading Bracket 2: 10% Grading Bracket 3: 10% Grading Bracket 4: 10% Grading bracket 1 will be up to the lowest 1/5 of participating players. Grading bracket 2 will be up to 2/5. Grading bracket 3 up to 3/5. Grading bracket 4 up to 4/5. Time Controls: A handicap system will be employed. 2350+ (1.5 min) 2200-2349 (2.5 min) 2050-2199 (3 min) 1900-2049 (4 min) 1750-1899 (5 min) 1600-1749 (6 min) 1450-1599 (7min) 1450 and below (8min) Grades will be determined using the November grading list and blitz/rapidplay grades will be used wherever possible although provisional "p" grades will be ignored. Rules: All standard blitz rules will apply with the following exception, on the first 2 occasions if one player makes an illegal move, the opponent may stop the clocks and claim 2 minutes. On the 3rd occasion that player loses the game.

9/10/2023 Mutual Circle New Venue

The Jeweller's Arms, 23 Hockley Street, Birmingham, B18 6BW. (N.B. This is inside the Birmingham Clean Air Zone so non-compliant vehicles entering the area will incur a charge). More details on BDCL clubs page

6/8/2023 Towers Summer Cup "Open" Semi-Final results-report

Under a new and exciting initiative from the Worcestershire Chess Association; the semi-finals of the 2023 Towers Summer Cup "Open" were held at Longbridge Chess Club on Thursday, August 3rd 2023 with mixed fortunes for the four clubs participating.

The Time Control of the 4-board encounters was 45/30 with Longbridge facing a tough challenge from a strong Redditch team, while Worcester and Kidderminster did battle in the other semi-final.

Longbridge vs Redditch 0-4

Worcester vs Kidderminster 3-1

It's hoped that the Semi-Final of the "under-1650" will be equally enjoyable next Thursday August 10th as the same four clubs fight for place in the 2023 Finals, both of which are to be played on August 24th at the Longbridge venue.

These are all Rated matches.

All players involved in the "Open" mingled amongst the convivial atmosphere, making for a successful evening even for those of us thumped 4-nil. It was simply a brilliant evening of chess especially for the winners Worcester and Redditch who will contest the 2023 "Open" Final.

It's further hoped that Quarter Final rounds will be added to both the 2024 "Open" and "under-1650" events at the beginning of next Summer.

Please would you consider your club's participation in 2024. Longbridge will happily host any matches as a neutral venue. The competition will remain free to enter... Both cups will be held for one year by the respective winners.

All enquiries should be sent to Steve Crees at: steve_crees@hotmail.com - alternatively, contact: longbridgechessclub@hotmail.com or call Steve 07932 860524

24/6/2023 New 2023-24 tab added for all results

All results now can be accessed from one tab 2023-24 from the side navigation menu. Div 1 to Div 5, Minor, Trophies, Individuals tabs are removed.

24/6/2023 Clubs updates

Wolverhampton Chess Club - During BDSL Home matches at Wolverhampton Chess Club, there may on occasion be members of the 44 Club playing darts in the playing room. This won't be every match & will only be from 9pm onwards & therefore should only cause minimum disturbance.

West Bromwich & Kynoch new website urls updated under BDCL clubs tab

3/4/2023 Iain Galloway

With great regret Shirley & Wythall CC have to announce the death of Iain Galloway. Iain had been a member of the club, and a regular member of the first team, for around 20 years. He was originally from the Kentish part of the London conurbation and had then attended Manchester University, but had been in Birmingham since finishing his studies. As many knew, he had been fighting cancer for several years, but was always amazingly positive about it. He will be greatly missed.

3/4/2023 Robert Wallman

It is my sad duty to inform fellow players of the death of former Olton player, Robert Wallman.

A tribute to Robert appears here..

- Richard Reynolds, Olton Chess Club

1/2/2023 ECF Arbiter Seminar

The Birmingham Rapidplay Committee is looking to expand the number of tournaments that we organise, in response to rising demand from players to play in tournaments.

The details are:

• Minimum expected knowledge: How the chess pieces move
• Birmingham organises 3 Rapidplays per year, which may increase due to rising demand
• No obligation to help at every single tournament
• You would normally arrive 1-2 hours before the start of the tournament to set up equipment, and help with packing up at the end.
• Work as an arbiter at the tournament
• Payment of �50 for the tournament
• Added to the national list of qualified arbiters; other tournament organisers may invite you too in due course! In particular, the Warwickshire Chess Association runs a number of junior and open tournaments, and are also advertising for more people to train as arbiters.
• If you are interested, please register for this Seminar; and then attend the course and pass the exam at the end: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-arbiter-course-registration/

If you are interested in helping to expand chess playing opportunities in Birmingham, it would be really great if you could take part!

26/1/2023 Rules & Docs updated

Please check Rules & Docs page for updated information on FIDE Laws & Guidelines buttons for Captains and players.

9/1/2023 University of Birmingham club details updated

Please check BDCL Clubs page for updated University of Birmingham Chess Club details.

9/1/2023 E Match Cards page update

Newer version (2023) of E Match cards can ve downloaded from E Match Cards -> Results Ecard

9/1/2023 Kynoch Chess Club start time changes

Kynoch Chess Club has voted to change their match start times with immediate effect from 7.15pm to 7.30pm. This has been approved by Tim Lane & Alan Woolley.

5/1/2023 Xmas Blitz Report

Wolverhampton Chess Club held a Xmas Blitz on Monday the 5th Dec at The Forty Four Club, Wolverhampton.

Report for the Xmas Blitz is at here...

Older news is archived here...

Guidelines for Captains and Players

These guidelines are intended to assist captains and players. They are, nevertheless, only guidelines, and anyone requiring further details should consult the League Rules or the Laws of Chess.  Click Here
M.Biddle Chairman BDCL Rules Committee.

LEAGUE NEWS MAILING LIST

We now have a mailing list for members of Birmingham League teams to receive information and news of events taking place. Please contact the webmaster if you wish to receive an invite to join.