South Hams Chess Club
South Hams Chess Club

Torbay Chess League Division 3

South Hams Chess Club fields a team in Division 3 of the Torbay Chess League.  This entails home and away matches against Newton Abbot, Plymouth, Teignmouth, Torquay and Torquay Boys' Grammar School. Games played in the TDCL are submitted to the ECF grading database.

In this division, teams consist of four players, and the maximum team grade is Under 480.  The rate of play is 35 moves in 75 minutes, followed by a 15 minute Quickplay finish.  The away team has white on the odd-numbered boards.

Please visit the Torbay Chess League web page for the latest team standings.

Fixtures and Results

You can apply a filter to the fixtures by typing into the Search box. For example, if you type Ply then only the fixtures against Plymouth will be displayed.

Click on a match score to view the game results for the match concerned. If the word "Report" appears against a particular match, then when you view the game results you will also see the match report.

DayDateCompetitionCompHomeAwayResScoreReport
Thursday15 Oct 2015TCL Division 3Div3South HamsNewton AbbotD2-2Report
Monday01 Feb 2016TCL Division 3Div3PlymouthSouth HamsL2½-1½Report
Thursday07 Apr 2016TCL Division 3Div3South HamsTorquayW4-0Report
Thursday11 Feb 2016TCL Division 3Div3South HamsTeignmouthW4-0Report
Thursday14 Jan 2016TCL Division 3Div3Torquay Boys Grammar SchoolSouth HamsW1-3Report
Thursday04 Feb 2016TCL Division 3Div3Newton AbbotSouth HamsW1½-2½Report
Thursday18 Feb 2016TCL Division 3Div3South HamsPlymouthD2-2Report
Wednesday09 Mar 2016TCL Division 3Div3TorquaySouth HamsW1-3Report
Tuesday15 Mar 2016TCL Division 3Div3TeignmouthSouth HamsW½-3½Report
Thursday28 Apr 2016TCL Division 3Div3South HamsTorquay Boys Grammar SchoolW3½-½Report
 

Individual Player Statistics

Here are the final player statistics for South Hams players in Division 3 during the 2015-16 season:

NameGradeECFPWDLAve OpPerf%Pts
Best, Barclay98233494L1010757550.00.5
Davies, Alan95304962A110085135100.01.0
Greenhalgh, Roy109134641G110075125100.01.0
Collins, Tony76173334F1001109590.00.0
Fowler, James104277497F1010686850.00.5
Russell, Dennis127214868H1010858750.00.5
Belli, John61300901E220064114100.02.0
Levy, Steve177134450L211015918475.01.5
Wilkinson, Ben124162703L732210811557.14.0
Ashby, Ken98181837F4103805525.01.0
McConnell, Phil115285386D1082010014090.09.0
Peach, Cliff105116851E2101909050.01.0
Archer, David138300734A6600124176100.06.0
 

Overall Team Statistics

Matches Played:10
Matches Won:7
Matches Drawn:2
Matches Lost:1
Match Points:16
Percentage:80
Average South Hams Team Rating:463.6
Average Opponents' Team Rating:403

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Newton Abbot 15 Oct 2015

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Newton Abbot Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Archer, David B 138 300734A 1-0 Ramesh, Vignesh W 143 276543D View
2 Peach, Cliff W 105 116851E 0-1 Hussey, Michael B 99 277498H Submit
3 McConnell, Phil B 115 285386D 1-0 Blackmore, Joshua W 101 290737K View
4 Ashby, Ken W 98 181837F 0-1 Darlow, Paul B 61 285528J Submit
Overall Match4562-2404
Bd South Hams Grade Res Newton Abbot Grade PGN
1 Archer, David 138 1-0 Ramesh, Vignesh 143 View
2 Peach, Cliff 105 0-1 Hussey, Michael 99 Submit
3 McConnell, Phil 115 1-0 Blackmore, Joshua 101 View
4 Ashby, Ken 98 0-1 Darlow, Paul 61 Submit
Overall Match4562-2404
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  15 Oct 2015

The first fixture of the 2015-16 season finished with a 2-2 home draw against Newton Abbot.

David was first to finish on Board 1, finishing off his highly-respected young opponent just after the tea interval with a neat combination involving queen, bishop and rook in an attack on his opponent's exposed king.

South Hams went 2-0 up when Phil's opponent resigned in the face of overwhelming material superiority in the end game.

On Board 2, there was a tense end game, in which Cliff as white valiantly tried to fend off - with king and knight - two passed pawns on the g and h files supported by a knight. In the end Cliff resigned when it became inevitable that one of Black's pawns would queen.

So Ken needed a draw on Board 4 to secure the match victory. It was a tense end game (with lots of people watching!), and after some swings and roundabouts Ken ended up with a rook and a pawn against a rook. Unfortunately Ken ran out of time, and as his opponent had sufficient material on the board to checkmate when Ken's clock fell, this was a win to Newton Abbot - and a drawn match.

So: mixed fortunes but an exciting match. Congratulations to Newton Abbot for achieving the draw despite being out-graded by 52 points.

TCL Division 3: Torquay Boys Grammar School v South Hams 14 Jan 2016

Bd Torquay Boys Grammar School Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Sturt, Ben B 123 292547D 0-1 Wilkinson, Ben W 124 162703L View
2 Kubiak, Jakub W 85 293395A ½-½ Russell, Dennis B 127 214868H Submit
3 Sanders-Wyatt, Ben B 75 281087G 0-1 McConnell, Phil W 115 285386D Submit
4 Glasson, Luke W 68 300442K ½-½ Fowler, James B 104 277497F Submit
Overall Match3511-3470
Bd Torquay Boys Grammar School Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Sturt, Ben 123 0-1 Wilkinson, Ben 124 View
2 Kubiak, Jakub 85 ½-½ Russell, Dennis 127 Submit
3 Sanders-Wyatt, Ben 75 0-1 McConnell, Phil 115 Submit
4 Glasson, Luke 68 ½-½ Fowler, James 104 Submit
Overall Match3511-3470
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  14 Jan 2016

This win was not nearly as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.

Ben managed to get a substantial advantage early on by exploiting his opponent's exposed queen and was first to finish. However the rest of us had a real struggle, with the watching Ben unsure of the outcome of all three games.

After James and Dennis had agreed draws, I was aware that a draw on Board 3 would win us the match. However, as the end game approached I felt I could take advantage of my opponent's poor pawn structure, so I held off offering the draw for a while. In any case, I wanted to put a stop to all this "you play like Geoff Boycott" nonsense. In the end my opponent allowed his rook to get trapped in a thicket of pawns, and resigned.

TGBS can consider themselves unlucky - despite being outgraded by 119 points, they gave us a real fright.

So, onward we march in Division 3, with a draw and a win from our first two matches. Well played, everyone - it's nice when the whole team makes a contribution.

TCL Division 3: Plymouth v South Hams 1 Feb 2016

Bd Plymouth Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Wilby, Robert B 142 155624B 0-1 Archer, David W 154 300734A View
2 O'Brien, Megan E W 133 285525C 1-0 Wilkinson, Ben B 138 162703L View
3 Tatam, Tony B 105 134693D ½-½ McConnell, Phil W 128 285386D View
4 Scantlebury, Derek W 95 191043H 1-0 Ashby, Ken B 97 181837F Submit
Overall Match4752½-1½517
Bd Plymouth Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Wilby, Robert 142 0-1 Archer, David 154 View
2 O'Brien, Megan E 133 1-0 Wilkinson, Ben 138 View
3 Tatam, Tony 105 ½-½ McConnell, Phil 128 View
4 Scantlebury, Derek 95 1-0 Ashby, Ken 97 Submit
Overall Match4752½-1½517
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  15 Jul 2018

Congratulations to Plymouth, who inflicted our first defeat in Division 3 since Novermber 2014.

First to finish was Board 4. Ken says he had a disastrous opening, quickly losing a rook and a pawn, and things rapidly went downhill from there.

Next to finish was David, who pulled off a nice win on Board 1.

Board 3 was a draw - but an exciting draw. The Geof Boycott fan in our midst will HATE it - a gambit acccepted, a knight sacrifice, and an edgy end game in which I was down by a Bishop but up by two (passed) pawns. In the end my opponent opted for a draw by perpetual check.

So, with Board 2 to finish, it was dead level. Ben had a bishop and 4 pawns against Megan's knight and 4 pawns, with both players running dangerously low on the clock. In the end, all the pieces and pawns got cleard off the board apart from one pawn of Megan's, and, with his king not in a position to prevent the pawn from queening, Ben resigned. Ben was kicking himself afterwards - he feels sure he had an overwhelming attack going in the middle game, but somehow he wasn't able to press home his advantage.

An exciting and very enjoyable evening. Well played, Plymouth, and thank you for the hospitality.

TCL Division 3: Newton Abbot v South Hams 4 Feb 2016

Bd Newton Abbot Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Taylor, Wilfred B 131 182650F 0-1 Archer, David W 138 300734A View
2 Barber-Lafon, Jacquii W 122 128118F ½-½ Wilkinson, Ben B 124 162703L View
3 Blackmore, Joshua B 101 290737K 0-1 McConnell, Phil W 115 285386D View
4 Narayanan, Nandaja W 109 279359D 1-0 Collins, Tony B 76 173334F Submit
Overall Match4631½-2½453
Bd Newton Abbot Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Taylor, Wilfred 131 0-1 Archer, David 138 View
2 Barber-Lafon, Jacquii 122 ½-½ Wilkinson, Ben 124 View
3 Blackmore, Joshua 101 0-1 McConnell, Phil 115 View
4 Narayanan, Nandaja 109 1-0 Collins, Tony 76 Submit
Overall Match4631½-2½453
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  4 Feb 2016

South Hams scraped a narrow victory over Newton Abbot.

Tony was first to finish. Nandaja spotted that Bh7+ would produce a discovered attack on Tony's unprotected Queen on d5, and so Tony lost his queen for a bishop at an early stage in the game. Tony struggled on bravely, but there was no way back from this material deficit.

Next to finish was David. According to David: "I thought I had the better or an unorthodox opening. I had a bit of an attack going, but it came to nothing and I ended up on the back foot. My opponent missed a winning move - he took a pawn with a bishop instead of a pawn; if he'd taken it wiht the pawn he'd have won the game. After that it was a battle of attrition."

Next, Ben looked at my position, and on the basis that he fancied my king side attack, he offered Jacquie a draw. I didn't share Ben's confidence in my attack, however, and when Ben and Jacquie eventually agreed the draw, he just smiled at me and whispered "No pressure, Phil...".

Fortunately, my opponent miscalculated and I ended up with 2 rooks and 5 pawns against a rook and 7 pawns. I very nearly messed it up though - by grabbing pawns I allowed my opponent to advance two pawns to d2 and e2! I was able to sacrifice a rook to clear off these two pawns, leaving my a, b and c pawns (supported by a rook) with a clear run towards the 8th rank which my opponent's rook couldn't prevent. Tense game, though (and time was getting very tight after 50 moves), with lots of good and imaginative play by my young opponent.

So, we bounced back from Monday's defeat with a good won over a strong team.

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Teignmouth 11 Feb 2016

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Teignmouth Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Archer, David B 138 300734A 1-0 Webster, Alan W 83 275966E View
2 Wilkinson, Ben W 124 162703L 1-0 White, Michael B 80 292251E View
3 McConnell, Phil B 115 285386D 1-0 Moorhouse, Tony W 73 301058C View
4 Belli, John W 61 300901E 1-0 Landricombe, Timothy B 37 300007C View
Overall Match4384-0273
Bd South Hams Grade Res Teignmouth Grade PGN
1 Archer, David 138 1-0 Webster, Alan 83 View
2 Wilkinson, Ben 124 1-0 White, Michael 80 View
3 McConnell, Phil 115 1-0 Moorhouse, Tony 73 View
4 Belli, John 61 1-0 Landricombe, Timothy 37 View
Overall Match4384-0273
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  15 Mar 2016

A comfortable 4-0 win against a team weaker than us (on paper!) on all boards.

Nevertheless, well played everybody. A 4-0 score is good for "goal difference" in the league!

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Plymouth 18 Feb 2016

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Plymouth Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Archer, David B 138 300734A 1-0 Wilby, Robert W 142 155624B View
2 Wilkinson, Ben W 124 162703L 0-1 Dean, John B 112 179950C Submit
3 McConnell, Phil B 115 285386D 1-0 Tatam, Tony W 105 134693D View
4 Ashby, Ken W 98 181837F 0-1 Scantlebury, Derek B 95 191043H Submit
Overall Match4752-2454
Bd South Hams Grade Res Plymouth Grade PGN
1 Archer, David 138 1-0 Wilby, Robert 142 View
2 Wilkinson, Ben 124 0-1 Dean, John 112 Submit
3 McConnell, Phil 115 1-0 Tatam, Tony 105 View
4 Ashby, Ken 98 0-1 Scantlebury, Derek 95 Submit
Overall Match4752-2454
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  18 Feb 2016

South Hams and Plymouth fought out a tense and honorable draw.

It was clear at the tea interval that there was a lot of chess to be played on all four boards. When we went 2-0 down, a defeat looked likely, but David and I were able to force wins and thus claim the match draw. Add oddity of the evening is that Black won on all four boards.

An enjoyable evening; well played Plymouth.

TCL Division 3: Torquay v South Hams 9 Mar 2016

Bd Torquay Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Wilson, Matthew B 159 128713J ½-½ Levy, Steve W 177 134450L View
2 Cockerton, Mark W 117 227246F 0-1 McConnell, Phil B 115 285386D View
3 Howard, Simon B 90 173265B ½-½ Wilkinson, Ben W 124 162703L View
4 Greeno, Stephen W 94 187622D D-1 Belli, John B 61 300901E Submit
Overall Match4601-3477
Bd Torquay Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Wilson, Matthew 159 ½-½ Levy, Steve 177 View
2 Cockerton, Mark 117 0-1 McConnell, Phil 115 View
3 Howard, Simon 90 ½-½ Wilkinson, Ben 124 View
4 Greeno, Stephen 94 D-1 Belli, John 61 Submit
Overall Match4601-3477
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  13 Mar 2016

Torquay had phoned me the evening before to inform me that they could not field a team of four players satisfying the Division 3 requirement that grade totals must be under 480. On the night, they decided to deal with this by nominating the absent Stephen Greeno to be the notional Board 4, and, by playing Simin Howard (90) instead of Terry Greenaway (130), they were able to make a contest of Boards 1, 2 and 3. In the meantime, John Belli played a "friendly" against Terry Greenaway.

First to finish was Phil on Board 2, when Phil, having survived a somewhat sticky opening, developed several simultaneous threats, one of which led to his winning a minor piece. Mark Cockerton resigned by dramatically skittling his king across the board.

On Board 3, Ben went a rook up before giving a knight back. His final position looked to me like a certain win, but, having checked that we were already 2-0 up in the match, he generously ended his game with a draw by 3-fold repetition in order to secure the team win.

On Board 1, Steve had another great game against Mathew Wilson. He got a pawn up in the middle game, and the computer thinks he had a won end game - but it wasn't obvious to everyone watching! Steve offered a draw with 2 minutes left on his clock, which was accepted.

Meanwhile, not part of the match, John Belli had a great tussle with Paul Greenaway, and at one point had distinctly the better position. In the end John succumbed to an unstoppable kingside attack by Paul's Queen and rook pair.

Overall, a good reslt for South Hams; the win puts us top of the Division 3 table (for the time being, at least).

TCL Division 3: Teignmouth v South Hams 15 Mar 2016

Bd Teignmouth Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Landricombe, David B 101 300007C 0-1 Archer, David W 138 300734A View
2 Webster, Alan W 83 275966E ½-½ McConnell, Phil B 115 285386D Submit
3 White, Michael B 80 292251E 0-1 Peach, Cliff W 105 116851E View
4 Fisher, Andy W 75 248010E 0-1 Greenhalgh, Roy B 109 134641G Submit
Overall Match339½-3½467
Bd Teignmouth Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Landricombe, David 101 0-1 Archer, David 138 View
2 Webster, Alan 83 ½-½ McConnell, Phil 115 Submit
3 White, Michael 80 0-1 Peach, Cliff 105 View
4 Fisher, Andy 75 0-1 Greenhalgh, Roy 109 Submit
Overall Match339½-3½467
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  15 Mar 2016

On Board 1, David got one of his attacks going, and his opponent resigned once he went two pieces down.

On Board 2, Phil held an early advantage also got an attack going, but in a fairly complex position failed to anticipate one of his opponents moves and his advantage unravelled. In the end he was lucky to get away with a draw.

On Board 3, Cliff gained a bishop for a pawn early on, and finished his opponent off with a neat checkmate on the king in the middle of the board.

On Board 4, Roy went a rook up early on, and this material advantage proved decisive once most of the pieces had been removed.

So, a good win which strengthens our position at the top of Division 3. Well played everybody. No complacency though - Plymouth, Torquay, Newton Abbot at TBGS all have matches "in hand" over us.

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Torquay 7 Apr 2016

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Torquay Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Levy, Steve B 177 134450L 1-0 Wilson, Matthew W 159 128713J View
2 McConnell, Phil W 115 285386D 1-0 Cockerton, Mark B 117 227246F View
3 Wilkinson, Ben B 124 162703L 1-0 Greeno, Stephen W 94 187622D Submit
4 Belli, John W 61 300901E 1-0 Howard, Simon B 90 173265B Submit
Overall Match4774-0460
Bd South Hams Grade Res Torquay Grade PGN
1 Levy, Steve 177 1-0 Wilson, Matthew 159 View
2 McConnell, Phil 115 1-0 Cockerton, Mark 117 View
3 Wilkinson, Ben 124 1-0 Greeno, Stephen 94 Submit
4 Belli, John 61 1-0 Howard, Simon 90 Submit
Overall Match4774-0460
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  7 Apr 2016

A very good win for South Hams against a strong Torquay team. The 4-0 scoreling flatters us somewhat, as all four games were comptitive - but in each case the South Hams player prevailed despite being down on the clock.

Steve's game on Board 1 was even at the tea interval. but Steve won a pawn, then a second pawn, and in the endgame was up by a rook and 3 connected pawns against a rook and a pawn. Steve was never likely to let such an advantage drift - though Matthew set a couple of traps which Steve played against accurately.

Phil's game on Board 2 was also even at the tea interval, but then Phil's knight made a series of forks after which Mark chose to resign.

On Board 3, Ben's game was even until his opponent blundered a minor piece just before the tea interval. Ben then had enough time left on his clock to force a win reasonably comfortably.

On Board 4, John loast the exchange early on, but his opponent later blundered his queen whereupon John's only real challenge was to force the win before his clock ran down - which in the end he did with ease.

South Hams now have 14 points in Division 3, having played 9 of our 10 matches. The only team that can catch us now is Plymouth - if Plymouth win their last two matches, and we lose our last match (home to TBGS), then the Division 3 title will be decided on "goal difference".

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Torquay Boys Grammar School 28 Apr 2016

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Torquay Boys Grammar School Col Rating ECF PGN
1 McConnell, Phil B 115 285386D 1-0 Sturt, Ben W 123 292547D View
2 Davies, Alan W 95 304962A 1-0 Kubiak, Jakub B 85 293395A View
3 Best, Barclay B 98 233494L ½-½ Sanders-Wyatt, Ben W 75 281087G Submit
4 Ashby, Ken W 98 181837F 1-0 Glasson, Luke B 68 300442K View
Overall Match4063½-½351
Bd South Hams Grade Res Torquay Boys Grammar School Grade PGN
1 McConnell, Phil 115 1-0 Sturt, Ben 123 View
2 Davies, Alan 95 1-0 Kubiak, Jakub 85 View
3 Best, Barclay 98 ½-½ Sanders-Wyatt, Ben 75 Submit
4 Ashby, Ken 98 1-0 Glasson, Luke 68 View
Overall Match4063½-½351
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  29 Apr 2016

In Division 3, South Hams won our last match of the season 3½ - ½, to finish top of the table with 16 points, 3 points clear of Newton Abbot who finished second, and four points clear of Plymouth who finished third.

South Hams got off to a great start when Ken on Bord 4 checkmated his opponent in 7 moves! What looked like a routine opening suddenly became non-routine when Black left an unprotected "hole" on d6, allowing Ken's knight to jump in and checkmate the Black king which was completely blocked in by Black pieces.

Next to finish was Alan Davies on Board 2, who produced a good win in his first match playing for South Hams. Alan gained a knight early on, and was fully in control thereafter.

On Board 3, Barclay fought a hard-earned draw which went "all the way" to an even end game.

Last to finish was Board 1. In a hard-fought contest with both players creating attacking threats, Phil prevailed in the end game when his opponent's vulnerable isolated d-pawn fell, leaving Phil with a winning queenside pawn majority.

Thanks to the boys of TBGS for an enjoyable evening.