South Hams Chess Club
South Hams Chess Club

Torbay Chess League Division 3 Season 2016-17

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 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, and our fixtures and results page for the team's fixtures for the current season.

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
Thursday06 Oct 2016TCL Division 3Div3South HamsPlymouthW2½-1½Report
Tuesday11 Oct 2016TCL Division 3Div3TeignmouthSouth HamsW1½-2½Report
Thursday27 Oct 2016TCL Division 3Div3South HamsTeignmouthW4-0Report
Wednesday30 Nov 2016TCL Division 3Div3South HamsNewton AbbotW2½-1½Report
Thursday12 Jan 2017TCL Division 3Div3Torquay Boys Grammar SchoolSouth HamsW0-4Report
Monday20 Feb 2017TCL Division 3Div3PlymouthSouth HamsD2-2Report
Thursday30 Mar 2017TCL Division 3Div3Newton AbbotSouth HamsD2-2Report
Thursday20 Apr 2017TCL Division 3Div3South HamsTorquay Boys Grammar SchoolD2-2Report
 

Individual Player Statistics

Here are the final player statistics for South Hams players in Division 3 during the 2016-17 season:

NameGradeECFPWDLAve OpPerf%Pts
Willcox, Chris114308555H2101989850.01.0
Archer, David151300734A311112512550.01.5
Belli, John72300901E110067117100.01.0
Levy, Steve177134450L110099187100.01.0
Peach, Cliff96116851E32107510983.32.5
Ashby, Ken93181837F220086136100.02.0
Greenhalgh, Roy111134641G622210310350.03.0
Wilkinson, Ben131162703L632111813666.74.0
McConnell, Phil126285386D641111814375.04.5
Sweetman, Barry65285526E110074124100.01.0
Zaffiro, Oliver75304562G100174240.00.0
 

Overall Team Statistics

Matches Played:8
Matches Won:5
Matches Drawn:3
Matches Lost:0
Match Points:13
Percentage:81.3
Average South Hams Team Rating:464.8
Average Opponents' Team Rating:413.9

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Plymouth 6 Oct 2016

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Plymouth Col Rating ECF PGN
1 McConnell, Phil B 126 285386D ½-½ Hart-Davis, Adam W 139 295297L View
2 Wilkinson, Ben W 131 162703L ½-½ Wilby, Rob B 137 155624B View
3 Greenhalgh, Roy B 111 134641G ½-½ Tatam, Tony W 107 134693D Submit
4 Ashby, Ken W 93 181837F 1-0 Scantlebury, Derek B 95 191043H View
Overall Match4612½-1½478
Bd South Hams Grade Res Plymouth Grade PGN
1 McConnell, Phil 126 ½-½ Hart-Davis, Adam 139 View
2 Wilkinson, Ben 131 ½-½ Wilby, Rob 137 View
3 Greenhalgh, Roy 111 ½-½ Tatam, Tony 107 Submit
4 Ashby, Ken 93 1-0 Scantlebury, Derek 95 View
Overall Match4612½-1½478
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  29 Oct 2016

The Division 3 team got off to a winning start to the season against a very strong Plymouth team.

On Board 1 Phil was on the defensive from the outset, but his opponent failed to find a way through. In the end, the position was about equal, but Phil, with 3 minutes left on his clock against his opponent's 20, was delighted to force a draw - especially because by then we knew that the half point would be enough for a team victory.

On Board 2 Ben had the upper hand before losing his advantage due to a miscalculation. He may have had the stronger position when the draw was agreed - but again, Ben went for "safety first" knowing that the half point would secure a team draw at worst.

On Board 3 nothing was given away by either Roy or Tony, and when they agreed their draw theirs were the first board to finish.

The Gold Star of the evening is awared to Ken, whose victory on Board 4 was the difference between the two teams. In a tense end game, Ken got two of his pawns to the 7th rank, and this proved decisive.

Congratulations to the whole team - everyone made a crucial contribution. A cracking start to the season.

TCL Division 3: Teignmouth v South Hams 11 Oct 2016

Bd Teignmouth Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Doidge, Charles B 124 109767C 0-1 Wilkinson, Ben W 131 162703L View
2 Chubb, Ray W 99 155610B 0-1 McConnell, Phil B 126 285386D View
3 Tindal, William B 76 120438F 1-0 Greenhalgh, Roy W 111 134641G Submit
4 White, Michael W 76 292251E ½-½ Peach, Cliff B 96 116851E View
Overall Match3751½-2½464
Bd Teignmouth Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Doidge, Charles 124 0-1 Wilkinson, Ben 131 View
2 Chubb, Ray 99 0-1 McConnell, Phil 126 View
3 Tindal, William 76 1-0 Greenhalgh, Roy 111 Submit
4 White, Michael 76 ½-½ Peach, Cliff 96 View
Overall Match3751½-2½464
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  12 Oct 2016

Another tight victory for South Hams in Division 3.

The first to finish was Board 3, where Roy lost out in the end game, due largely to a cramped position in which his bishops got trapped behind pawn chains.

Next to finish was Board 2, where Phil gained a minor piece in return for a pawn on move 14, and this was enough to secure an easily won end game once all the pieces had been exchanged off.

Then came all the drama ... ...

Cliff worked up a great advantage - he was up by a knight and 3 pawns as he entered the end game. Clearly appalled by the prospect of a win, Cliff found a most ingenious way of putting his opponent's king into stalemate, and thus pulled off the draw he craved.

That left the match score equal with Board 1 still playing. With both players tight on the clock, Ben launched a sacrificial attack on his opponent's kingside - the kind of attack that GM Simon Williams would be proud of. With everyone clustered around the board, Ben held his nerve, played accurately, won back material and eventually forced a checkmate on his opponent's exposed king. A great game - Ben definitely wins "Man of the Match" award.

So, two close matches in 5 days, but the Division 3 team is in good shape at the start of the season with two wins out of two.

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Teignmouth 27 Oct 2016

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Teignmouth Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Levy, Steve B 177 134450L 1-0 Chubb, Ray W 99 155610B View
2 Wilkinson, Ben W 131 162703L 1-0 Webster, Alan B 82 275966E View
3 Ashby, Ken B 93 181837F 1-0 White, Michael W 76 292251E View
4 Belli, John W 72 300901E 1-0 Moorhouse, Tony B 67 301058C View
Overall Match4734-0324
Bd South Hams Grade Res Teignmouth Grade PGN
1 Levy, Steve 177 1-0 Chubb, Ray 99 View
2 Wilkinson, Ben 131 1-0 Webster, Alan 82 View
3 Ashby, Ken 93 1-0 White, Michael 76 View
4 Belli, John 72 1-0 Moorhouse, Tony 67 View
Overall Match4734-0324
 

Match Report

Author:  Ben Wilkinson

Date:  28 Oct 2016

Another excellent victory for the Division 3 team, although it must be noted that we did outgrade our opponents slightly. The scoresheet however, did not reflect how the match should have unfolded.

On board two Ben was careless in the opening, and was soon a pawn down with absolutely no compensation. It was only by way of yet another cheap trick that he was able to wrest the advantage. Even with a material advantage, he still attempted to give his opponent chances to claim the point, until finally escaping with a streaky point.

Second to finish on board one was Steve, who never really looked to be in any trouble, and dispensed with Ray Chubb in a ruthless fashion.

The real interest came on boards three and four. Ken managed to blunder a piece in the early middle game, and looked to be in a lost game. Meanwhile on board four, John getting slowly ground down by an opponent playing well above his grade. A 2-2 scoreline looked to be on the cards.

Fortuitously, Ken was gifted a rook soon after the tea break, and was left with passed-pawns marauding there way to the eighth rank, and the great escape began.

The final game was lost for John, after being ground down in the endgame, his opponent queened a pawn, and just had to force mate. But for once the clock came to Johns rescue, and he claimed his first victory on time.

The result was great, the way we reached it left a little to be desired …

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Newton Abbot 30 Nov 2016

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Newton Abbot Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Archer, David B 151 300734A 0-1 Kinder, Andrew W 140 162701G View
2 Wilkinson, Ben W 131 162703L ½-½ Barber-Lafon, Jacquie B 123 128118F View
3 Greenhalgh, Roy B 111 134641G 1-0 Hussey, Michael W 101 277498H Submit
4 Willcox, Chris W 80 308555H 1-0 Lockett, Bracken B 73 294486J Submit
Overall Match4732½-1½437
Bd South Hams Grade Res Newton Abbot Grade PGN
1 Archer, David 151 0-1 Kinder, Andrew 140 View
2 Wilkinson, Ben 131 ½-½ Barber-Lafon, Jacquie 123 View
3 Greenhalgh, Roy 111 1-0 Hussey, Michael 101 Submit
4 Willcox, Chris 80 1-0 Lockett, Bracken 73 Submit
Overall Match4732½-1½437
 

Match Report

Author:  Ben Wilkinson

Date:  10 Jan 2017

At the outset, this was a difficult result to predict, with Newton Abbot fielding the strongest 140 grade on top board, and South Hams giving their first outing to Chris Willcox.

Chris, however, was quick to show he was cut out for match play, dispatching his opponent in very short order.

Roy was a pawn down in his game, when his opponent very kindly donated a rook to the cause, leaving him with a very simple endgame.

On board two, Ben playing a monotonous middle game in which was rapidly losing his way, was offered a draw by his opponent, which he immediately accepted, to secure the match.

The most interesting game of the match, and one well worth playing through, was on top board with Andrew eventually getting the better of David. A great deal of people were watching this game, but only two people new exactly what was going on, such was the complexity of the position. However, were those two people Andrew and David?

A good result for South Hams.

TCL Division 3: Torquay Boys Grammar School v South Hams 12 Jan 2017

Bd Torquay Boys Grammar School Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Sturt, Ben B 118 292547D 0-1 Archer, David W 151 300734A Submit
2 Kubiak, Jakub W 101 293395A 0-1 Wilkinson, Ben B 131 162703L View
3 Sanders-Wyatt, Ben B 86 281087G 0-1 McConnell, Phil W 126 285386D View
4 Glasson, Luke W 74 300442K 0-1 Sweetman, Barry B 65 285526E Submit
Overall Match3790-4473
Bd Torquay Boys Grammar School Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Sturt, Ben 118 0-1 Archer, David 151 Submit
2 Kubiak, Jakub 101 0-1 Wilkinson, Ben 131 View
3 Sanders-Wyatt, Ben 86 0-1 McConnell, Phil 126 View
4 Glasson, Luke 74 0-1 Sweetman, Barry 65 Submit
Overall Match3790-4473
 

Match Report

Author:  Ben Wilkinson

Date:  17 Jan 2017

For once, the scoreline was a fair reflection of the match. The only real resistance was from Ben Sturt on board one, who an exchange down offered some stubborn defence. David, however, proved too strong, and once the barriers came down, the end came about very quickly.

In the other matches, Barry was in an even position until his opponent blundered his queen, and then there was only ever going to be one result.

On board three, Phil outgrading his opponent by 40 grading points, made no mistakes, and quickly added the second win.

On board two, Ben managed to win through with a strong kingside attack, and secure the point.

Although this was a bit of a thrashing, you can be sure that these boys will soon exact revenge, as the likes of Vignesh Ramesh and John Fraser also had similar results when starting out for the Grammar School, and we now meet them in division one!

TCL Division 3: Plymouth v South Hams 20 Feb 2017

Bd Plymouth Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Hart-Davis, Adam B 139 295297L 1-0 Wilkinson, Ben W 131 162703L View
2 Wilby, Rob W 137 155624B 1-0 McConnell, Phil B 126 285386D View
3 Wilson, Geoff B 108 172727J 0-1 Greenhalgh, Roy W 111 134641G Submit
4 Scantlebury, Derek W 95 191043H 0-1 Peach, Cliff B 96 116851E View
Overall Match4792-2464
Bd Plymouth Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Hart-Davis, Adam 139 1-0 Wilkinson, Ben 131 View
2 Wilby, Rob 137 1-0 McConnell, Phil 126 View
3 Wilson, Geoff 108 0-1 Greenhalgh, Roy 111 Submit
4 Scantlebury, Derek 95 0-1 Peach, Cliff 96 View
Overall Match4792-2464
 

Match Report

Author:  Ben Wilkinson

Date:  24 Feb 2017

South Hams had the chance to all but wrap up the division three titles with a win over Plymouth. Things were going swimmingly as first Roy on board 3, and then Cliff on board 4 dispatched their opposition without too much of a struggle.

Both Ben on 1, and Phil on 2 had promising positions, and a half point from the two games didn't seem too much to ask. Unfortunately solid play from Rob and Adam, and a little help from the occasional blunder let Plymouth back into the match, and a share of the points.

The remaining matches in division 3 will be very interesting...

TCL Division 3: Newton Abbot v South Hams 30 Mar 2017

Bd Newton Abbot Col Rating ECF Result South Hams Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Allen, John B 145 264751F 0-1 McConnell, Phil W 126 285386D View
2 Taylor, Wilf W 137 182650F 1-0 Greenhalgh, Roy B 111 134641G Submit
3 Barber-Lafon, Jacquie B 123 128118F 1-0 Willcox, Chris W 114 308555H Submit
4 Kashap, Prabhu W 55 308830D 0-1 Peach, Cliff B 96 116851E Submit
Overall Match4602-2447
Bd Newton Abbot Grade Res South Hams Grade PGN
1 Allen, John 145 0-1 McConnell, Phil 126 View
2 Taylor, Wilf 137 1-0 Greenhalgh, Roy 111 Submit
3 Barber-Lafon, Jacquie 123 1-0 Willcox, Chris 114 Submit
4 Kashap, Prabhu 55 0-1 Peach, Cliff 96 Submit
Overall Match4602-2447
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  30 Mar 2017

A 2-2 draw was the result of a tightly-fought contest between two well-matched teams.

South Hams went 2-0 down after Roy succumbed to a tactic, and Chris lost a piece as a result of getting his queen trapped. Then Phil won after his opponent blundered a piece under time pressure - his opponent was trying to launch a counter-attack having gone two pawns down. So it was then down to Cliff, who needed a win to draw the match. Cliff was a bishop up entering the end game, and he made no mistake convering this advantage into a win.

An enjoyable evening. Thank you to Newton Abbot for your hospitality.

TCL Division 3: South Hams v Torquay Boys Grammar School 20 Apr 2017

Bd South Hams Col Rating ECF Result Torquay Boys Grammar School Col Rating ECF PGN
1 Archer, David B 151 300734A ½-½ Sturt, Ben W 118 292547D View
2 McConnell, Phil W 126 285386D 1-0 Kubiak, Jakub B 101 293395A View
3 Greenhalgh, Roy B 111 134641G ½-½ Sanders-Wyatt, Ben W 86 281087G Submit
4 Zaffiro, Oliver W 75 304562G 0-1 Glasson, Luke B 74 300442K Submit
Overall Match4632-2379
Bd South Hams Grade Res Torquay Boys Grammar School Grade PGN
1 Archer, David 151 ½-½ Sturt, Ben 118 View
2 McConnell, Phil 126 1-0 Kubiak, Jakub 101 View
3 Greenhalgh, Roy 111 ½-½ Sanders-Wyatt, Ben 86 Submit
4 Zaffiro, Oliver 75 0-1 Glasson, Luke 74 Submit
Overall Match4632-2379
 

Match Report

Author:  Phil McConnell

Date:  20 Apr 2017

The team from TBGS acquitted themselves really well in earning a 2 - 2 draw against a strong South Hams team.

First to finish was Board 4, where Oliver went down in material during the middle game. Despite this, he fought on bravely, but his opponent's material advantage proved decisive in the end game.

Next to finish was Board 3, where Roy was incredibly lucky to get a way with a draw by perpetual check after going a rook down. How DOES Roy do it?

On Board 2, after a rather cagey opening the postion was equal, but eventually Phil managed to gain a knight for a pawn, and this, together with a superior position, was enough for him to force a win.

So it all came down to Board 1, where David's opponent played a cracking good game, and created what should probably have been a winning advantage. However David fought back in a complicated position, and, in the knowledge that a draw would tie the match (enough for South Hams to take the Diviison 3 title), David was very happy to settle for the draw.

Well played TBGS - you will have a strong team in Divisin 3 next season. As for South Hams, our rather lucky match draw was enough to secure us the Division 3 title for the third year running - so we certainly have somehting to celebrate!