Press Report 5th June 2025

The South Hams Chess Club season has now ended for the summer, a very enjoyable season.

For the main Internal league "the Homan", of the 11 players taking part, as many as 8 played all their 20 games, playing each opponent twice, quite a commitment.

Ever since Steve Levy re-joined the Club in 2015, he has been the Club Champion (an honour which he shared with David Archer in 2021-22 and 2023-24). This year Steve didn't have it all his own way, and David Archer became the bookies' favourite after beating Steve with both the white and the black pieces. However James Schofield achieved a consistent set of victories and, on the last day of the season, overtook David to finish on a very impressive 18 out of 20 and thereby become the Club Champion. Many congratulations to James.

Perhaps one turning point of the season, giving hope to both James and David, was on Jan 2nd when chairman and popular club member, Alan Davies, beat Steve for the first time after 25 previous attempts. A week after the victory, Alan was still buzzing, when asked at what point in the game did he start to feel he was ahead, Alan replied "not until about 4 moves from the end, when Steve looked up and said, "you seem to have got me good and propped here!"

Steve did however console himself by winning the internal knockout competition, the Cookworthy, beating David in the final.

James Schofield - new Club Champion

Steve Levy - Cookworthy Cup Winner

James's simple advice was to “keep practising and know your openings”. He looks forward to next season.

Steve, was asked what was different for him this year. He did mention that having to get up and walk around occasionally for the sake of his hips, probably broke his concentration more that he'd have expected and that may have contributed somewhat, but the improvement of others contributed more. Steve was magnanimous in defeat and was glad for James, stating this will be good for the club and he smiled as he said that this will spread out the pressure of expectation.

As often said, you learn more from the games you loose, than the ones you win, so for the rest of us, we had quite an educational season!

For first time ever, the club did not win any Torbay Chess League (TCL) trophies. We came 2nd in TCL Division 1 to winners Totnes. In division 4, we were mid table and came 4th, Plymouth being the deserved winners. In the Rapidplay tournament, having to default one of our matches we came last.

A visit to philosophical corner... Remember everyone

"Take measures to avoid letting life get too short, to not be able to waste some of it, on something beautiful like chess. People put off things, not just enjoying and studying chess, but things in general, as they presume they will have more time in the future. But by the time the future has arrived, there's something else to fill it's available time".

My personal news, due to evening commitments, I recently left my job in the factory making chess pieces. They kept putting me on knights!

The 2025-26 season will start on Thursday 4th September at the Regal at Kingsbridge, enquiries from prospective new members are most welcome.

Anyone wanting further information about the club check out our website at www.southhamschessclub.com or ring Phil McConnell on 01803834135.

The club meets every Thursday at the Regal Club, Kingsbridge at 7pm. We will shortly be having our summer break, the club will re commence in September.