For the 2024/25 Winter season, Woodseats Chess Club are fielding four teams across the Sheffield & District Chess Association’s five divisions.

• Woodseats A team – Division 1
• Woodseats B team – Division 3
• Woodseats C team – Division 4
• Woodseats D team – Division 5

In the month where the World Chess Championship kicks off, Woodseats Chess Club has completed six matches in November. Here is how the club fared…

Woodseats A team – November results

With International Master Andrew Ledger joining the Woodseats A team for their fixture against Hillsborough, you would be forgiven for thinking that the result on Board 1 was a given. Nevertheless, the other five boards put in great performances to provide the A team with a 1.5 – 4.5 win, scoring 3 wins, 3 draws and no losses.

Woodseats B team – November results

The first B team match of the month was against Sheffield University. The University team is always a gamble to play against due to the high turnover of students, and a roster of students that have never played over-the-board chess before. As such, the University brought a team of 1600-1700 rated players, which put the B team at a disadvantage. Two good wins on Board 1 and Board 4 were not enough to overcome a strong University team that put in a great performance. Later in the month, the B team travelled over to SASCA to face their C team in snowy conditions. A great performance all round provided a comfortable 2 – 4 win for the Woodseats team, including a win on Board 4 that was over in just 12 moves (featured below).

Woodseats C team – November results

The C team posted two 3 – 3 draws this month, bringing their streak of 3 – 3 drawn matches to three in a row. The match against Hillsborough C was a game of two results. The top three boards all lost to the Hillsborough side, requiring the bottom three boards to pull out all the stops and save the match result. With some great play against stronger opponents, the lower boards managed this feat to save the C team from a loss.

Woodseats D team – November results

The D team match against Hillsborough D was only played across four boards. In a match where the D team was outrated by ~100 points on most boards, the Woodseats side secured two great wins to level the match at 2 – 2.

November 2024 – Games highlights

Here are two games that have been shared by Woodseats players this month.

November 2024 – tactics highlight

Here are two tactics that have been shared by Woodseats players this month.

Woodseats C vs Hillsborough C. Black (Hillsborough C, 1313) to move and win one of white’s (Woodseats C, 1306) pawns.

The following position was shared by a Woodseats player as an academic exercise. Black to play, Mate in 2.

Upcoming fixtures – November 2024

Want to get involved?

Come along to one of our club nights on Monday’s at 7.30pm in The Abbey on Chesterfield Road. If there is a home match on, social chess takes place in the bar area, otherwise in the upstairs function room. For more information, follow this link.