WWCL News and Updates

I first met Jeff many years ago when he played with the Pontyberem club and as others have stated he was a most friendly opponent, always conversing with me in Welsh.We played many games over the years and whether he won or lost his attitude was always the same, gentlemanly. He always called me Dr DDT, I believed respectfully but as I told him on many occasions I was fortunate to have the opportunity to follow my studies. I think he preferred to play adults but he was most fatherly to any youngster he played, even if he was caught out early on, always congratulating his opponent on a move that Jeff had overlooked. It is a sad day that I will no longer be able to play Jeff again. It was a pleasure to consider him as a chess friend.

I have received many messages about Jeff from around the league and it is clear that his passing is being felt by many. My understanding of the funeral arrangements are that the service will be held in the Tabernacle Chapel in Town Hall Square at 2.30 pm on 12th January 2009, thence on to the Crematorium. I am reluctant to publish any home addresses on the web site for fairly obvious reasons, but if anyone I know e-mails me I will reply with the address for cards, or, if you want to get my address from the league handbook, you can send them to me and I will see that they are passed on.

Some very sad news to end 2008, I'm afraid. West Wales chess stalwart and long-time member of the White Knights club Jeff Jones passed away this morning after a long illness. I know that all sectors of the league will wish to join together in sending our condolences to his family.

I first met Jeff in September of 2003 when I returned to chess after many years away from the game. Indeed, he was the first chess player I met at this time, as he let me in to the Conservative Club when I was first trying to find the White Knights. My first impression was of a very serious and rather fearsome old gentleman, a description that everyone who knew Jeff would instantly recognise as laughably inaccurate. In fact Jeff was absolutely unique; he was, as people say, a character. Delightfully eccentric - his furry Russian hat complete with red star insignia was essential winter wear to the Conservative Club - occasionally infuriating - he never did answer my question as to the correct way to spell his name, "Duw, Duw, lad, doesn't matter," was the best I ever got out of him - always an intriguing conversationalist, Jeff was deservedly voted clubman of the year twice in my time at the White Knights club. He thoroughly enjoyed his chess and was always ready to play regardless of the strength of the opposition, often at extremely short notice - a captain's dream. While his playing strength while I knew him was never particularly high (around the 1200 mark for most of the time), Jeff had the uncanny ability to play like a grandmaster for about 30 moves, thoroughly unnerving his opponent, before inevitably succumbing to the urge to play an exciting but unsound sacrifice that let his opponent off the hook. Perhaps his most famous moment of recent times was earning a draw against Brian Tonks of Morriston by stalemate while a queen, two rooks, three minor pieces and a number of pawns down, but Jeff was still, right to the end, capable of some really good chess, only last year defeating Bill Flew of Upper Killay despite giving away nearly 400 grading points. I had the honour to witness not only Jeff's last game of chess (a league match against Janet Evans of Upper Killay) but his last move, a sweeping queen move into a castled king position delivering checkmate, played with triumphant relish. He would have enjoyed that.

Ultimately, though, I will remember Jeff not so much as a chess player but as a human being. As well as being a "character" he was also kind, decent, generous, loyal, good company, a good sport, helpful, and an all round good guy. The White Knights Chess Club has just lost its heart and soul, and I for one will really miss him. He was, quite genuinely, irreplaceable.

With the sad news of the death of Jeff Jones on Monday, December 29th, the West Wales chess fraternity have lost one of it's most popular and colourful characters.

A native of Epynt Mountain Jeff and his family had to leave their home when the military took over the mountain. Jeff spent his working life as a coal miner mainly in the Ammanford and Tumble area.

There was nothing that Jeff liked more than a game of chess. It was a well known fact that he had never turned down a game for the White Knights be that for the D, C, B or even the A team. And when the game was over Jeff would turn the board around and start on a series of friendlies.He would only interrupt these games to show the top players where they had gone wrong in their games!

Jeff always played chess in the right spirit of friendliness and fair play and never forgot that at the end of the day it was only a game. A great club man he had won the Clubman of the Year on more occasions than anyone can remember.

Although Jeff played chess for fun he was very capable of causing a shock against stronger players. As recently as last February he managed one of the results of the season when he beat Bill Flew of Upper Killay who was graded more than 350 points above him.

A family man from top to bottom we send our condolences to his wife and to the family.

His death will be a big blow to the White Knights chess club and the West Wales chess scene will not be the same without him.

This Christmas Charity Odds Tournament took place last week. This brief report from Guto Llywelyn:

21 players turned up to compete in this annual event which was played at the Morriston chess club on Wednesday,December 17th.Played under the popular handicap system this meant that the higher graded players started without a piece against lower graded players. With top graded Richard S. Jones for once not at his brilliant best it came down to a winner takes all between Alan Young (White Knights) and Glyn Sinnett (Nidum). Young managed to come out on top to retain the title while Sinnett had to settle for joint second with Mike Cleaves (Swansea Valley). A total of £115 was raised for charity and the event was expertly organized by Bob Moore and Ian Eustis.

Thanks for that, Guto. Meanwhile, this information has arrived concerning the Open County Jamboree

The Open Jamboree will take place at Ebbw Vale Rugby Club, Eugene Cross Park, NP23 5AZ on Sunday 1 February 2009.

The competition is open to teams of 10 players from each zone. Teams are to be played in order of playing strength in round 1. Whilst captains can use their discretion within a maximum of 80 points, there should be evidence (e.g. from the Gwent/EG up to date ratings) of good or poor recent form if captains are to play out of grading order where the published 2008 grades differ by more than 40 points.

Known defaults in Round 1 must be from the lowest board upwards. Late substitutes will be allowed in round 1, but if these are playing out of board order, the actual result for round 1 will be used for grading purposes, but the game result will be scored 0-1 to the opponents for the purposes of the jamboree. The round 2 game will be scored normally. Reserves/substitutes may be used in Round 2, but must play on the board where they are substituting regardless of grading.

If there are 3 or 4 teams the games will be played on a jamboree pairing system. If there are 2 teams, there will be a double round match – the arbiter would agree with captains before the first game, whether they preferred the same opponents with opposite colours, or whether the opponents for each pair of boards 1 and 2, 3 and 4 etc should switch.

The winner will be the team with the highest total game points after deduction of any penalties. Play will be at the rate of 35 moves in 1hr 15 minutes then clocks back 15 minutes and play to a finish. Please confirm entry of a team from your zone to

by midnight on Sunday 25 January 2009 to enable orders for refreshments to be confirmed

10:30 Team letters chosen for pairing. If no member of a team has arrived, the arbiter will do a random choice for that team

10:45-13:45 First round (Players should expect games to start promptly at 10:45)

It is hoped that captains and players will help set up and pack away before and after the event, so that we can remain within the booked times of 10am – 6 pm.

Finally, there will be at least one change in captaincy after the festive period. Your humble webmaster has moved from White Knights to Upper Killay, and so the former will presumably be naming a new C team captain. The news will appear here whenever I am informed of it. I will also be changing the URL of this web site in the new year as the current one is clearly inappropriate. Obviously, I'll let you know well in advance....

This will take place at the Morriston Chess Club which is held in the Visteon Social Club, Llangyfelach Road, Treboeth, Swansea (Junction 46 of the M4) on Sunday 25^th January 2009.

The competition is open to teams of 10 players from each zone, with grades of 1699 or below. Teams are to be played in order of playing strength in round 1. Whilst captains can use their discretion within a maximum of 80 points, there should be evidence (e.g. from the Gwent/EG up to date ratings) of good or poor recent form if captains are to play out of grading order where the published 2008 grades differ by more than 40 points.

Reserves/substitutes may be used in Round 2, but must play on the board where they are substituting regardless of grading.

The winner will be the team with the highest total game points after deduction of any penalties.

Play will be at the rate of 35 moves in 1hr 15 minutes then clocks back 15 minutes and play to a finish

Sarah Kett – Home Director - kettsarah@yahoo.co.uk by midnight on Sunday 18^th January to enable orders for refreshments to be confirmed

Please send team lists, in board order, including intended substitutes by 12 noon on Saturday 24^th January to

10:00 Team letters chosen for pairing. If no member of a team has arrived, the arbiter will do a random choice for that team

10:15-13:15 First round (Players should expect games to start promptly at 10:15)

13:15-13:45 Buffet refreshments provided free for players. (Drinks to be paid for.)

It is hoped that captains and players will help set up and pack away before and after the event, so that we can remain within the booked times of 10am – 5 pm.

I have decided to separate the news and updates relating to technical matters (the cup draws, site updates, etc) from the debates, as they were getting difficult to keep apart on this page. The debate stuff can now be found on the new page, Speakers Corner, for which click here.

I have finally got around to updating the Forthcoming Tournaments page. If anyone has any material they want publicising there then by all means get in touch.

Knockout Cup organiser Dennis Thomas has made the draw for the first round, as shown below. The home team is responsible for arranging the ties. In the Open and Under 1700 sections, ties must be completed by the end of February 2009; in the Under 1400 and Under 1100 sections, ties must be completed by the end of January 2009. All correspondence and enquiries regarding the cup to Dennis, please, and remember to send him the results:

Morriston C v Rhyddings B
White Knights D v Upper Killay Eagles
Castell Nedd Consuls v Upper Killay Hawks
Briton Ferry Brunel v Upper Kilay Harriers
Bishop Vaughan Rooks - Bye

Castell Nedd Centurions v Bishop Vaughan Friars
Bishop Vaughan Squires v Castell Nedd Legionnaires
Briton Ferry Giants v Castell Nedd Barbarians
Bishop Vaughan Monks v Bishop Vaughan Abbots
Upper Killay Kites - Bye

I would like to welcome Clive Gosling aboard as our latest columnist and special correspondent. Minor League Meanderings with Clive Gosling now appears elsewhere on this site, a worthy compliment to Rej's Ramblings. Any other offers for interesting columns? Form a queue.......

The annual West Wales Closed Championship for the E. J. Clarke trophy is scheduled to begin next Monday (i.e. November 17th), but organiser, June Evans, has reported that entries have been slow to come in and the prestigious Open Section is in serious danger of not running this year. Following difficulties last year and the year before, it has been decided that sections would not run if a minimum of ten players were not entered. Players opting for the higher sections would also not be allowed to transfer down, unless they fell within the specified grading limits. “This is a wake up call to those who want to participate in a meaningful championship,” warned Evans, ”Get your entries in quickly or you will miss out!”

First, Nidum have been playing in the European Club Cup in Greece. They finished 63rd out of 64. The winners were household name Ural Sverdlovskaya. (Well, perhaps a household name in Sverdlovsk.) There were some decent individual performances, though, and a PGN file of all the Nidum players' games can be found here.

Second, regarding the web site and handbook. I have had various forms of feedback regarding the new official web site and slightly new-look handbook. A lot of it is positive (many thanks for that), the main negative being the new style of presentation of fixtures in the handbook, where at least some people preferred the old format where the fixtures for all divisions were presented side-by-side. I am already looking into ways of presenting this information in next year's handbook to satisfy the critics and plan to return to a format far closer to that of recent years. Some other criticisms I found a little more difficult to take seriously. The complaint that the divisional structure of the Minor League wasn't shown in the handbook wilts a bit when it is realised that the Minor League doesn't actually have a divisional structure, and I could find no conceivably logical reason why anyone would complain that I included a games section. (Complaints of the games selection might have been a bit more logical....)

One issue that has come up is that of coverage of the Minor League, which I would very much like to expand, but I am unlikely to be able to do so for two simple reasons. First and foremost is that I simply don't have the time to do everything myself, and nobody has come forward to help. Second is that accurate Minor League information is quite difficult to come by. Rej, of course, includes some material in the Evening Post column (and his Ramblings), but I learned last season when I first tried to cover this material that this material is often incomplete for Division Three, never mind the Minor League. I would like to make an appeal, therefore, for somebody who has links with the Minor League to contribute Minor League information to this web site. It could be updated weekly, say, along the lines of Rej's Ramblings. All you would have to do is e-mail me the text you want included, and I will add it to the web site. It could hardly be more straightforward. If no volunteers appear, however, then it is very unlikely, for the reasons stated, that Minor League coverage will expand on this site.

If anyone has other suggestions for the web site, they will be gratefully received. Offers of help to fill in some of the gaps will be even more welcome!

Third, a request for the Castell Nedd club. Nobody seems to know the answer to this question, so a response would be much appreciated. Is the Castell Nedd second team (in Division Three) officially known as the Senators or the Consuls. I'd really like to get it right here, so please let me know.

All the deadlines relating to nominations have now passed. All clubs except one have confirmed their nominations. The exception is Rhyddings, who require nominations for Rhyddings A.

As Rhyddings A have now played three matches, I have no choice but to decide their nominations for them. As stated below, in the update dated 25th September, under rule 4.4 I will nominate the captain of the team, plus the two players except the captain who played on the highest boards in the first match. Thus, the three nominated players for Rhyddings A will be Ken Huntley, Peter Thomas and Gary Harber. These nominations should now be regarded as definite and confirmed. If Rhyddings want to change them, they will have to do so under rules 4.6 and/or 4.8. There is, as yet, no problem regarded players playing down in the Rhyddings B team as only Peter Thomas has played down so far, and only for one match.

The full and final list of nominations for this season can be found by clicking here or via the link on the front page.

Can I repeat my plea in the last update for Knockout Cup entries as the deadline is fast approaching. All entries to Dennis Thomas, please.

One last short note - having played at the new Swansea Valley venue for the first time can I congratulate that club on having secured such an excellent home base. Appropriate too, as it is also, I understand, the place where the club was originally born. For baffled visitors having problems finding it, the Pontardawe Arms is situated in the dip to the right of the roundabout as you turn off the main road to head into Pontardawe. (Its name is well lit up, but because it's in a dip it is easy to miss, especially if you're driving.) Finding the actual entrance bit when you arrive is another story altogether, but once you figure it out the parking is excellent and the playing facilities far nicer (not to say warmer) than they were in the old venue. Nice one chaps!

Clubs are reminded that the deadline for entries to the Knockout Cup is the end of October. Full details can be found in the Handbook (page 4 for the terminally bewildered), and all are reminded that the structure of the cup is now slightly different to that of recent seasons.

The 41st West Wales Congress took place last weekend, and an excellent weekend of chess was enjoyed by all. For a full report check out the relevant page on this web site (there is a link from the front page) or click here.

You've read his books, seen his DVD's, now learn from the man in person, as IM Andrew Martin comes to Bridgend for a Simul & Lecture. There are only 30 places available for the Simul. To be sure of booking your place, act quickly. Sunday 30th November 2008 at Bridgend Bowls & Tennis Club, Bridgend. Contact Andrew Trickey on (01656) 750274 for further information and pricing details.

A bit of fixture news. The ever resourceful June Evans has pointed out a few more inconsistencies in the fixture list. These are as follows, with a suggested course of action in each case:

1. Morriston C have been given three fixtures away to White Knights C in Division Two (on October 29th, January 7th and April 1st). I will be suggesting to the Morriston C captain that the match on January 7th is played at Morriston.

2. Upper Killay Harriers have been given three home fixtures against Bishop Vaughan Rooks (on November 5th, January 7th and March 25th). I suggest that the two captains get together and decide a course of action (probably that one of the three is switched to Bishop Vaughan).

3. Rhyddings A have been given three home fixtures against Upper Killay Kestrals. Apparently Kestrals are happy with this arrangement, though one of the matches will nominally be a Kestrals home game (i.e. Kestrals will have black on odd boards even though the game is played at Rhyddings).

I have made a few amendments to the Gazetteer to reflect some activity on the transfer market. After the demise of Neath Chess Club, three of its members have moved on to pastures new. Kelvin Haines has moved on to Nidum, while Alan Williams and Chris Howells have moved on to Morriston.

Clubs are reminded that nominations are due before the third match for each team (except the lowest one at each club). Where nominations are not received by the deadline, it is the duty of the league secretary (i.e. me) to produce the nominations. In accordance with rule 4.4, I give clubs fair notice that I will nominate the captain of the team, plus the two players except the captain who played on the highest boards in the first match. By the end of today I will add a new page to this web site listing the players who are nominated (both confirmed and default as it stands at present). Clubs are reminded that nominations can only be changed provided that the player being moved from the nomination list has completed four matches (rule 4.6) or if s/he leaves the club (rule 4.8). If clubs who have failed to nominate end up with nomination lists that they don't like, or with penalties under rule 4.9, then they will not receive a sympathetic hearing.

More changes to confuse the new season, this time from White Knights. The reportedly impending demise of Carmarthen Chess Club has led to a minor influx of players and a re-shuffle of captaincy duties. Henceforth, the B team captain will be Craig Evans, while Steve Edwards drops down to skipper the C team. Julie Ward remains captain of the D team.

Given the number of changes that have occurred since publication of the handbook, I have produced a convenient sheet for download and printing which you can utilise in conjunction with your handbook to keep matters up to date. You can download this here.

Regretfully, I have to pass on the news, reported by League President Martyn Griffiths, that Neath Chess Club have folded. Formed in 1952, it was the oldest club still in the West Wales Chess League. The immediate fallout is that Division One will contract by one club, reducing the number of fixtures for the remaining teams by three.

June Evans reports that the West Wales Lightning Championship was won jointly by Ian Jones (Morriston) and Fred Clough (Upper Killay). Kristian Smith (Neath) came third (probably Neath's last honour, given the sad news above).

With the police business at White Knights nicely sorted out, we are now looking forward to the start of the new season. Already the seeds of confusion and uncertainty have been sown with no fewer than two clubs starting the season at venues other than those given in the handbook. Swansea Valley suffered the fate of having their old home, the Dillwyn Arms, going bust, with all their chess equipment trapped inside. The clocks and sets have presumably been liberated, and the club have moved to the Pontardawe Inn, Pontardawe. Tuesday at 7.30 remains their club night arrangement. Meanwhile, Nidum have forsaken the Ynysygerwn Cricket Club (perhaps driven out by the deafening level of ambient noise while trying to play chess?...) to move to the Exeter Inn, Briton Ferry Road, Neath. Again, Tuesday at 7.30 remains their club night arrangement.

The League Handbook for 2008-9 has been printed and distributed, and the WCU yearbooks are flying around even as we speak, but neither will have the new Nidum and Swansea Valley arrangements in as we have only just been informed.

Reminder - the West Wales Lightning Championship takes place this coming Tuesday at Briton Ferry. Contact June Evans for details.

Finally, I have been informed of the emergence of a web site run by the new post-Rej WCU grading officer at http://www.robertchess.org.uk/WestWales/. I am told that the intention is to provide real time grading updates for the whole of the WCU. Having tried to do this for one club in one region last season, and thus having discovered that it was about as easy as teaching George W. Bush to walk and chew gum simultaneously, the idea of doing this for the whole of the WCU is enough to drive one to drink in semi-lethal quantities. Still, I wish the webmaster the very best of luck. (The White Knights grades were already wrong before the season started, but I'm sure these teething problems will be sorted out soon.)

Good luck to everyone for the start of the new season! Fixtures start on Monday 15th, so get those crispy new opening variations polished and ready!!

White Knights Chess Club has been approached by Ammanford C.I.D. for help in an ongoing investigation. I have received the following e-mail from D.S. Paul Jones:

I am a Detective Sergeant, working from Ammanford. I am involved in an investigation where a male received a head injury on the cycle path near Cynheidre in July 2006.

The enquiry is still ongoing and I am interested in tracing a potential witness in this case who is believed to be a member of a chess club in Llanelli. The witness in question was riding towards Llanelli and assisted the injured male before he was transported to hospital by the air ambulance.

There may be a D.C. from the investigating team at the club on Monday to make an appeal. In any case, if anybody knows anything about this, please contact D.S. Jones at Ammanford C.I.D.

The handbook has gone to press. With a couple of very minor corrections, the absolute, total, definite final version of the handbook is now available from the download page.

The West Wales Congress details are now available here. For a PDF version of the entry form, click here.

A few fixtures have been rearranged and mistakes spotted. These have now been corrected both in the downloadable handbook and on the fixtures page. If you have already downloaded the handbook then you probably should do so again and discard the old version.

The deadline for any further corrections before the handbook finally goes to printing is next Tuesday (29th July). After that it will be too late to get them changed before going to press.

Updated the Gazetteer, so that is now set to go for 2008-9. Also I have shifted the chess resources section from the White Knights part of the site to the West Wales Chess League part, so you can more conveniently find the e-Books, software, WelshBase mirror and other ChessBase databases.

The Gazetteer has not been updated yet, so the downloadable Handbook should be taken as the most up-to-date source of information. There is a whole host of stuff, in fact, that will be updated before the start of the new season.