1st Match Report: 17/08/24

Match Report: Tuesday 17/08/24

Eccles Ladies 1 – 3 Swinton Juniors
Development Division
South East Lancashire Summer Chess League 

This was the last match of another great season playing in the South East Lancashire Summer Chess League and the first time an all ladies team was fielded winning games in Greater Manchester. This was also the first year a Development Division was intoduced with five clubs and six teams taking part. The u1300 Development Division was a huge success and I hope this Division can be adopted by other Local Leagues in a bid to encourage and promote Chess in the Community.

We all know juniors are fast learners and just because they are young it does not mean they are easy to beat, not by a long chalk and well played to all the ladies and juniors who took part!

As captain of the Eccles Ladies team I would normally play top board but I stood down to give our youngest lady player a chance to take part in her first ever league match.

Jasmin McDowall aged 8yrs (pictured) did not know she was going to be playing until after she walked in through the door with mum Suzanne and big bother Nathan (playing for Eccles in another League match). Jasmin learned how to play chess about six months ago and when I asked Jasmin if she would like to play in a game in a League match her eyes lit up like diamonds!! (love this kid)

Jasmin played black against 10yr old Tanisha who is more experienced in playing in league matches and here is the scoresheet after 42 moves. (Pictured)

Jasmin is making great strides in learning her notation skills. This scoresheet is done by Tanisha (10 yrs) and although not perfect, it is clear and legible and shows some of the benefits of professional coaching. After their game was over it was refreshing to hear Tanisha say “well played” to Jasmin when they shook hands. Well played to both young ladies and no doubt your paths will cross in the future where you can enjoy another Battle over the Board.

Player of the Match: Our very own “Georgina Charlesworth”

Georgie was the only Eccles player to have won a game and this is the second time she has been nominated as player of the match “Way to Go Georgina”

Georgie started to learn how to play chess seven months ago by attending the Ladies and Learners in Chess on Monday nights and Chess for Fun on Wednesday. 

Georgie has played in four league matches and won three of her games. I would like to thank her cousin Jack Mig for being there for her every step of the way and long may they be there for each other in the future.

Georgie has totally thrown herself into the game by recieving and sharing tuition with other players. This is what we do at Eccles as we can’t afford to pay for professional coaching like other clubs can.

We at Eccles Community Chess Club learn the old fashioned way by recieving tuition from experienced players volunteering to share their knowledge of the game or by playing online or reading books.

There are clubs who receive financial help to professionally coach juniors. This gives these juniors a head start over those who are not fortunate enough to receive this coaching. I believe that if one club receives financial support for coaching then why not all?

The junior sector is funded but adults are not. There are many opportunities for juniors to learn how to play chess whether it be through schools or chess academies or through their local club but there is nothing out there to help educate adults who are new to the game.

Most, if not all chess clubs facilitate chess for both juniors and adults and should all be treated equally. 

After saying the above we all agreed that last night’s match was great fun! For both teams from different clubs, one who receives professional coaching alongside the other who does not. 

The Development Division is still in its infancy and, despite the critics saying league chess is supposed to be played by people of a certain playing strength, it is proving to be very popular for those who are new to the game.

Making mistakes is how we all learn and improve. I believe that by making chess less elitist, more people will benefit by playing this beautiful game.

So let’s support and promote the social health and wellbeing benefits that playing chess can provide. 

This is what the Development Division stands for and what the Eccles Chess Foundation is wanting to achieve. Chess is for everyone and not just for the fortunate few who can afford coaching or are lucky enough to live close by a club who can provide professional coaching.

Surely, what works well in one area would also work well in others. 

In my opinion all new players young or old should receive equal opportunities otherwise chess will become ageist on the side of the young and not their elders. Chess is for everyone and everyone should be given the same given opportunities no matter their age.

Monday: Ladies and Learners in Chess.

Wednesday: Chess is for Fun for Everyone!

Thank you for reading my Journey into Chess.

Barbara (Eccles Chess Federation)
https://eccleschess.com/