Match Results & Match Report February 2026
Match Results February 2026: Followed by Player of the Month Match Report
Match: Monday 2nd Feb
Winwick 1.5 – 3.5 Eccles
A Division semi cup final
Warrington League
Match: Wednesday 4th Feb
Culcheth 3 – 1 Eccles
George Davidson Shield
Warrington League. 5600L
Match Tuesday 10/02/26
Stockport 2.5 – 3.5 Eccles
A Division
Stockport League
Tuesday 17/02/26
Eccles 4 – 2 Urmston
B Division
Stockport League
Thursday 19/02/26
Eccles 3.5 – 2.5 Wigan
Kalmar Cup Match L1850
Warrington League.
Monday 23/02/26
Altrincham 2 – 4 Eccles
B Division
Stockport League
Thursday 26 February
Eccles 4 – 1 Skelmersdale
A Division
Warrington League
Match Report:
Player of the Month: Steve Heys.
Steve became a signed up member of Eccles Chess & ChAMPS in November 2025.
He played his first two ECF rated games in one day at the Eccles 2nd Classic Town Hall Tournament (pictured nearest the camera) 01/02/26. Eccles tournament review visit: https://eccleschess.com/eccles-2nd-fide-ecf-classic-event-review-01-02-2026/
Steve played and lost his first league match game 05/02/25 and this is what he said about his game…
“Hey Barbara, I can’t tell you how gutted I am about last night. I’m so sorry. I sat opposite this 10yr [old] little girl and blundered what should have been a lost pawn, got away with it, built up a very good lead and then squandered it, twice making sacrifices – first for an attempted checkmate and secondly for a pawn promotion – neither of which worked out. Bottom line is I dropped my guard and then struggled to calculate properly under the pressure (which we simply cannot replicate on a club night). I messed up big time and feel really bad that it affected the overall result. Last night was a massive and humbling learning experience for me. But thank you for the opportunity. Hoping there will be more – perhaps if you can find a drunken 5 year old for me to play against 🤬😫😰😭: Steve also said, I threw the game away, I’m ashamed to say. I played ‘hope chess’ with a few moves, and didn’t calculate or look properly. Very humbling…”
All of the above was soon to change. After Steve recieved some intensive and enjoyable coaching from Eccles Chess mentor Martin Pope, Steve’s game improved massively and he went on to win his second game, this is how Steve felt after winning his game, the sound of his elation sums it up for me when it comes to sharing the joys of chess!! Brilliant!!
This is what chess mentor Martin Pope said about Steve’s game.
In his game against Brandon Gilmartin, Steve Heys played his favourite London System, a very old opening that fell out of favour before being resurrected by Magnus Carlsen.
Gilmartin demonstrated his aggressive intentions from the very beginning with an unorthodox response to the London System. Steve kept his cool and responded well.
When Black castled queenside, it was like a red rag to a bull for Steve. He immediately began throwing his pawns towards Black’s king and then brought his heavy artillery up behind his infantry.
On move 19, Gilmartin made a fatal mistake. Steve brilliantly offered his opponent a bishop for nothing, but it was forbidden fruit. Brandon, apparently unaware of the poison, grabbed the piece, allowing Steve to crash through to the Black king. From that point on, the result was never in any doubt.
A few days later, at Eccles Community Chess Club, Martin Pope delivered a training session based on Steve’s game against Brandon. The training focused particularly on the opening phase of the game. We reinforced the key opening and development principles and analysed how Black had violated a number of them. Deeper analysis demonstrated how Steve could have punished his opponent for these violations, leaving Gilmartin with a lost position as early as move 10.
Here is a link to Steve’s first winning game and I hope he has many more. https://chessdrop.com/games/5b562378-4090-4fa5-809c-0e243c0f8aab
Good luck Steve whilst you travel on your roller-coaster of a chess journey. I’m sure you will experience many more highs and lows and we look forward to hearing more Salutations in the future
Steve, you are an absolute star. You’re clever, interesting and mega funny you’re also a driven chess player and we’re so lucky to have you on board!
SOCIAL CHESS NIGHTS
Eccles Community Chess Club. 21 Church Street Eccles M30 0DF
Monday: Ladies and Learners 7pm until 8.00pm. From 8pm Chess Tuition and mentoring with guest speakers. From 9pm chess for intermediate and advanced players.
Wednesday: Chess is Fun for Everyone with friendly or ECF Rated games. All levels of play welcome!
Free refreshments – Free local Parking – All donations welcome!
Club Manager and Event Organiser: Barbara Farrar