Holmes Chapel Kings - Champions of Division 1

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Date: Friday, March 19, 2010 Category: League Subject: League News Posted By: Mark Whitby (Webmaster) League: North Staffordshire and District Chess League Club: Holmes Chapel

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Holmes Chapel Kings became the second team to finish all their games last night when they beat Newcastle A 4½ - ½ to finish with 10 points from their 6 games. However, that win was far more important than just their final game. It was also the win that sealed their first Division 1 title since 2000, when they were still known as RHHC (Radbrook Hall Holmes Chapel). The win is also the first time a Cheddleton team haven't won the title since 2000. In their 6 games, they won 5 and lost 1. Out of 30 possible board points, they had 22 for and just 8 against, a very impressive record. Their only defeat was a narrow 3-2 defeat against Cheddleton A in December 2009. The tables were turned a month later though when the Kings won the rematch in Leek when the Kings won 3½ - 1½. Against Stafford, they won away 3½ - 1½ while at home they won 4½ - ½ to go with their same score result against Newcastle A yesterday. In the other match against Newcastle, they won 4-1. During the course of the season they only used 6 players, with 4 out of 5 playing all 6 games. Only Jonathan Blackburn missed out on playing all 6 games, playing 4. Ian Chester played the other 2 matches. The top performers were without a shadow of a doubt Patrick Bennett and captain Mike Hancock, who both achieved an impressive 5½ out of 6. Ian Bates wasn't far behind, with 4 wins and a draw from his 6 games. John Turner only lost 1 of his 6 games, but had to wait until his final match to win a game with all the others ending in a draw. Jonathan took 3 wins and a draw from his 4 games while Ian Chester drew 1 and lost 1. The runners up spot is still up for grabs. Stafford B can't do any better than joint 3rd as Cheddleton A and Newcastle A still have to play each other. Newcastle only have to beat Cheddleton to finish second, but if they fail to beat Stafford A then Cheddleton could pip them to second with a win over Newcastle. Congratulations to Holmes Chapel Kings. This season, they are sitting proudly on their throne.