Firstly there is news of a new club in Dunvant. The Chess Plus Club started at the Dunvant Social Centre, Dunvant Square, (SA2 7TA) in January. The Club is open every Wednesday from 7pm, the cost is £2.50 for adults and £2 for under 18s and they welcome beginners, but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

League

In theory all eight Division 1 teams were in action this week although a match default by Falcons saw Nidum A gain 2 match points and 5 game points without moving a piece. It also means that Falcons move well into negative point territory. In contrast White Knights A had to work for their points in order to overcome their B team and add to their tally with a comfortable 4-1 win. White Knights A stay top of the Division. In the other Division 1 matches Morriston A fielded a team that included new member FM Carl Strugnell (rated 2291) and eked out a 3-2 win away to Nidum B, while Port Talbot defeated White Knights C by the same score (thereby avenging their 4.5-0.5 defeat of a couple of weeks ago).

In Division 2 Woodman B were a player short when they turned up to play Morriston B and went down 3.5-1.5. Woodman A fared no better against BF Brunel, and although they had a full team, lost by the same score. The fight for the Division title remains close.

Division 3 saw UK Harriers default a board against CN Tribunes and lose 3.5-1.5 while Morriston D turned up 2 players short against UK Eagles and lost by the same score, 3.5-1.5. UK Hawks also failed to field a full team when they visited Briton Ferry and were whitewashed by Ferrymen 5-0. This takes Ferrymen to within 3 points of Morriston C who still have a match in hand.

KO Cup

In a preliminary round of the Under 1500 cup UK Eagles fielded only three players when they played Morriston D but still managed to win 3-1. Eagles now go forward to play Morriston C in the quarter finals. Bill Hewitt, the Controller, would like to see all the quarter finals completed by the end of February.