DESPITE competing in three different leagues this season, Wellington Chess Club’s competition to find this season’s club champion is well under way and has produced plenty of good chess, competitive matches and surprising results.

Because of the large numbers at the club the players were  split into two groups (red and blue) with the top two players in each group qualifying for the final play offs.

 The blue group has already produced the two qualifiers for the final stages. Simon Pickard and Chris Barratt were expected to qualify but Chris had a series of disappointing results and Alan Stonebridge, with an unbeaten record so far, has clinched his place in the final four along with Simon.

Things are much less clear in the red group. The club’s top player Alex Conway has a 100 per cent record and looks sure to qualify. John Jeremiah and Robert Harris were expected to contest the second place. John lost his match to Robert and dropped other points to drop out of contention. Robert, having started off well, losing only to Alex Conway, is in second place at present but a recent loss to newcomer John Kerr has left the door open for John and for Adrian Adamiec and David Smith to grab second place. 

John Kerr’s performances since joining the club this season bode well for the future and he is likely to make his league debut in the near future. Adrian Adamiec has been competing in the club’s junior competition as well as the senior and is running away with the junior event with a perfect 100 per cent record so far.

The club return to league action next week with two home matches - a Division One fixture against leaders, Millfield School and a Division Three game against Taunton Knights.