Welcome to the website of the North Staffs & District Chess Association. The purpose of this site is to provide news, views and information on chess in North Staffordshire and beyond. Please use the tabs below to navigate the website.
Geoff's funeral will be held at Macclesfield Crematorium (Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BU) on Thursday April 24th at 3:30pm and then afterwards at the Cock and Pheasant (15 Bollington Road, Bollington, SK10 5EJ).
Macclesfield Chess Club have recorded a moving tribute to Geoff on their website which is well worth reading.
As a fitting tribute to Geoff Laurence his Macclesfield Team secured the Division Two Championship with a home win over Crewe E.
Crewe have also won the Open Cup (six boards) after a close win against Alsager. The scorecard may be seen on the LMS.
The sad news that Geoff passed away at the weekend has been received. It is understood he died suddenly at Macclesfield Hospital.
Geoff had been the secretary at Macclesfield Chess Club for many years, guiding the club through a number of venue moves and captaining the club's team in the NSDCA.
When funeral details are known they will be published along with a fuller tribute.
All clubs, players and friends of the NSDCA will join me in sending condolences to his widow Lesley and his family and friends.
PE
Alsager Chess Club will host a 10 board junior event on Saturday May 25th at Alsager Cricket Club. Juniors from Crewe and Gables have accepted invitations to compete with Alsager's own Juniors or Owls as they are known. For further details please contact the club.
Yet more congratulations are due to Crewe who have won the Intermediate (U1600) away to Kidsgrove last week. Kidsgrove won the top two boards but Crewe's greater strength on the lower boards gave them a 3-2 victory. For a report see here.
Congratulations to Crewe Chess Club, with the season not due to end until May the club has won both the First and Fourth Division of the North Staffs and District Chess League.
Crewe B have won the First Division with their club-mates Crewe A as runners up.
In Division four, Crewe H cannot be caught after their home win against Fenton B.
Saturday August 16th sees the start of a two day congress celebrating of the hundredth anniversary of the founding the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The Staffordshire Congress will return at the King's Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. The Staffordshire Chess Association and the NSDCA thank Stoke-on-Trent City Council for their generous sponsorship and provision of the hall. Further details and an online entry form are here.
The ever popular Crewe Congress will take place at Crewe Alexandra Football Club from Friday 27th June to Sunday 29th June. For an entry for and further information see here.
Geoff Laurence has advised that Macclesfield have returned to one of their previous venues, the Queen's Hotel.
The Queen's Hotel, 5 Albert Place, Macclesfield SK11 6JW
This is opposite Macclesfield Railway Station and hence following signs to the station is advisable. There are 2 car parks nearby, free after 6pm.
David Price of Crewe Chess Club has accepted the role of Interim Chairman of the North Staffs and District Chess Association following Robert Milner's resignation. David proposes to stand for election formally at the 2025 AGM. David will bring his enthusiasm for participation in chess and his experience with the leadership team at Crewe Chess Club and their Congresses to the role.
Robert Milner is retiring as Chairman of the North Staffs
and District Chess Association due to health issues and will not seek
re-election in 2025. He will also relinquish his presidency of the Staffordshire
Chess Association.
Robert has
guided the Association for 49 years. He joined the committee of the Stoke League
in 1976 and supervised the formation of the NSDCA as we know it today. He has served as both Secretary and Chairman, and
it is hoped that he will still be able to offer the Association the benefits of
his experience in an advisory capacity.