Rugeley Chess Club

The Club Championship and Summer Rapid-play are currently ongoing. For regular updates on these tournements check out the Club Champs tab.

About the Club.

Rugeley Chess Club was formed on the 05th December 1968 and is still going from strength to strength.
The Club joined the Wolverhampton & District Chess League in 1969 and the Cannock & District Chess League as a founder member in 1999.

50 years anniversary booklet

We meet every TUESDAY night at 7:30pm upstairs (computer room) at Lea Hall Social Club, Rugeley.

Please contact rugeleychessclub@hotmail.com for further enquiries.

Objectives of the Club:

Rugeley Chess Club Constitution

1 - To promote the interests of chess in the area aswell as our Library club.

2 - To Ensure old and New members get the best out of their chess skills with regular competetive and friendly games.

3 - Our members are extremely supportive and accomodate all classes of chess players.

Beginners
Novices
Average club players
Experts
Young or old
Male or female or other

4 - To protect the right to privacy and follow guidelines from GDPR.
For further info please click on link.

Club Honours

The club has achieved some success over the last 50 years.

GrandMaster Simultanious Exhibition 2019.

Rugeley hosted a huge Christmas Exhibition inviting G.M David Howell, who challenged over 15 players from different clubs.

Staffordshire Chess Association.

Staffordshire "Club of the Year" 2010 & 2017

Wolverhampton League - Winter Season.

Winners Division 3 2023-2024
Winners Division 3 2010-2011
Runners Up Division 3 2003-04
Runners Up Division 2 1999-2000
Winners Division 3 1997-98
Winners Division 4 1992-93

Wolverhampton League - Summer Season.

Anthony Meakin "Player of the Season" award 2006
Dave Amour joint winner of the Wolverhampton Summer League Rapidplay 2004
Robert Fell winner of the "Most Improved Player" award 1998
Winners Division 2 1998

Cannock League - Winter Season.

Winners Division 2 2022-2023
Winners Division 2 2019-2020
Winners Division 3 2019-2020
Winners Division 3 2015-2016
Runners Up Division 3 2013-14
Runners Up Division 3 2009-10
Winners Division 3 2006-07
Runners Up Division 1 2000-01
Winners Division 2 1999-2000

Cannock League - Individual Cup Successes.

Bill Hulley Rock Cup winner 2000-01
Bill Hulley Bidgood Cup runner up 1999-2000
Bill Hulley Rock Cup winner 1993-94

Humphries trophy classical at Wolverhampton

4 Board club tournament in which we placed respectably on 3/4

Some club Members have taken part in the annual scarborough congress on many occasions with moderate success.

Blitz Jamboree at Wolverhampton

External 4 Board blitz tournament in which we placed respectably

Officers of the Club

At the 2024 AGM the following were elected officers for the 2024-25 season:

Chairman - Bob Edgar
Secretary - Daniel Turner
Treasurer - Anthony Meakin
Club Tournament Controller - Matt Carr
Wolverhampton Division 2 Captain - Rob Fell
Wolverhampton Division 3 Captain - Catherine Hiley
Cannock Division 1 Captain - Luke Sullivan
Cannock division 3 Captain - Anthony Meakin
Cup Trophy Captain - TBC
Webmaster - Luke Sullivan

Annual Awards-Roll of honour

Player of the Season

2023-24 - Oliver Johnson
2022-23 - Rob Fell
2021-22 - Rory Melough
2019-20 - Ryan Wood
2018-19 - Bob Edgar
2017-18 - Matt Carr
2016-17 - Rob Fell
2015-16 - Patrick Waller
2014-15 - Mike Page
2013-14 - Gordon Attwell
2012-13 - Rob Matthews
2011-12 - Steve Heath
2010-11 - Catherine Hiley
2009-10 - Paul Jackson
2008-09 - Mike Page

Rugeley Chess Club Championship

2023-24 - Rob Fell
2022-23 - Luke Sullivan
2021-22 - William Hulley
2019-20 - Steve Whatmore
2018-19 - Bob Edgar
2017-18 - Catherine Hiley
2016-17 - Catherine Hiley
2015-16 - Rob Fell
2014-15 - Catherine Hiley
2013-14 - Dave Amour
2012-13 - Rob Fell
2011-12 - Rob Fell
2010-11 - Catherine Hiley

Club Christmas Blitz Tournament

2023 - Nikoli Tisma-Walker
2022 - Matt Carr
2021 - Ryan Wood
2019 - Steve Whatmore
2018 - Luke Sullivan
2017 - James Perks
2016 - Catherine Hiley
2015 - Bob Edgar
2014 - Not held
2013 - Dave Amour
2012 - Dave Amour
2011 - Tony Meakin
2010 - Rob Fell
2009 - Patrick Waller

Club End-of-Season Blitz Tournament

2024 - Rob Fell
2023 - Luke Sullivan
2022 - Matt Carr
2020 - Covid-19
2019 - Steve Whatmore
2018 - Rob Fell
2017 - Matt Carr
2016 - Rob Fell
2015 - Mike Page
2014 - Mike Page
2013 - Dave Amour
2011 - Catherine Hiley
2010 - Rob Fell

Club Summer Rapidplay Tournament

2023 - Catherine Hiley
2022 - Robert Fell
2020 - Not held
2019 - Steve Whatmore
2018 - Steve Whatmore
2017 - Matt Carr

Chairman's Cup

2024 - Nikoli Walker
2023 - Matt Carr
2022 - James Perks
2020 - Not awarded
2019 - Steve Whatmore
2018 - Luke Sullivan
2017 - Bob Edgar

Honorary Life Members

2017 - Mike Page

Individual Successes & Honours

April 2024 CDCL 25th A.V Rapidplay

Daniel Turner = 1st place Minor section

June 2022 Birmingham Rapidplay

Luke Sullivan = 2nd place Intermediate section

2021-22 - Cannock & District Chess League

Steve Whatmore- Vice President

2020-21 - Abbots Bromley Club Opening - Simul Exhibition

(F.M) Jonathan Blackburn Vs Luke sullivan - Draw

March 2020 Birmingham Rapidplay

Luke Sullivan = 1st place Minor section

January 2020 Coventry Rapidplay

Luke Sullivan = 2nd place Minor section

December 2019 Rugeley Christmas Crazy

(GM) David Howell Vs Steve Whatmore - Draw

November 2019 Warwick University Rapidplay

Luke Sullivan = 3rd place U105 section

May 2019 Birmingham Rapidplay

Steve Whatmore = 3rd place Intermediate section

November 2018 Bolton Knights Rapidplay

Steve Whatmore = 1st place

2018-20 - Cannock & District Chess League

Patrick Waller - Vice President

2017-19 - Wolverhampton & District Chess League

Matt Carr - President

2017 - Top Player in WDCL

Rob Fell - 1st place

2016 - 40th Scarborough Chess Congress

Tony Meakin - 3rd place in Foundation section

2016 - 40th Scarborough Chess Congress

Catherine Hiley - U140 grading prize in Minor section and female prize

2016 - 40th Blackpool Chess Congress

Mike Page - U110 grading prize in Foundation section

2015-17 - Wolverhampton & District Chess League

Matt Carr - Vice President

Present - ECF Arbiter, and Manager of Arbiters (home)

Matt Carr - Level 2

May 2013 - World Record Holder for longest chess tournament

Matt Carr

2012-13 - British Ladies Correspondence Chess Championship

Catherine Hiley - Runner-up

2013-15 - Wolverhampton & District Chess League

Catherine Hiley - President

2011 - Leek Rapidplay

Catherine Hiley - 2nd place in the U145 section

2011-13 - Wolverhampton & District Chess League

Catherine Hiley - Vice President

2011 - 25th Stockport Rapidplay

Catherine Hiley - 3rd place in Inter U140 section

2011 - 11th Wrekin Chess Congress

Anthony Meakin - 3rd place in Minor section

2010-12 - Cannock & District Chess League

Paul Jackson - Vice President

2010 - Staffordshire Chess Congress

Catherine Hiley - Major section U140 grading prize

2010 - 34th Blackpool Chess Conference

Paul Jackson - 3rd place in Minor section & U120 grading prize

2010 - 10th Wrekin Chess Congress

Paul Jackson - outright winner of the Minor section