CSC Teesside

Saturday, 15 August 2026

Costa: Extra Session

Today we experimented again at Yarm's Costa with a purely playing session for a small set of special guests (David Baillie, David Collins, Peter Harker and Richard Harris).

We played 5-minute games for two hours and, although the strict condition was that the results of the games would not be recorded or reported anywhere, a good time was had by all.

Thank you to the one and only Jolita for helping me to set up this session. More Costa sessions will follow soon.

Saturday, 2 May 2026

17th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament

Today brought the 17th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, in honour of our late friend, teammate and colleague. It is rare for a memorial tournament to become an annual event instead of a single iteration, but the memory of Mike still burns very brightly and this series has always been entertaining and fun.

The new venue was Costa Coffee in Yarm, as part of our ongoing relationship with that very fine establishment. Thank you, Jolita!

This was the largest such event since 2012 and the first one since 2011 to enjoy the attendance of Mike's widow, Sandra, and Mike's son, Elliot, both of whom presented the trophy at the end of the morning.

Defending champion Kevin Winter, fresh from captaining one of the England senior teams in Albania, was joined by former champions Matt Jackman and Dave Baillie (the only person to have played in every event to date). Numerous players were making their debuts in this event, including several former Teesside junior stars.

The players were split into two groups and there was a random draw to determine the opening choices for each round, which were, of course, all Mike's favourites. Therefore, sharp (Blitz) games were guaranteed. The openings this time were the French Defence: Wing Gambit, Danish Gambit, French Defence: Milner Barry Gambit, Sicilian Wing Gambit and the Modern Benoni.

Group One Results

Nick Webb, 5/5

Dominic Leigh, 4/5

Peter Harker, 3/5

David Collins, 2/5

Brian Whitaker, 1/5

Group Two Results

Matt Jackman, 4.5/5

Stephen Ollis, 4/5

Kevin Winter, 3/5

Dave Baillie, 2.5/5

Sean Cassidy, 1/5

The two group winners then contested the final and the chosen opening was the King's Indian Defence, with Nick playing White against Matt.

It was a great final, which kept the spectators enthralled from start to finish.

The one and only Catherine Lloyd joined us for the finale.

Matt won the exchange (rook for knight) early on and seemed to be in control of proceedings, but Nick somehow managed to achieve perfect coordination between his queen, rook and knight to produce a deadly attack. Matt, ever-resourceful, tried to return his extra material to nullify the attack, but Nick refused the offer and had the confidence to force his attack through to its natural conclusion.

Therefore, we have a new champion: The Great Nick Webb!

Thank you to everyone who supported the event, which was easily on the best of the series.

Index of Reports on Previous Events

1st Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2010

16th Mike Closs Memorial Tournament, 2025

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

14th CSC Teesside Team Tournament: Redcar and Cleveland Section

The third and final CSC Teesside Team Tournament brought together most of our curriculum schools in the Redcar and Cleveland area.

Grangetown Primary hosted the event in style, even managing to produce three extra teams at very short notice to cover for three unheralded no-shows from elsewhere.

Errington took the title for the first time since 2014 with a perfect score of eight wins from eight games. Defending champions Wheatlands were in contention all the way through and are still very much a force to be reckoned with.

Final Scores

1st: Errington, 8/8

2nd: Wheatlands, 6/8

=3rd: Grangetown A and Grangetown C, 3/8

=5th Grangetown B, Grangetown D, 1/8

Roll of Honour

2011: Ings Farm and Throston

2012: Ings Farm and Billingham South

2013: Throston

2014: Errington

2015: Throston

2016: Sacred Heart

2017: Westgarth

2018: Westgarth

2019: Westgarth and Billingham South

2022: Fairfield and Throston

2023: Fairfield

2024: Wheatlands, Hemlington Hall and Preston

2025: Wheatlands, St. Pius X, Billingham South and Throston

2026: Park End, Billingham South, Errington

We conclude with a gallery from the event.

14th CSC Teesside Team Tournament: Stockton and Hartlepool Section

Hardwick Green hosted the second of out three CSC Teesside Team Tournaments and a very good job of it they did too.

This was the toughest title race of the three, although defending champions, Billingham South, managed to pull away from the pack during the final flurry of games.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the event. This was the only one of the three tournaments in which all of the eligible schools participated.

Final Scores

1st: Billingham South 7/8

=2nd: Hardwick Green, Preston, 5/8

=4th: Throston, Holy Trinity, 3/8

6th: Mill Lane, 1/8

Roll of Honour

2011: Ings Farm and Throston

2012: Ings Farm and Billingham South

2013: Throston

2014: Errington

2015: Throston

2016: Sacred Heart

2017: Westgarth

2018: Westgarth

2019: Westgarth and Billingham South

2022: Fairfield and Throston

2023: Fairfield

2024: Wheatlands, Hemlington Hall and Preston

2025: Wheatlands, St. Pius X, Billingham South and Throston

2026: Park End, Billingham South

Here is a gallery from the event.

Monday, 20 April 2026

14th CSC Teesside Team Tournament: Middlesbrough Section

Today brought the Middlesbrough section of our three annual CSC Teesside inter-school team tournaments, organised and delivered by Catherine Lloyd and myself.

Hosted by Park End Primary, four teams were in action, including the 2024 champions, Hemlington Hall.

It was a very good day, with all of the children fully entering into the spirit of the tournament. We mobilised two extra Park End teams to make up for two schools which were unable to send teams this time.

Hemlington Hall pushed hard to keep themselves in contention for another title, but ultimately they lost out to Park End Y5s.

Celebrating 10 consecutive years of chess curriculum sessions, Park End became champions for the first time and now proudly take their place on our famous roll of honour.

Final Scores

1st: Park End Y5s, 7/8

2nd: Hemlington Hall, 5/8

3rd: Park End Y4s, 3/8

4th Park End Girls, 1/8

Roll of Honour

2011: Ings Farm and Throston

2012: Ings Farm and Billingham South

2013: Throston

2014: Errington

2015: Throston

2016: Sacred Heart

2017: Westgarth

2018: Westgarth

2019: Westgarth and Billingham South

2022: Fairfield and Throston

2023: Fairfield

2024: Wheatlands, Hemlington Hall and Preston

2025: Wheatlands, St. Pius X, Billingham South and Throston

2026: Park End

The Stockton and Redcar and East Cleveland events will both be played tomorrow.

Here is a gallery from today's event.