THE monthly Family Chess morning will be held on Saturday February 24 at the Discovery Centre (Library) in the town centre.

All (grandmaster or beginner) are welcome to attend this event which is free and it starts at 10.30 am Basingstoke Chess Club will be scanning the Berkshire League record books over the following months.

The reason being Basingstoke beat Reading A in the ultra strong Berkshire League Division One side and no one can remember this ever happening before.

The match was poised at 2½ - 2½ following wins from Ivan Stipcevic and Barry Kocan plus a draw from David Graham.

The last game on top board saw Liam Blanc win an exciting finish from an exchange down to force a win and earn the points for the Sherborne Road club a 3½-2 ½ win.

In the Southampton League Division Two, Basingstoke A lost a close match against Fareham A by 3-2 despite wins from Blanc and Jamie Chilton.

The B team had a good result against the league leaders Southampton C holding them to a 2½-2 ½ draw.

Their points came from a Graham Phillips win plus draws from John Shaddick, Kocan and Philip Ware.

The C team are still in contention at the top of Division Five after a 2-2 draw, with Winchester C with wins from Shwetal Bhatt and Adrian Smith.

The club have had mixed fortunes in the Borders League with the A team winning 3-2 against Camberley B and losing 3-2 at Guildford B where Mo Negargar won on his first match in this league.

Basingstoke Chess Club meet at Maydene in Sherborne Road every Wednesday. New and old members welcome.