Newton Abbot clinch Mamhead Team Trophy in thrilling final!

The latest in this season's series of one-day two-round jamboree team events for the Mamhead Trophy (Div 2) was staged at Newton Abbot's Courtenay Centre on 18th April 2026. Trefor Thynne provides a report of the day. 

 

A good entry of 6 teams was received – two teams from the host club and one each from Teignmouth, Barnstaple, Totnes and Seaton. Sadly absent were any teams from the county's main conurbations of Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay. 

 

With one IM and one WFM present the standard was likely to be high and so it proved with the outcome undecided until the very last game to finish.

 

Three teams looked likely to challenge for the title on the grounds that their total rating came close to the 7600 limit: Barnstaple (7580), Seaton (7543), and Newton Abbot A (7334). Totnes (7011), Teignmouth (6783) and Newton Abbot B were arguably likely to be fighting for 4th place.

 

After Round 1 all three of the favourites had 3 points with Teignmouth 1.5, Totnes 1 and Newton Abbot B trailing on 0.5. So the scene was set for a gripping second round.

 

Barnstaple ended up with 5.5 which left the game between Seaton's Tatiana Frolova and Newton Abbot's Paul Brooks as the decider. Seaton already had 5.5 with the home team on 5 but Paul played superbly to outmanoeuvre the Russian WFM and snatch victory by half a point. 

 

This left Newton Abbot with a hat-trick of DCCA titles for 2026 having already captured the Moyle (Div 4) and Schofield (Div 3) cups, and there still remain the Bremridge (Div 1 to be held in Exeter on 17 May 2026) and the Peter Rooke (KO Cup) (to be held in Newton Abbot on 20th June 2026) up for grabs! Who can stop a clean sweep!! (However, Barnstaple did win the Newman Rapidplay Cup in December!)

 

Team lists and scores in brackets out of 2 points for each player:

1 Alan Brusey 1984 (1), 2 Paul Brooks 1873 (1.5), 3 Ellis Manning 1741 (2), 4 Mike Sapiecha 1736 (1.5)

 

1 Jon Underwood 2142 (2), 2 Tatiana Frolova WFM 1950e (1), Terje Lundin 1810 (1), 4 Trevor Hurt 1641 (1.5)

 

1 Jack Rudd IM 2360 (2), 2 Chris Gant 2019 (1.5), 3 Stephen Clarke 1659 (1), 4 Mike Dow 1542 (1)

 

1 Charles Howard 1858 (1), 2 Nathan Mills 1750 (1), Martin Quinn 1798 (0.5), 4 Rob Wilby 1605  (0)

 

1 Peter Halmkin 1762 (0), 2 Bill Ingham 1769 (1), 3 Ian Henry 1652 (1.5), 4 Jack Smith 1600 (0)

 

1 Mac Holland 1808 (0), 2 Shreyas Pasupulety 1669 (0),  3 Keith Middleton (0), 4 Yuan Liu 1267 (2)

 

It is worth highlighting the play of the 3 juniors in this team ( boards 1,2 and 4). Mac had to play both Jack Rudd and Jon Underwood (!) and gave a good account of himself as did Shreyas. And despite his low rating, young Yuan was impressive in beating two tough veterans in Mike Dow and Rob Wilby.

 

An enjoyable, hard-fought day held in the well-appointed, conveniently located Courtenay Centre. These new-style DCCA competitions are becoming popular with local chess players as they guarantee two games as a reward for a long journey and they bring together players from all corners of the large county. But, as I indicated above, it would be even better to have support from Devon's larger towns and cities.