CHESS: Jim Friar won Kidderminster Chess Club's seventh annual handicap tournament by the narrowest of margins.

Friar finished just half-a-point ahead of Maurice Bissell.

Full scores: Friar 6.5, Bissell 6, Paul Thomas and John Wrench 4.5, Bill Pugh and Peter Yates 4, Mark Riley 3.5, Peter Kitchen 3, Stan Hales 0.

Kidderminster are out of the championship race in Division One of the Worcestershire League following a 4.5-1.5 home defeat by Halesowen.

Individual results (Kidderminster names first): Friar 0, A Crombleholme 1; M Bissell 0, D Bissell 1; Yates 0, J Edge 1; F Pickett 1, M Bethel 0; Riley 0, D Jackson 1; J Gittus 0.5, A Ambrose 0.5.

Kidderminster also suffered a heavy defeat in Division One of the Wolverhampton League, losing 5-1 at home to Lichfield.

Scores: M Bissell 0.5, P Collins 0.5; Wrench 0.5, R Allen 0.5; Pickett 0, C Hibbard 1; Gittus 0, J Smith 1; Riley 0, M Maher 1; J Varilone 0, D Abell 1.