WORCESTERSHIRE chess teams started the 2017-8 Midlands Team Championships season with wins over Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.

The under 140 won at Lincolnshire 8½‒7½ with David Grant, Richard Leaper, Eric Horwill, Tony Shaw, Peter Seeley and Ian Truscott victorious.

Richard Collett led the under 120 team to a 6½‒5½ victory against Leicestershire at Redditch.

The winners were Jeremy Humphries, Michele Clack, Toni Reed, Droitwich's David Cleak and Arnold Kirkland and Worcester's John Hesketh.

In the Worcestershire League, Halesowen 1A stormed to the top of Division One with three wins.

Worcester City are second after beating Kidderminster and drawing with Olton.

Greenlands (Longbridge) and Halesowen 2 share the top of Division Two.

Redditch A are the only team with a win in Worcester and District League Division One.

Worcester Pawns lead Division Two having drawn with Redditch B and beaten Stourbridge B and Mercia (Sedgley).