REDDITCH chess player Gary Jackson came second in the Challengers section of the Worcestershire Chess Congress at the Quality Hotel, Southcrest.

And John Holmberg won the grading prize in the same section.

In the Birmingham League John Holmberg's Division eight side carried on its good run with a win against Kynoch.

Redditch scored three wins from Gary Jackson (board 1), Phil Church (2) and Mark Robinson (4).

The Division Two side made a solid start by drawing their first league game against Wolverhampton.

Every member of the team drew their games.

It was something of a roller-coaster ride in several of the games, with both sides squandering winning chances.

Redditch were happy to draw the match because they were out-graded by quite a few points on some of the boards.

The players, in board order, were Paul Robertson, Steve Wells, Nigel Towers, Ian Clack, Jason Cole and Richard Turner.