HALESOWEN, champions of the Worcestershire League Division Two lost their first match of the season to Kidderminster.

Kidderminster's solidity, right to the bottom board, will help them through the season.

Kidderminster 3, Halesowen 1 (Pugh , Jackson ; Durnell 0, Ambrose 1; Varilane 1, Digger 0; P Kitchen 1, McLoughlin 0; Pountney 1, Ryder 0).

Kidderminster 4, Hagley 1 (Riley 1, Tatler 0; Pugh 0, Dodd 1; Varilane, Voskanian 0; Durnell 1, Beasley 0; Pountney 1, Waldron 0).

The British Chess Federation has just issued a new grading list. The top graded Worcestershire player is Brian Sharp of Kidderminster on 195 and he takes over from David Bissell of Halesowen who is now second on 189.

Sharp does not now play for Kidderminster in any Worcestershire League but he twins out for Stourbridge in other leagues.

Third is Martin Burrows (St John's) on 188 followed by A. Hynes (St James) 182, J.O'Loghlen (Malvern) 182, J. Edge (Halesowen) 180, P. Kitson (St James) 180, G. Boyce (ex Droitwich) 175, D. Joshi (St James) 174, B. Turner (Mal-vern) 173, D. Downes (Stourbridge) 172, R. Thomas (Halesowen) 171, S. James (St John's) 169, J. Friar (Kidder) 164, E. Myers (Worcester) 164, B. Dudley (Stourbridge) 163, A. Taylor (Worcester) 156, M. Bethel (Halesowen) 155, M. Bissell (Kidder) 152, G. Herbert (Malvern) 151, N. Towers (Redditch) 151, J. Keene (Worcester) 151.