ANDOVER Chess Club has entered a B team into the Southampton League for the first time in over 15 years.

The four-player side entered into Division Five this year.

The last time the chess club had a second team was in the 1999/2000 season when they won the Division Three title.

An impressive 4-0 away victory over Ringwood C was followed by a fighting draw against Winchester C.

Graham Hymas on Board 1 eventually won a hard-fought encounter on time.

Tom Meldrum on Board 2 miscalculated in a winning position and went down to a tactical blow.

Newcomer Gavin Stonham had a convincing win on Board 3 while novice Alex Armstrong made bad use of his clock in a promising position and was checkmated.

Non-playing captain, Kevin Steele, is well satisfied with the team’s early form.

In Division One Andover A have racked up two convincing wins.

The first came away against Hamble A, where David Thompson and Kevin Steele gained full points.

They also won at home against Southampton University A, where Stuart Knox demolished his opponent’s tough Clarendon Court Defence.