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News Blog 4

This page carries all news items which appeared on the Home Page, once removed from that page.

A glance at the previous item (below) will show that we listed the encounter with Surrey in the Open as a "stern test". In the event, this was met with fortitude, Essex gaining a valuable narrow victory, by 8½-7½. Details...

With completion of the pre-Christmas fixtures, we draw breath and take stock. All teams are adjusting to the new grading bands, except the Open team.

Open: 0/2, out-gunned by Kent and Middlesex. We were harbouring no illusions, we knew this section was going to be tough. Herts and Sussex, if we can mobilise our forces, are within range, but Surrey will be another stern test.

U180 (old U175): 2/3, second behind Surrey, who seem to have benefited best out of the new grading bands. Our accustomed Championship position will therefore receive a strong challenge and we must be at our best in the second cycle of the double-round section.

U160 (old U150): Excellent start, leading with 2/2 in the five match programme.

U140 (old U125): Least easy to assess having played only one fixture (loss to Kent) our of the five match programme.

U120 (old U100): Opened brightly with a narrow win away to Surrey, but failed to add to this in the two subsequent fixtures. On the evidence of the first half, the teams are closely matched, so all to play for.

U100 (old U075): This embryonic team, having waited all last season for their first win in their final fixture, opened their second season with a win in their only fixture to date. Three teams double round. There is now an ECF qualifying place to aim for.

Activities: Teams

The finals of the Rapidplay Knockout competitions were played on 30th September, 2009
at Thurrock. The two matches produced widely varying results.

Barking were convincing winners by 8½-3½ over Writtle, while Upminster edged the Plate
by the narrowest margin, winning 6½-5½ against Thurrock.

Congratulations to both winning teams and thanks to Thurrock for hosting Finals Night.
Read more...

David Brock has found himself under too much pressure from other commitments to be able to act as captain of the Essex U180 team for the time being and John Philpott has resumed responsibility for organising matches and selecting the team. Others will act as team captain at each match.

Kent have now withdrawn as a result of the lack of a match captain and the competition has reverted to its traditional four team double round format. See the Calendar for the new fixture list.  Calendar | Read more...

The curtain-raiser to the new League season took place on 23 September at Writtle when the Champions (Writtle) accepted the traditional challenge from the President's team, drawn from "the Rest".

The match was used to trial an incremental time-control, following a suggestion at the AGM that this option should be an option for League matches were digital clocks are available.

A lively encounter resulted in a win for the President's team by 5½-4½. Read more...

The simul by GM Peter Wells went ahead at Wanstead & Woodford Chess Club as advertised, with ultimately, 17 opponents lined up to try their luck. Naturally, we were hoping for more, as 17 is not a problem for a GM worth his salt. And so it proved.

Despite several first team players on duty, Peter notched up 14 wins, with three draws - Joe Rosenberg, Charlton Siddo and Ron Adams (Bishop's Stortford) - in 2 hours 36 minutes. Read more...

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