NB While over-the-board (“OTB”) chess is on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Association is organising alternative activities in online chess on lichess.org.
For 2020-21 we have devised a range of online tournaments at Blitz, Rapid and Standard play, with an Online Team Blitz for good measure.
Individual Online
All individual online events will be held on Monday evenings starting at 19:00.
Blitz
On: 9 November 2020; 7 December 2020; 1 February 2021; 29 March 2021.
Rapid
On: 23 November 2020; 11 January 2021; 1 March 2021.
Standard play
Essex Online Championships
R1: 12 April 2021; R2: 26 April 20201; R3: 10 May 2021; R4: 24 May 2021; R5: 7 June 2021.
Sections according to entry.
Team Online
Team Blitz
On 13 December, at 10:00 am – teams of 4.
The competitions described below, are all OTB events, which will resume when OTB chess resumes.
Team Activities
County Championships
The Association runs teams in the SCCU County Championships, all sections, and – for those teams which qualify from the SCCU competitions – the ECF County Championships (aka the “national stages”).
Essex League
Running from October to April, sometimes with a bleed into May, the Essex Chess League has been in being since 1902-03. Currently, the League comprises three Divisions and a “Minor” competition. Board numbers: Division 1 and 2, 8 boards; Division 3, 6 boards; Minor competition, 4 boards.
Team Blitz
This is an ECA interal event, played on a summer Sunday morning at the end of June. Teams of four representing an Essex Club, playing blitz chess at a minimum of seven minutes on each clock.
Summer Rapid Team KnockoutFirst round in June, Final usually in September. Teams of five representing Essex Clubs, Schools, or other organisation. All teams play in Round 1. Plate competition for R1 losers. Each match comprises two rounds of G20+10 Rapid chess.
Individual Activities
Blitz
The Essex Blitz Championship is held in September at Wanstead House. Swiss pairing. Rate of play: 5 minutes + 4 seconds per move.
Lightning
The Essex Lightning Championship is held on the afternoon of the same day as the Team Blitz. Lightning chess is played with a buzzer, not a clock. The buzzer sounds every 10 seconds and the player on move must play their next move while the buzzer sounds; not before, not after.
Rapid
The Essex Rapid is held at Writtle, late June or early July. Six rounds, Swiss pairing, G20+10. The Rapid is open to all Essex, not simply Essex Chess Association members. However, non-members pay a small surcharge on top of the normal Entry Fee. Sections subject to entry, but generally Open, Major, Minor.