Although the Essex county Chess Association was formed in 1898, it was not until 1908 that the individual Essex Championship was inaugurated, four years after the Essex League was in being.
The Minor Championship began in 1926-27.
The above Championships were the only two on which the Association existed for 37 years until the Lightning Championship was introduced in 1963-64.
While the other forms of “speed chess” became popular in the later decades of the 20th century, it was not until 2006 that the number of individual Championship events was extended by the inauguration of the Rapid Championship in 2006 and a further 10 years until the Blitz Championship was added in 2016-17.
Activities ceased during the two terrible world wars of the 20th century and the records given on this page therefore show a discontinuity where these championships were not competed for (e.g. between 1914 and 1921 in the Essex Championship) and the intervention of WW II is given here as a break in the table, with 1908-1945 and 1945-present. There were, however, “war-time” championships for those able to take part, e.g. players not fit for duty in the armed forces; although these events do not form part of the list of the main Championships, they are given here – in italics and marked “War-time Championships” – for completeness. The Minor Championship suffered an even longer interval in its competition, for reasons of which this writer is unaware; there is a break of 20 years between 1959-60 and 1980-81 when there was no competition.
There is one other cessation of activities which is much more recent in origin and, while not on the same scale as the two world wars, was nonetheless terrible in its own way: the covid pandemic. For various reasons connected with the timing of these several events and their holding later than would normally be the case, the sequence of each event is not consistent in each case, so that while some were not held in 2020, but resumed for 2021, while others, e.g. the Lightning Championship, were not held for a slightly longer period.
The Lightning Championship has suffered a little more than the others from “no contest” – a couple of instances in the 1970s and a longer period from 1982-90.
More detail in some of these instances can be found in the Jubille Handbook of 1948.
Essex Championship
1908-1945
| Year | Champion | Year | Champion | Year | Champion | Year | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | P.R. Gibbs | 1921 | E.W. Osler | 1929-30 | C. Maxwell | 1936-37 | T.H. George |
| 1909 | G.F. Williams | 1922 | J.G. Hayes | 1930-31 | R.J. Mumford | 1937-38 | T.H. George |
| 1910 | H.G. Cole | 1923 | W.O. Woodfield | 1931-32 | E.W. Osler | 1938-39 | F.N. Jameson |
| 1911 | P.R. Gibbs | 1924 | E.J. Price | 1932-33 | W.O. Woodfield | 1942-43* | G.H. Mason |
| 1912 | E.W. Osler | 1925-26 | F. Nettleton | 1933-34 | W.O. Woodfield | 1943-44* | E.W. Osler |
| 1913 | R.E. Kemp | 1926-27 | E.W. Osler | 1934-35 | T.H. George | 1944-45* | J. Mason |
| 1914 | T. Robinson | 1927-28 | E.J. Price | 1935-36 | T.H. George | * War-time Championship. | |
1945-Present
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945-46 | T.H. George | 1966-67 | R.A. Fuller | 1987-88 | K. Bowden | 2008-09 | S. Sen |
| 1946-47 | O. Penrose | 1967-68 | J.B. Howson | 1988-89 | K. Bowden | 2009-10 | R. Pert |
| 1947-48 | O. Penrose | 1968-69 | D. Sherman | 1989-90 | K. Bowden | 2010-11 | G.E. O’Toole |
| 1948-49 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1969-70 | Dr. K.D. Sales | 1990-91 | J.P. Manley | 2011-12 | D.L. Haydon |
| 1949-50 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1970-71 | M.W. Wills | 1991-92 | G. Kenworthy | 2012-13 | J. Anderson |
| 1950-51 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1971-72 | I.B.N. Smith | 1992-93 | R.P. White | 2013-14 | R. Pert |
| 1951-52 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1972-73 | P. Murphy | 1993-94 | R.P. White | 2014-15 | R. Pert |
| 1952-53 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1973-74 | A. Pope | 1994-95 | I.J. Myall | 2015-16 | R. Pert |
| 1953-54 | P.H. Clarke | 1974-75 | P.F. Taylor | 1995-96 | A. Brett | 2016-17 | R. Pert |
| 1954-55 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1975-76 | K.L. Escott | 1996-97 | D. Kraszewski | 2017-18 | R. Pert |
| 1955-56 | J.B. Hawson | 1976-77 | C.F.J. Harding | 1997-98 | G. Reid | 2018-19 | J.C. Moore |
| 1956-57 | H.I. Woolverton | 1977-78 | K.P. Warren | 1998-99 | R.P. White | 2019-20 | Not awarded |
| 1957-58 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1978-79 | J.R.W. Harradence | 1999-00 | M. Brazier | 2020-21 | Not awarded |
| 1958-59 | R. Payne | 1979-80 | K.P. Warren | 2000-01 | E.J. Dearing | 2021-22 | D.L. Haydon |
| 1959-60 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1980-81 | G.F. Yates | 2001-02 | J. Anderson | 2022-23 | R.S. Eames |
| 1960-61 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1981-82 | N.L. Carr | 2002-03 | J. Anderson | 2023-24 | R.S. Eames |
| 1961-62 | R.A. Fuller | 1982-83 | D. Sherman | 2003-04 | J.W. Nelson | 2024-25 | R.S. Eames |
| 1962-63 | R.A. Fuller | 1983-4 | M.P. Townsend | 2004-05 | J.H. Hodgson | 2025-26 | V.R. Bara |
| 1963-64 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1984-85 | A.P. Lewis | 2005-06 | J.H. Hodgson | ||
| 1964-65 | Dr. S. Fazekas | 1985-86 | N.L. Carr | 2006-07 | J. Anderson | ||
| 1965-66 | H.I. Woolverton | 1986-87 | A.P. Lewis | 2007-08 | A.P. Lewis |
Page Navigation: Essex Championship | Minor | Rapidplay | Lightning | Blitz
Minor Championship
1926-1945
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926-27 | W.R. Latham | 1931-32 | L.A. Sisley | 1936-37 | A.R. Duff | 1942-43* | D. Buchanan |
| 1927-28 | T.F. Harvey | 1932-33 | T.E. Ketterer | 1937-38 | G. Grant Wilson | 1943-44* | D.W. Chopping |
| 1928-29 | H.H. Earl | 1933-34 | M.V. Paris | 1938-39 | T.G. Walters | 1944-45* | D.C. Rimmington |
| 1929-30 | A.J. Comber | 1934-35 | H.I. Woolverton | ||||
| 1930-31 | V.J. Soanes | 1935-36 | L. Mullen | *War-time event | |||
1945-1960
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945-46 | B.N. Lewis | 1949-50 | K.S.O. Smith | 1953-54 | G.A. Samson | 1957-58 | G.C. Elliston, C.H. Pemberton |
| 1946-47 | R.G. Bannington | 1950-51 | R.K. Lowen | 1954-55 | K.E. Stanley | 1958-59 | K.M. Oliff |
| 1947-48 | K.W. Davis | 1951-52 | L.S. Halliday | 1955-56 | R.J. Baker | 1959-60 | S. Golding |
| 1948-49 | W. Conway | 1952-53 | J.A. Speigel | 1956-57 | P.W. Haddock |
1980-Present
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980-81 | P. Heath | 1993-04 | A. Hartland | 2004-05 | K.A. Rahman | 2015-16 | P. Laundy |
| 1981-82 | P. Turp | 1994-05 | K. Chilvers | 2005-06 | C.R. Ramage | 2016-17 | Not awarded |
| 1982-83 | D.J. Millward | 1995-06 | K. Chilvers | 2006-07 | Rod Johnson | 2017-18 | Not awarded |
| 1983-84 | J. Page | 1996-07 | S. Harwood | 2007-08 | Rod Johnson | 2018-19 | A. Gamal |
| 1984-85 | B.A. Sutton | 1997-08 | T.G. Winter | 2008-09 | M. Rahaman | 2019-20 | Not awarded |
| 1985-86 | A.J. Tredinnick | 1998-09 | S. Harwood | 2009-10 | D. Brady | 2020-21 | Not awarded |
| 1987-88 | S. Harris | 1999-00 | K. Chilvers | 2010-11 | S.A. Clarke | 2021-22 | Luoke Wang |
| 1988-89 | H. Grist | 2000-01 | T.G. Winter | 2011-12 | M. Vlcek | 2022-23 | P.R. Laundy |
| 1989-90 | P. Stimpson | 2001-02 | S. Trent | 2012-13 | G. Rajesh | 2023-24 | R. Colclough |
| 1990-01 | A. King | 2002-03 | A.T. Corish | 2013-14 | S.A. Clarke | 2024-25 | M.R.A. Murrell |
| 1992-03 | A. King | 2003-04 | M. Rahaman | 2014-15 | K.A. Wilcox | 2025-26 | R. Colclough |
Page Navigation: Essex Championship | Minor | Rapidplay | Lightning | Blitz
Rapidplay Championship
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | D.A. Sands | 2011 | A. Brett | 2016 | R. Pert | 2023 | R. Pert |
| 2007 | D.L. Haydon | 2012 | D.A. Sands | 2017 | R. Pert | 2024 | No contest |
| 2008 | A.P. Lewis | 2013 | D.L. Haydon | 2018 | R. Pert | 2025 | R. Pert |
| 2009 | A.P. Lewis | 2014 | R. Pert | 2019 | R. Pert | 2026 | ??? |
| 2010 | A.P. Lewis | 2015 | J.A. Goldberg | 2020 | No contest |
Page Navigation: Essex Championship | Minor | Rapidplay | Lightning | Blitz
Lightning Championship
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-64 | R. Payne | 1979-80 | G. Novik | 2000-01 | O. Ganbold | 2014-15 | J.A. Goldberg |
| 1964-65 | J.B. Howson | 1980-81 | R.W. Obrien, I.J. Myall | 2001-02 | R.P. White | 2015-16 | L.E. Marden |
| 1965-66 | D. Sherman | 1981-82 | I.J. Myall | 2002-03 | D.A. Sands | 2016-17 | R.P. White |
| 1966-67 | D.J. Strauss | 1982-90 | No contest | 2003-04 | J.A. Goldberg | 2017-18 | D.A. Sands |
| 1967-68 | D.J. Strauss | 1990-91 | G. Kenworthy | 2004-05 | D. Sherman | 2018-19 | D.A. Sands |
| 1968-69 | J.B. Howson | 1991-92 | A.P.H. Kinsman | 2005-06 | D.A. Sands | 2019-20 | No contest |
| 1969-70 | J.B. Howson | 1992-93 | J.A. Goldberg | 2006-07 | D. Chandler | 2020-21 | No contest |
| 1970-71 | L.P. Burnett | 1993-94 | R.P. White | 2007-08 | J.A. Goldberg | 2021-22 | No contest |
| 1971-73 | No contest | 1994-95 | A.R. Brett | 2008-09 | J.A. Goldberg | 2022-23 | J.A. Goldberg |
| 1973-74 | D. Sherman | 1995-96 | P.J. Rossiter | 2009-10 | D.A. Sands | 2023-24 | R.P. White |
| 1974-76 | No contest | 1996-97 | J.A. Goldberg | 2010-11 | D. Sherman | 2024-25 | J.A. Goldberg |
| 1976-77 | D. Sherman | 1997-98 | R. Tozer | 2011-12 | D.A. Sands | 2025-26 | ??? |
| 1977-78 | I.B.N. Smith | 1998-99 | A.R. Brett | 2012-13 | D.A. Sands | ||
| 1978-79 | No contest | 1999-00 | Z. Harari | 2013-14 | D. Sherman | | |
Page Navigation: Essex Championship | Minor | Rapidplay | Lightning | Blitz
Blitz Championship
| Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | R. Pert | 2019-20 | R. Pert | 2023-24 | No contest | 2026-27 | ??? |
| 2017-18 | A.P. Lewis | 2020-22 | No contest | 2024-25 | R. Pert | 2027-28 | ??? |
| 2018-19 | D.A. Sands | 2022-23 | D.L. Haydon | 2025-26 | ??? | 2028-29 | ??? |