U1450 storm to the Final

ECF U2050 SF: Essex 6-10 ClevelandAt Newark (Notts) A first meeting between Essex and Cleveland. Exchange of team lists revealed that Essex had an advantage of an average 105 points a board. But Essex, with a hat-trick of Championships at this level, were in for a shock. There is a cogent theory that says that […]

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One for Sean

ECF U1450 QF: Greater Manchester 4½-7½ EssexAt Syston. From Acting skipper, Mark Murrell: Essex U1450 team is off to the semis after a battling against-the-odds performance, against the reigning National Champs and this season’s NCCU Champions. Essex came back from behind three times before powering home with two wins to finish. Our U11s doubling up […]

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Government funding for chess

The excellent news that the long-held efforts to get chess recognised at UK Government level have finally borne fruit has been announced by the ECF. The August issue of Chess News to ECF members says: As we go to press we’ve just received the fantastic news that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has […]

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Last day at the British

Last round today. All games start at 10:00 am, which allows for play-off for the British Championship, if needed. Max Pert, who was playing in the U16 Championship which finished yesterday, today gets a game as a filler in the main British Championship. Thus, IM Richard Pert and his twin brother GM Nick Pert, and […]

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Essex at the British returns

The British Championships congress approaches, running from Thursday 20 July to Sunday 30 July, in Leicester, with more events than ever. There is already a fine Essex presence, 40 strong as we write, including a “baker’s dozen” from Wanstead. We will keep up a daily blog in our Features pages – link below – with […]

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Bittersweet

Two Essex teams battled through to the ECF Finals, the same two teams which were successful in a double championships last year, U2050 and U1450. On this occasion, one title gained by default, the other lost by a margin, makes for a bittersweet experience. The U2050 FInal was conceded by Warwickshire the day before the […]

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U2050 Final is off!

Essex retain U2050 national Championship, by default Due to have been played Saturday, 1 July, against Warwickshire, at Staines, Warwicks have conceded the match as they were unable to raise a full team. So, a complete contrast to Essex’ come-from-behind victory in the 2022 Final against Surrey. Essex retain the U2020 national Championship, but to […]

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What a semi-final that was!

Essex U1850 having bowed out in their match against Yorkshire, on 13 May, the other three Essex teams each contested their Semi-Finals – a triple header against Yorks – in Syston on 10 June. ECF U2050 SF: Yorks 6½-9½ Essex – ESSEX TO THE FINAL!At Syston, Leics. 10 Jun 2023. From Mark Murrell. Outrated on […]

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ECF County Championships

With apologies for lateness, we catch up on the ECF County Championships. ECF QF U1850: Yorks 9-7 EssexPlayed 13 May 2023 At some stage in this year’s competition all the Essex teams face Yorkshire. For the U1850 team this was at the QF stage. Yorks had a slight edge on ratings of just 29 points […]

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Essex at the British

We announce the belated return of our former annual feature following Essex stars at the Chessable British Championships, now nearing their closing stages in Torquay. The format reverts to something near its former two week stint, but with 9 rounds for the Championship and the Major Open instead of 11 Rounds in former times. We […]

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