TITLES Four Essex teams entered the return of the Couties Championships back in September. Two of the Essex teams – U2050 and U1850 – were SCCU Champions, the other two – U1650 and U1450 – were runners up, two went on to become National Champions: U2050 and U1450. Congratulations to everyone involved for a fine […]
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ECF U2050 Final: Essex 8½-7½ SurreyAt Wanstead. At one stage, Essex were four points down at E 2½-6½ S and there were some glum Essex faces. Then Essex won two in a row before another Surrey win, so Surrey were still three up at E 4½-7½ S. Just four now left in play from which […]
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Finals day! Two Essex teams compete in the ECF County Championships Finals today: U2050 and U1450 and in each case the opposition is Surrey. For once the Finals are being played at other than a central venue, in the case of the U2050, U1650 (Surrey v Warks) and U1450, the venue is Wanstead House. There […]
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U1850 ECF Semi-Final: Essex 5½-10½ YorksAt Syston Out-rated on all boards bar one, Essex had no answer to Yorks in an encounter for which Peter Nickals (for Essex) and Rupert Jones (for Yorks) had collaborated in the production of a trophy, the Philpott-Braham Trophy, commemorating two dedicated servants of their respective counties. There had been […]
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The return of OTB county chess at the ECF stage level has been marked by a majority of counties’ progressing without play. Overall, 7 matches have been played, but there were 7 byes to the semi-finals and 5 matches have been conceded without play. Three of the four Essex teams have reached the semi-finals with […]
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Catching up on County match reporting since our last post for each team, these are the subsequent results of the SCCU Championships. Essex qualified all four teams for the ECF stage, two of them – U2050 and U1850 – as SCCU Champions. Stats are up to date. News from the ECF stage matches will follow […]
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SCCU U1850: Essex 9-7 SurreyAt Wanstead. Surrey brought a strong squad to Wanstead and Essex rose to the occasion to secure the verdict by two points, with a stroke or two of luck along the way. This was enough to take a one point lead at the top of the table, after four matches. SCCCU […]
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The pre-season regional County Challenge competitions, Major and Minor, attracted just three counties in the south east, Essex, Kent and Hants. Kent actually entered three teams, one in the Major two in the Minor. Essex had the fillip of winning both competitions, reward for the players’ effors and for Peter Nickals, who made all the […]
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The Finals were held on 18 September with full anti-cheating regimen, run by the match Arbiters on Zoom. You have to hand it to Northumberland: they entered all three online Championships, Open, Major Open, U1800 and swept the board winning all matches in all three competitions; most impressive. Essex contested the Major Open Final against […]
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An away steal, a home romp and an inter Essex match too, Upstarts 4-2 Timeless, combined with two junior tournaments with over 40 entries, made for a busy day for the second Back to Real Chess Festival. Essex Major made the first away trip by an Essex County team team since County competition ceased for […]
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