Teams 2023-24 up and running

Having emerged from the AGM in June with absolutely no County teams personnel at all, the ECA is happy to announce that the four rating-limited teams entered for the County Championships now have team captains and, what’s more, one deptuty team captain. Team Captains for 2023-24U2050 – Michael Spurr; Deputy Captain, James Robinson;U1850 – Mark […]

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Crowning glory

From Mark Murrell As champions elect going into dead rubbers for our Essex U2050 and U1650 teams and the longest excursion of the campaigns, skippers Mark Murrell and Malcolm Crane nevertheless assembled competitive teams whilst taking advantage of the opportunity to introduce new players to Essex over-the-board county chess. It was not however all plain […]

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SCCU Championships Double

From ECA Match Captain, Mark Murrell Double wins have been the norm this season whenever the U2050 and U1650 Essex teams have played together and round 5 of 6 was no exception. This one was special though with both Essex teams securing a divisional Championship with a match still to play. The U1650s join the […]

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Get in there!

SCCU U1650: Essex 10½-5½ SurreyAt Wanstead. At the start of play skipper Malcolm was bemoaning the loss of some of his top players who were available for the original match date back on October 1st but not for the rescheduled match. On paper, Surrey out-rated Essex over the top 10 boards, but Essex won by […]

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Kent lick wounds after visit to Wanstead

SCCU U2050: Essex 12½-3½ KentAt Wanstead. Great effort today against an under-strength Kent, but nevertheless making the most of the rating advantage and pressing for those extra half points for a 9 point winning margin: 12½-3½. Kent took the early lead, Sasha beat the Kent skip to level and from then on it was plain sailing. […]

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One of each

SCCU U2050: Essex 9½-6½ KentAt Wanstead. In many ways a strange afternoon. The early results produced one Kent win among a string of draws. Then a clutch of Essex wins turned things around to a two point home advantage. Yet still the match was not clear and everything remained in the balance until near the […]

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Close encounters

SCCU U2050: Surrey 8-8 Essex – 14 board match, contested games 7-7.At Cheam. All square in Cheam today. Surrey creamed the top half, but Essex managed to equalise lower down. The two Essex wins in the top half – games given on the U2050 page – were both comfortable and early (among the first three […]

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