And then there were two

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 […]

Open this post

Essex Knockout returns

The Essex Summer Rapid Knockout, last played in 2019, returns for 2022. Entries have been received from BARKING A, Barking B, BASILDON, Ilford, LOUGHTON, Thurrock, WANSTEAD A, Wanstead B, Wanstead C, WRITTLE (seeded teams in CAPS). In a new development, following the lead of the Essex League, the Knockout is now using the ECF League […]

Open this post

ECF stage round up

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 […]

Open this post

County match round up

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 […]

Open this post

Essex on top

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 […]

Open this post

Calling all Clubs

HM Government has strongly underlined the planned removal of remaining covid-19 restrictions on 19 July. The new ECA League Secretary, Tom Barton and the League Management Committee are tasked with kick-starting the Essex League. The recent ECA AGM voted to draw a line under the covid-affected 2019-20 League competition and projected a new competition for […]

Open this post

David Millward stands down as League Secretary

In a seminal ECA AGM, the most significant feature of the meeting was the end of the tenure of David Millward as League Secretary. In his League Secretary’s report, David reported that at its recent meeting, the LMC (League Management Committee) had reached a decision to complete the 2019-20 League commpetition which was brought to […]

Open this post

Essex Online Blitz 4 – 29 March at 7.00 pm

The last of the current series of Essex Online Blitz tournaments takes place Monday evening, 29 March at 7.00 pm. ENTRIES CLOSE at 6.00 pm, 29 March. Blitz 4 will be played at the rate of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment (G3+2) which equates to popular 5 minutes blitz. If you would like to […]

Open this post