The Essex Knockout is under way with the same 10 teams as last year, save that Writtle are entering as Chelmsford (many members are common to both clubs and entering as Chelmsford allows access to a few more players). In the early years of the competition in its current Rapid format, Chelmsford entered in addition to Writtle, so it’s ‘welcome back!’.
The Draw for Round 1, with dates for each match, is:
Match A: CHELMSFORD v Loughton – 26 June
Match B: Barking B v WANSTEAD A – 22 June
Match C: ILFORD v Wanstead C – 19 June
Match D: BARKING A v Thurrock – 13 July*
Match E: Wanstead B v BASILDON – 27 June
* with Controller’s approval
Round dates: R1 by 30 June; Round 2 (QF) by 4 August; SF by 1 September; Final by 30 September.
In round 2 there will be one contested match and three Byes to create a Semi-Final with four teams. There will also be a Plate competition for 1st Round losers. You can find the full draw, including the Plate, on the “Tables” page (link below) as well as on the ECF LMS (click on the “Draw/Results” tab when you get there).
Rule amendments were agreed at the recent GPC meeting, including a speeding up of the competition administration particularly the process of proposing and accepting fixture dates. These are now three days to offer two dates and three days to respond (hopefully accepting one of the two). The old Rule provided seven days each way and three dates. the change has demonstrated the effectiveness of the change as all five fixtures were agreed in five days, instead of two weeks, including one fixture for which an extension of timespan was needed. As last year, the competition will be controlled in the ECF LMS and there will also be the usual Knockout pages on this the ECA website. Links below.
All games will be automatically submitted for ECF Rapid rating by the LMS system.
Links: Knockout on ECF LMS | KO page | KO Tables | Modern Knockout history