2024 Tournaments

We have 3 tournaments coming up in Essex. All the details as ever are at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-F8SAJkWRhlj01L4FwNFkfCeIj16YKNJ7WM4H-eckf4/edit?usp=sharing

Sunday 28th January

Colchester Junior Tournament (part of the EJCA Grand Prix)

Details and Entry - https://www.colchesterjrchess.org/chess-event

Sunday 3rd March

8th Brentwood Junior Tournament (part of the EJCA Grand Prix)

Details and Entry - https://britishchess.co.uk/events/

28th March to 1st April

Southend Easter Chess Festival (adults and juniors)

Details and Entry - https://southendchesscongress.org/

CJCC will return on Saturday 20th January. Above is CJCC player Jamie who made his tournament debut and finished as runner-up in his section at Brentwood in March 2023.

Happy New Year!

Robin (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

Christmas Chess and CJCC in 2024

We had our last meeting of 2023 today with our Christmas Buffet. Thank you to everyone who came along to make it such a nice occasion.

Once again, Eddie, Anna and Joshua took charge of the buffet. Their help through the year makes a real difference to the smooth running of the club. Here they are at last year's buffet.

CJCC itself will be back on Saturday 20th January and meet weekly (with the odd exception) at our regular times. Please email for full details but skeleton details are at the bottom. 

Online chess for Essex Juniors and CJCC will continue across Christmas. Our next online competition as CJCC is on Wednesday 20th December. 

East Anglian Team Battle Link - https://lichess.org/tournament/9d6ziOsQ

The details of this and our other online chess is always at this live google document link.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-F8SAJkWRhlj01L4FwNFkfCeIj16YKNJ7WM4H-eckf4/edit?usp=sharing

There is also a WhatsApp group for chess parents to help you stay in touch. If you email me, I will send you the link to join.

Good luck to everyone playing online or in person at the London Junior Chess Championships across Christmas and New Year.

Best Wishes

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

Chelmsford Junior Chess Club meets on Saturdays from 9.15am to 12.15pm in Christ Church in London Road (CM2 0AW).

We will return on Saturday 20th January 2024 and will meet (with the odd exception) every week.

The younger club (school years 1 to 5) meet from 9.15am to 10.45am. 

The older club (school year 6 and above) from 10.45am to 12.15pm.

There is flexibility within the group ages to allow for siblings etc.

The cost is £5 per session attended, which will be a mix of playing and coaching.

Happy Christmas!

Thank you to everyone who has been part of Chelmsford Junior Chess Club through 2023. 

I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Best Wishes

Robin 

chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Trophy Winners!

It was great to see so many current and former CJCC players at the Chelmsford Grand Prix tournament on Saturday 4th November.

There are some great photos by Mel here - https://www.facebook.com/essexjuniorchess

Below I am with 3 very happy CJCC trophy winners (Digby, Grace and Jacob) and Jacob is concentrating hard against former CJCC player (and U8 tournament winner) Ishaan.

We'll be celebrating everyone's performances on Saturday.

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

GM Alexei Shirov

Joshua showed us all a game by GM Alexei Shirov on Saturday then I saw this position on facebook.

Joshua had memorised the game (not the one below) and did a great job with Jacob explaining it.

Shirov is amazingly only the 50th seed in the Isle of Man next week (https://iomchess.com/)

Got a quick photo of some of our older players on Saturday. Dinil and George closest to the camera, Nithilan "assisting" Eddie against Anna.

Don't forget that entries close on Wed 1st Nov for the Chelmsford Grand Prix Tournament on Sat 4th Nov.

Entry Forms and Links | Essex Junior Chess Association EJCA

Good Luck!

Robin (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

Photos and Club Dates in 2023 and 2024

Thank you to our teenage coaches Joshua and Anna for the photos below of the younger half of the club.

Leo and Jack in a lollipop-fuelled battle

Thank you to Russell for coming along to share some chess ideas.

Below are the remaining dates for 2023.

Saturday 21st October, 11th November, 25th November (9.15-11 only), 9th December, 16th December.

CJCC meets in Christ Church in London Road (CM2 0AW).

The younger club (School years 1 to 5) from 9.15am to 10.45am.

The older club (School years 6+) from 10.45am to 12.15pm.

In 2024, the club will return on Saturday 20th January and meet (with the odd break for other chess events) every Saturday.

Don't forget to save my live google doc link to stay up to date.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-F8SAJkWRhlj01L4FwNFkfCeIj16YKNJ7WM4H-eckf4/edit?usp=sharing

Best Wishes

Robin (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

Club meeting 30th September, junior chess tournaments and CJCC online.

It was great to welcome some new and returning players today. Below are 3 quickly snapped group photos from the younger half. CJCC will next meet on Saturdays14th and 21st of October.

Elliott sharing his chess skills with Ralph and Antony with Joshua (who helps me run the club) locked in combat with Misha next to them.

David on the left is helping out for his Duke of Edinburgh volunteering. Jacob and Ezara are watching the younger Joshua doing something off camera.

Edmund is one of our players back after a summer chess break.

CJCC took part in the September East Anglian Team Battle on Lichess. 

Everyone in the club can have their own student account and play for CJCC if they wish. It is a great site for learning as well as playing.

Tomorrow - Sunday 1st October - sees the first Essex Junior Chess Association Grand Prix tournament of 2023/2024 in Colchester and an U19 school competition at Eton College for KEGS and Brentwood.

Colchester Results - https://chess-results.com/tnr822243.aspx?lan=1

Eton Results - https://chess-results.com/tnr825935.aspx?lan=1

The EJCA Chelmsford Grand Prix tournament (and LJCC qualifier) will be on Saturday 4th November. Entry and details via https://www.essexjuniorchess.co.uk/tournaments/entry-forms-and-links/

This live google doc will keep everyone in touch with what is coming up and also shows details of junior clubs in Essex. It was great to hear this wek of a new junior club in Basildon.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-F8SAJkWRhlj01L4FwNFkfCeIj16YKNJ7WM4H-eckf4/edit?usp=sharing

Best Wishes

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

New Logo

Chelmsford Junior Chess Club has a smart new logo all ready for the new season.

Jamie - one of our young players - has an online design shop and kindly created a special design just for CJCC. 

You can see more of his work here

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JamiesArtShopDesigns?ref=shop_sugg_market

Best Wishes

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

CJCC Dates

CJCC has been meeting across the summer and it has been great to welcome so many new players.

On Saturday 19th August, 4-player chess turned into 8-player chess.

George and Jeremy took on Sean and Louis with assistance/advice/distraction/interest from Joe, Soyeon, Summer and William.

Below are the remaining dates for the summer holidays and those for next term.

Saturdays 2nd September, 16th September, 30th September, 14th October, 21st October, 11th November, 25th November, 9th December, 16th December.

Christ Church in London Road (CM2 0AW).

The younger club (School years 1 to 5) from 9.15am to 10.45am.

The older club (School years 6+) from 10.45am to 12.15pm.

This document link will keep you up to date with CJCC and Essex Chess details.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-F8SAJkWRhlj01L4FwNFkfCeIj16YKNJ7WM4H-eckf4/edit?usp=sharing

Please get in touch with any questions about CJCC or Essex Junior Chess.

Best Wishes

Robin (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

Summer Chess

 It has been a busy summer of chess. 

CJCC players have been at ChessFest in Trafalgar Square, the Southern Gigafinal and the British Championships as well as coming along to the club.

Below are a few photos taken along the way.

Grace and Jacob teaming up against me.

ChessFest is a wonderful celebration of chess.

Jamie, Digby and Jacob at the Southern Gigafinal at Sandown Park racecourse.

Ishan - one of CJCC's qualifiers for the Terafinal Challengers.

Next up, two across the board tournament in Essex.

Sat 26th Aug - Register for 2nd Brentwood Bank Holiday ECF Rapid Play | British Chess

CR Brentwood Open Aug 2023

CR Brentwood Minor Aug 2023

Sun 3rd Sept  - ECA 125th Anniversary – Essex Chess Association

Good luck to our players.

Best Wishes

Robin

chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com 

Amazing Chess Puzzle and Club Photos

George and Arthur created a brilliant chess puzzle today which they shared with the club. 

It is correct, smart and artistic and won them our Player of the Week trophies. 

Red is moving up the board and has a forced checkmate in two moves. Can you find it?

A busy week for the younger half of the club as you can see. 

It was great to welcome Leke, Lore, Jamie, Samuel, Misha, Zakariah, Musa, Olivia and Phoebe for the first time. 

Always room for more so do come and join us.

Best Wishes

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

CJCC Player Photos

Here are a few photos of CJCC players at two Essex junior chess events in June taken by Melinda Wilde (Melinda Wilde chess). 

Colchester Juniors organised and hosted a coaching day where the coaches included IM Richard Pert (former CJCC parent) and WIM Natasha Regan.

The EJCA - EJCA - organised the Chelmsford Summer Tournament as the final leg of their Grand Prix to decide the Essex Junior Champions for 2022/2023.

Digby vs Joshua at Colchester

George at Colchester

Looking at a rook and pawn ending.

IM Richard Pert in the simultaneous match

Giving a bit of advice on the way round the simul

Ezara

Richard and Natasha with prize-winner George

Play about to start in Chelmsford

Jamie trying to keep cool at Chelmsford

Jeremy

Dave Hawkins presenting Grace and Jeremy with their trophies

Best Wishes

Robin (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

August Chess

Nearly the holidays!

Chelmsford Junior Chess Club will be meeting 4 times at Christ Church through August.

Saturdays 1st and 15th August plus Tuesdays 8th and 22nd August.

In addition, we will have 2 online coaching days open to all juniors on Tuesdays 8th and 22nd August.

Plenty of other chess going on as well. As always, keep an eye on the live google document link at 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-F8SAJkWRhlj01L4FwNFkfCeIj16YKNJ7WM4H-eckf4/edit?usp=sharing

There is a tournament hosted by Brentwood School on Saturday 26th August for adults and juniors split into 2 sections on rating. Details and entry at https://britishchess.co.uk/online-registration/2nd-brentwood-ecf-rated-rapid-play or by email.

Best Wishes

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

CJCC Photos 24th June

Below are a few photos from our meeting today. We welcomed Nathan. Moses, Frank and William to the club for the first time today and welcomed back Rishi after some years away.

A useful warm-up for the Essex Junior Chess Association tournament in Chelmsford tomorrow where many CJCC players will be in action.

Soyeon and Noah facing the camera.

Alex looking determined against Donnie.

Digby playing Thomas.

Moses playing Jacob closest to the camera.

Jamie standing wearing his Megafinal medal.

Jayden playing Pamolee closest to the camera.

For details of CJCC or general Essex Junior chess, please get in touch.

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

One Chess Weekend

What another great weekend of chess it has been.

In Colchester, it was the Essex Megafinal. 

Congratulations to all CJCC players who managed to qualify for the Gigafinals. Special congratulations to Byon Meyer who was Under 18 Supremo.

I missed the Megafinal because I was in Camber Sands for the weekend with Brentwood Prep and St Cedd's at the Southern semi-finals of the National Primary Schools Chess Championships. 

What a gorgeous weekend it was to be by the sea. And a great celebration of chess. 60 teams and over 350 players. 

Everyone ready for play to start.

Brentwood Prep Under 11s

St Cedd's U9s and U11s

Success wasn't far away. St Cedd's U9s were denied by a final round defeat to winners City School (London). Brentwood U11s only lost to winners Dulwich Prep and runners-up Highgate. But a great time was had by all and some fine chess played.

CJCC meets on the next two Saturdays (27th May and 3rd June). 

9.15 - 10.45 for school years 1-5, 10.45 - 12.15 for school years 6 and above. Please email for details.

Details of the next Essex Junior tournament (in Chelmsford in Sunday 25th June) can be found at https://www.essexjuniorchess.co.uk/tournaments/entry-forms-and-links/

Good luck to everyone wherever you play.

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)

Upcoming Tournaments

 We have two junior tournaments coming up in Essex this term.

On Sunday 21st May is the Essex Megafinal. This independently organised event (supported by the Essex Junior Chess Association) gives a chance to qualify for National Gigafinals and Terafinals.

Entry details via https://www.delanceyukschoolschesschallenge.com/megafinals-2023/

On Sunday 25th June, we have the final round of the EJCA Grand Prix in Chelmsford. County Champions and other season award winners will receive their trophies after the tournament.

Entry details via https://www.essexjuniorchess.co.uk/tournaments/entry-forms-and-links/

Good luck to all CJCC players.

Robin Slade (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com , https://twitter.com/robinslade65)

Online Chess - Cartoons to Chessable

 

The online chess world is great for more than just playing. Below is a taste of what is available.

I can make student accounts at www.chesskid.com and www.lichess.org within CJCC.

ChessKid is the best site for the youngest juniors and those just starting off. Lichess for those a little older. Both offer a wide range of learning and puzzle options alongside friendly or competitive play.

 

The bite-sized chess videos at www.thechesswebsite.com are excellent and at the right level for many of CJCC’s players.

The Kahoot quizzes at https://www.chessinschools.co.uk/chess-at-home are fun and range from chess basics to top level tactics.

 

Older juniors will enjoy popular streamers like those below

https://www.youtube.com/@GothamChess/featured

https://www.youtube.com/@GMHikaru

https://www.youtube.com/@BotezLive

 

My favourite site to enjoy top level game highlights is https://www.youtube.com/user/PowerPlayChess/videos

 

Learn with the best – create an account and search for free courses at https://www.chessable.com/

 

www.chess.com is the world’s most popular chess site with around 100 million accounts worldwide.

 

These are some of my favourite chess animations to use in schools

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXM3wrIhcwY

(2) A brief history of chess - Alex Gendler - YouTube

https://www.facebook.com/checkmatecoronavirus/videos/604193133779787?locale=en_GB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSxHhu-OBkw

 

CJCC at Brentwood

We had a great CJCC turnout for the 7th Brentwood Junior Open on Sunday 5th March.

Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - The 7th Brentwood Junior Tournament - Essex Junior Grand Prix

Congratulations to our prizewinners. It was particularly nice though to see so many taking part in their first tournament.

Photos courtesy of Melinda Wilde - Portrait Photographer | Melinda Marie Photography | Colchester

Jeremy - U11 Open winner

Elliott - one of our debut players

Ezara

Adam concentrating hard (not a common sight!)

Ishaan enjoying his game with Grace

Grace

Byon

Flynn

Donnie

Jacob (Year 1)- 5/6 in the U11 Minor with Brentwood Head Mr Bond

Digby in his first tournament - Winner of the U11 Minor on 6/6