Thursday 30 January 2020

New Grades,Tournament Standings and Future Dates

The new chess grades are out. Click at http://www.ecfgrading.org.uk/new/menu.php if you are brave enough.

4 weeks into term and 68 children have played a total of 90 games in our UK Chess Challenge tournament. Next week I'll hand out chess mascots to everyone who has reached 11 points.

In our challenge match this week a combined St. Anne's / KEGS Year 7 team beat the rest of the club by 5 wins to 4 with one draw.

Congratulations to Luoke (Year 3) who is the first player to complete 7 rounds and is our tournament leader on 17 points. Luoke has also just got his first chess grade.

On 1st March at the Brentwood Junior tournament there is a section specifically for players in Year 6 and below who haven't got a grade. No other junior tournament in Essex has such a section. This makes it an ideal first tournament for anyone who can confidently move the pieces on their own. Details at www.britishchess.co.uk

Good luck to CCJC players representing their junior schools this Saturday (St. Anne's, St. Cedd's and Moulsham) at the National Primary School Chess Championship.

Up to half-term we have the younger half on 4th February and the older half on 11th February. We'll meet back after half-term with the younger half on 25th February.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Younger Group Photos

This week (21st January) was the turn of the younger players. We had a busy week at the club with over 30 players including Mason and Owen along for the first time.

Shaasvath was our Player of the Week for winning his first ever game at the club after stalemating Janet (4 queens were too many!) and losing in 4 moves to Louis. On the giant board we looked at the Louis Mate and the Hugo Mate (Hugo won in 2 moves at school).

Special thanks to Elizabeth for her patience in helping Hannah and Kamilla play a whole game. Well done to Rhys as well for managing a full game on his own against Owen.

Luoke (Year 3) has moved into the overall lead among the younger players with 3 wins and 2 draws from his 5 games. Sebastian and Shrishti are close behind. John remains the overall leader (one point ahead of Luoke). Sid and Maya are among those who started with 2 wins this week.

In between shuffling the players and patching up Arjun (chess finger wound) I took the photos below.


Samira and Joshua had a long game. Sid, Ben and Rishi are also in the picture.

Robert is playing Owen closest to the camera.

Kamilla and Hannah had a game that lasted all afternoon (helped by Elizabeth).

Lawrence about to move against tournament leader John (watched by Ethan).

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Wednesday 15 January 2020

UK Chess Challenge and New Members

We are two weeks into the new term at CJCC.

Already we have welcomed 9 new members - Hannah, Sachin, Arjun, Shaasvath, Hugo, Amelia, Henry, Yashas and Daniel. I think that is all of them!

We are also two weeks into the UK Chess Challenge - our 7-round tournament running up to Easter.

Adam is leading with 9 points (3 wins) from John with 8. Most players have only played 2 rounds (you can only play 2 rounds a week) and of these only Joshua O, Evan and Shristi have 6 points.

Shristi (Year 3) was a checkmating machine the first week and won the Player of the Week trophy.

Already we have played over 40 games and 50 children have taken part.

All of which means no photos yet this term - I've been too busy pairing the tournament and doing some group learning on the demonstration board.

Yesterday the older players watched World Champion Magnus Carlsen get it wrong (Eddie and his glove puppet guessed the right move) while the previous week the younger ones learned about pins and forks.

It is the turn of the younger players next week (21st).

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com