1st H+H Fire Chess Holiday Camp

This week is the 1^st H+H Fire Chess Holiday Camp. They’ll be another one immediately before the British Championships at the end of July. The event is hosted by IM Richard Pert who was assisted with the coaching by IM Adam Hunt and me.

Today was the first day and below are some photos of the coaching and the chess playing. We finished off with a series of team matches played over a number of boards with each player making one move on a board for their team before heading to the next.  

 Leading the top coaching group through a rook and pawn endgame.

 Selina and Byon concentrating hard.

 Group A in their multi-board match (won by the girls after an Armageddon play-off).

Group B in their multi-board match. CJCC player Adam nearest the camera.

CJCC will return next week (21^st) with the older players.

Best Wishes

Robin

chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

 

UK Chess Challenge Standings

Below are the latest standings for the CJCC stage of the UK Chess Challenge. Bertie beat Alice to take the lead and they both became the first two players to win a furry chess mascot. We’ll meet back on the 21^st February with the older players.

 

 

Best Wishes

Robin

chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

http://chelmsfordjuniorchessclub.blogspot.co.uk

Junior Chess Weekend 4th/5th February

Busy chess weekend. The National Primary Schools Chess Championship qualifier at Moulsham on Saturday and the Essex Junior Chess Association Coaching Day on Sunday.

We ended up with 22 teams at Moulsham (15 in the U11s, 7 in the U9s) from schools in Essex, Suffolk and London. Congratulations to Moulsham A and Moulsham C who both qualified for the South of England semi-finals. Both teams surpassed themselves with Moulsham A finishing 2^nd and Moulsham C surprisingly taking the last qualifying spot.

Brentwood Prep and Elm Green (the other schools with CJCC players) U11s also qualified. This was particularly impressive for Elm Green in their first ever appearance in the competition. Below is a photo of Moulsham A (all 5 players are CJCC members).

 

It is no coincidence that the top players from all 3 schools have attended most of the EJCA Coaching Days and Brentwood Train and Play days. Expert coaching paired with regular competitive practice would help any young player to develop. More importantly though it was great to see so many players this weekend having fun playing and learning whatever their level.

It is the turn of the younger players this week at the club for the next round of the UK Chess Challenge. No CJCC meeting in half-term week. CJCC players Alexander and Jake will be joining me however at the 1st H+H Fire Chess Holiday Camp in Writtle on 13th/14th February.

Best Wishes

Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

CJCC and other chess

Next Saturday (4^th February) Moulsham host a qualifying tournament for the National Primary School Chess Championship. This is for teams of 6 at U11 and U9 level with places at the National Semi-Final at Pontins in Camber Sands at stake. Next Sunday (5^th) is the latest Essex Junior Chess Association Coaching Day so a busy chess weekend ahead.

Moulsham have entered 6 teams who will be managed on the day by past and current CJCC players who were former Moulsham students. Among the other schools playing are Elm Green, St. Anne’s and Brentwood Prep who all have current CJCC players in their teams.

Welcome to Nikita, Elijah and Ewan this week who came along for the first time to a busy week at the club. Congratulations to Alice White and James Zarzecki who lead the UK Chess Challenge tournament with 10 points. Congratulations also to Ayub and Stewart who have been selected to represent Essex U11s.

 

 

Best Wishes

Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Chess Grades

The new chess grades are now out. Follow the link below. You can either search by player name or “Essex Juniors” as a club search.

http://www.ecfgrading.org.uk/new/menu.php

Best Wishes

Robin
http://chelmsfordjuniorchessclub.blogspot.co.uk

1st H+H Brentwood Train and Play

Last Sunday (15^th) was the 1^st H+H Train and Play at Brentwood. 50 children came along to enjoy some coaching from International Masters Richard Pert and Adam Hunt and myself. The sponsorship from H+H will allow Richard and me to bring in a series of top guest coaches for the events.

Team Magnus Carlsen (managed by KEGS teacher Tim Worrall) won the team competition. One of the nice parts of the day is that everyone is in a team and plays three matches for their team against opponents of their own level in between the coaching sessions. CJCC were represented by 10 current or former players.

 CJCC Player Anna in action.

 Team Bobby Fischer focussed against Team Judit Polgar.

 Head scratching moment for Charlie.

 Tom concentrating hard for Team Magnus Carlsen mid-photo.



 CJCC Parent IM Richard Pert with Group B.

 Me with Group C.

 IM Adam Hunt with Group A.



In February H+H are supporting two further events – a holiday chess camp in half-term on 13^th and 14^th February and the next Train and Play event on 26^th February. The next Train and Play will include Grandmasters Matthew Sadler and Nick Pert as part of the coaching team.

For further details of past and future events see www.britishchess.co.uk and feel free to email me with any questions.

Best Wishes

Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

UK Chess Challenge and January Chess

A tableful of furry mascots means the Delancey UK Chess Challenge is underway. Everyone will receive a chess badge and a gold spot for each win. As the children progress they will battle for a furry chess mascot, scorebook, certificate and a Golden Ticket to the Essex Megafinal.

 

We played Round One for the older players last Tuesday (10^th) and will start off the younger players this week (17^th). Don’t forget the club is closed the folowing Tuesday (24^th) because I’m at chess competition with the KEGS Year 7 and 8 teams.

January is full of chess. KEGS are playing in two competitions. The Essex Junior Chess Association had a training day on 8^th and have the next Grand Prix tournament on the 22^nd. I’m also visiting Elm Green and Moulsham schools ahead of a primary school competition on the 4^th February.

Yesterday (15^th) saw the 1^st H+H Train and Play day at Brentwood. Among the 50 children enjoying the team competition and coaching from International Masters Richard Pert and Adam Hunt (and me) were 10 CJCC players. Alexander and Stewart both scored 2/3 and were part of the winning team alongside Anna.

Best Wishes

Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com