Train and Play 12th November

As ever it was great to see so many CJCC players taking part in the latest H+H Fire British Chess Train and Play event in Chelmsford on Sunday. Adam was our top club scorer with 3/3 just pipping Ben Chang and Jake who scored 2.5.

I was just as impressed though by the effort put in by some players who didn't end up with any wins and the great spirit everyone showed. One of these players - CJCC's Alice White - won the "Player of the Day" trophy for this reason.

We had a coaching quartet this time with WGM Dagne Ciuksyte and Lateefah Messam-Sparks joining IM Richard Pert and myself. Although the majority of players come from Essex some come from much further afield. This time Rohan Pal had made the longest journey (from Birmingham) so it was good to see him finish on 2/3 and be part of the winning team.

Team Judit Polgar - managed by Dagne and captained by Chris Willoughby - won with 31 points with the other three teams all finishing on 25.5 or 26. The majority of the winning team were girls and it is always nice to see so many girls at our events.

A full report, results and more photos will appear at www.britishchess.co.uk but in the meantime below are a few photos of the day.

 Lateefah testing out Ranulph in a friendly game.

Kyan on top board for Team Garry Kasparov against Team Judit Polgar.

Rohan keeping a close eye on the top board in the Team Bobby Fischer vs Team Magnus Carlsen match.

The players who scored 3/3 receiving their prizes.

The winning Team Judit Polgar. Chris on the left with the trophy and Dagne standing behind.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

CJCC 7th November

A fun and busy afternoon at the club today. Scott Shelley (one of the strongest players at KEGS and a regular helper at the club) played a six board simultaneous match against a rotating team of 10 opponents. Congratulations to Felix (future KEGS student) on his victory and Ben, Jixuan and Sophie on their hard earned draws.

James Naylor from Moulsham was our Player of the Week for a very neat checkmate against Sophie.

Welcome to Charlie and Kaan who came along for the first time.

Lawrence and Felix "helping" Amelie and Theo. In the background on the left Russell White is playing Jixuan while Ben, Leon and Tom are facing Scott on the right.

 Eddie and Olga in the foreground, Lawrence facing Nikita behind them.

James Naylor - our Player of the Week.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Halloween Checkmate Challenge and Upcoming Chess

Congratulations to Ben Chang who narrowly won our Halloween Checkmate Challenge on tie-break from Anna to win a skull glass. Congratulations also to Olga who won our "Player of the Day" trophy for her fabulous costume.

Olga recently got 5/6 in the South East Girls U10 Rapidplay so fully deserves to be the first winner of our new prize - a trophy awarded each week (to be held for two weeks) to the Player of the Day.

Ben played at the Bury St Edmunds Congress last weekend and scored 2/5 against a mixture of adult and junior players (including his first win over an adult player in a tournament - always a special moment).

Lots of chess coming up...

12th Nov - H+H Fire Train and Play at Moulsham School. Details at www.britishchess.co.uk

19th Nov - Basildon Rapidlay. Entry form at www.ejca.co.uk

3rd Dec - EJCA Coaching Day (by invitation).

3rd Dec - LJCC qualifier and Suffolk Junior Open at Woodbridge. Email me for an entry form.

5th Dec - KEGS trip to Olympia for the London Chess Classic.

8th Dec - Chess Evening in Chelmsford with Fun Master Mike from www.chesskid.com - a rare visit to the UK from one of the world's best known junior coaches. Special part of...

10th Dec - H+H Fire Train and Play Christmas Special.

12th Dec - CJCC Christmas Buffet (limited chess but plenty of food).

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Half-Term

CJCC finished tonight ahead of a week's break for half-term. We'll meet back on the 31st October with the older group (and Halloween snacks).

Tonight the younger half (plus a few older ones) had a Checkmate Competition. We had queen, rook and king against king and had a competition to see who could checkmate in the fewest moves. For the less experienced players it was a good chance to practice their technique and for the stronger ones an equally good chance to do a bit of teaching.

Congratulations to Olga, Eddie, James and Amelie for their prize-winning efforts and thank you to Leon for donating the swiftly consumed prizes from his refreshment table. Congratulations also to Olga for scoring 5/6 in a strong girl's event at the weekend.

Looking ahead...

Older Group 31st Oct, 14th Nov, 28th Nov
Younger Group 7th Nov, 21st Nov

The club will be closed on 5th December because I'll be at the London Chess Classic at Olympia with the KEGS U13 players so the whole club is invited to a Christmas Buffet on 12th December.

This is from last week with Phoebe and Francesca distracted by Alexander's match against Felix and Adam.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Chelmsford Junior Chess Club

Three weeks into the new season now and it is as if we have never been away. It was nice to welcome Tudor to the club for the first time today. A nice day for Tudor to come along because it was Adam's 9th birthday and he very kindly came along with cakes for everyone.

Adam will be one of a number of CJCC players taking part in the Essex Junior Chess Association tournament in Chelmsford on Saturday. I shall be there impartially cheering them all on.

 Francesca getting diverted from her match with Ewan last week.

 Tom showing he shares his sister's enthusiasm for the camera.

Cody focussed on his game with Kai today. Solan on the left playing George.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Train and Play 24th September

Yesterday was the 5th H+H Fire Train and Play event at Moulsham Junior School in Chelmsford. Joining International Master Richard Pert and me as guest coach was British Grandmaster Chris Ward.

70 children of all levels came along for a mixture of team competition and chess coaching. It was the closest team competition we have ever had and the final scores were...

1st Team Garry Kasparov 28.5 (managed by Essex Junior Chess Association coaching co-ordinator Nate Weersing).

2nd Team Judit Polgar 27.5 (managed by IM Richard Pert).

3rd Team Bobby Fischer 27 (managed by GM Chris Ward).

4th Team Magnus Carlsen 25 (managed by twice Essex champion and CJCC parent Russell White).

18 players from CJCC took part and special congratulations to Jixuan Li for being one of 6 children to score 3/3 in their games.

More details will appear at www.britishchess.co.uk but for now here are some photos of the event.

Concentration with Ned closest to the camera and the tournament for parents in the background.

 An attentive coaching group doing some work with me in between matches.

 Selina (rightly) looking worried against Henri. Nate and Chris in the background watching the games.

 Team Manager and CJCC parent Russell White keeping a close eye on the action.

 The top board between Jenith (on the left) and Kyan in the last round.

The victorious Team Kasparov with Chris Ward on the left and Captain Kyan Bui holding the trophy. Thank you to Tony Fox for the photo.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

KEGS and Upcoming Chess

The new chess season is well under way now. On Sunday I went with KEGS to Eton College to take part in a one-day tournament. KEGS entered two teams made up of 6 players each with the A team scoring 19.5/30 to finish in the top 10 and the B team exceeding grades and expectations with 15.5/30. 

Finishing in the top half means KEGS B also qualify for the regional section of the National U19 School Championships. As most of the B team were from Year 7 and 8 this was a fine achievement and bodes well for the future. KEGS and their students are lucky to have a teacher in Tim Worrall willing to organise so much chess on behalf of the school. Next on the agenda is a weekend away at the junior 4NCL at the end of September.

CJCC player Ben Pickwick was playing in his first tournament for KEGS and scored a magnificent 5/5 for the B team. CJCC poster designer Elliot Cocks was part of KEGS A after flying back from representing England in the European Youth Championships in Romania the previous week.

Below is a photo of the event which took place in the palatial surroundings of the school hall.

Tomorrow (19th) is the first day of the new season at CJCC then on Sunday 24th is the next Train and Play event at Moulsham School with guest coach Grandmaster Chris Ward. Details at www.britishchess.co.uk

Also at Moulsham on Saturday 7th October is the first EJCA Grand Prix tournament. Entry form via www.ejca.co.uk 

Best Wishes

Robin

chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com