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

CJCC Chess Dates 2023

Sorry not to have updated our Blog. It is not down to any lack of chess activity (rather the reverse).

I expect one or two dates will change but I've booked through to the end of 2023.

Chelmsford Junior Chess Club will meet on the following Saturday mornings from 9.15am to 12.15pm in Christ Church in London Road (CM2 0AW).

18th March, 8th April, 15th April, 29th April, 13th May, 27th May, 10th June, 24th June, 8th July, 22nd July, 5th August, 19th August, 2nd September, 16th September, 30th September, 14th October, 28th October, 11th November, 25th November, 9th December, 16th December.

Plus Tuesdays 8th August and 22nd August

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

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

There is some flexibility within the group ages for siblings etc.

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

Payment in cash on the day or online marked CJCC.

Best Wishes

Robin (chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com)