Club Champion, Coronavirus ,Club Closure and Computer Chess

Next week was due to be the last week for CJCC before the Easter break but coronavirus has intervened.

With the government closing the schools I must follow suit and close the club. There will be no meeting therefore on Tuesday 24th March.

I hope to reopen the club on 21st April but this is dependent on how the coronavirus situation develops.

This week was the turn of the older players although it was understandably quieter than usual.

Many congratulations to John who beat Hriday in a play-off to decide our Club Champion. Shrishti won the trophy for the highest scorer among the younger players and will receive her trophy when I next see her. A CJCC record 77 players took part in total which represents most of our membership.

Xander is facing the camera behind John fresh from representing the Essex U9 team at the weekend.

I can recommend the sites below as a great way to improve chess skills and have fun playing while the club is closed and tournaments are postponed.

www.chesskid.com - great for younger children whether learning and playing

www.lichess.org - some well presented material in the "learn" section and an online playing platform for older children

www.thechesswebsite.com - lots of bite-size chess videos for slightly stronger players

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Brentwood Open 1st March

We had over 100 children from Year 1 to Year 12 take part in the 5th Brentwood Open on Sunday. Brentwood School were generous supporters of the event and great hosts.

The top section was internationally rated with the bottom section for ungraded younger players so there was something for everyone. Full details will appear at www.britishchess.co.uk

14 CJCC players took part, featuring in all 4 sections. It was particularly nice to see some in their first individual tournament.

Three of our debutants in the U11 Minor - Yashas, Shrishti and Hugo - came joint 3rd with 4/6. Hugo won my Player of the Day trophy for his score (he is only in Year 1) and attitude.

In the top section Olga also got 4 points, only losing to the players who finished 1st and 2nd.

The whole tournament took place in a great spirit of competitive enjoyment which was a credit to the players and to everyone involved with the smooth running of the event.

 Hugo and Shrishti with their trophies.

 Shrishti in action against Gus (also from Chelmsford).

 The U11 Sections (for all those in Year 6 and below). Quite a few CJCC faces to spot.

The top section where Olga scored 4/6 with international rating points at stake.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Good Luck!

Good luck to all our players taking part in the Brentwood Open on Sunday. It has a section specifically for younger players without a grade so is an ideal first tournament. Still (just) time to enter at www.britishchess.co.uk

Good luck also to the CJCC players selected to represent Essex next month. Olga, Maheep, Evan and Charlie have been selected to play for the U11s and Xander and Luoke for the U9s. Olga will also be leading the Essex U11 Girls Team (the current National Champions).

This week it will be the turn of the younger players at the club. I have composed a nice position for us to look at with a fork, discovered check, pin and checkmate.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Southend tournament and new half-term dates

Another weekend, another chess tournament. Below are Solan and Joshua playing each other and looking focussed at the Essex Junior Chess Association Southend Grand Prix today.

The next Essex junior tournament is the British Chess Brentwood Junior Open on 1st March. This one unusually has a section just for players without a grade. Details at www.britishchess.co.uk

This week (11th) is our last meeting before half-term. We'll meet back on 25th February with the younger group. Our dates up to Easter will be...

Younger Group - 25/2, 10/3, 24/03
Older Group - 3/3, 17/3.

We will return after Easter on Tuesday 21st April.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

Chess Weekend and Twitter

This has been a full chess weekend sandwiched by chess at Elm Green (Friday) and St Cedd's tomorrow (Monday).

Saturday saw the local qualification stage for the National Primary Schools Chess Championship with 26 teams from Essex and London. CJCC players represented St Anne's, St Cedd's and Moulsham.

I was with St Cedd's who did splendidly to qualify for the National semi-finals in the U9 and U11 competition. CJCC's Maheep (Year 6) and Sid (Year 2) led the teams. Moulsham U9's did even better and finished 2nd overall with CJCC's Sachin and George on the top two boards.

Sunday saw the latest Coaching Day organised by the Essex Junior Chess Association. The EJCA are responsible for much of the junior chess in Essex. They can be found at www.essexjuniorchess.co.uk and @essexchess.

I've also started to tweet on CJCC and the junior chess I'm involved with @robinslade65.

In action from Sunday below are two CJCC players. Hugo (Year 1) had a full weekend as he was part of the St Cedd's U9 team on Saturday as well which was his first chess competition.

 Hugo about to move against Ruqayyah. Neili is poised with her pencil behind.

Joshua (on the right) against Neili's brother Viru. Fellow CJCC player Xander is next to Joshua.

Best Wishes
Robin
chelmsfordjuniorchess@gmail.com

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

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