Of the three players in the lead of the Club Championship, on 5/6 at the start of the last round, defending Champion, John Cawdery, defeated Paul Bancroft with the black piceces while Ashley Freeman, with white, overcame Steve Rix (4½/6).
So John and Ashley finish tied on 6/7 and a two game play-off for the Club Championship will decide. John is on a hat-trick of Championship successes, so won’t want to give that up lightly.
Our featured image shows Ashley (left) and John (right) celebrating the retention of the Essex Knockout in September 2022.
Play-off dates
Tue 23 May. Freeman v Cawdery
Tue 30 May. Cawdery v Freeman.