A Christmas cracker

Posted on 24 December, 202224 December, 2022 by Chesster

The “Club evening that wasn’t” turned into a Christmas Cracker to remember. Originally, Wanstead House was not going to be open on this last Tuesday before Christmas, but reversal of this decision allowed one more Club evening for which, of course, nothing had been planned. A perfect opportunity to generate more Blitz results for members to add to their new ECF Blitz ratings by holding a Christmas Blitz. And very popular it was! There were 28 entries, including three invited […]

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Gambiteer Blitz

Posted on 7 March, 20227 March, 2022 by Chesster

Making use of a Tuesday with only a 4 board Essex Minor match in the calendar, Krishna Raikundalia devised and ran a very different kind of handicap tournament from that with which our members are familiar. The handicap was that the stronger player had to play an assigned gambit and the greater the rating differential the more unsound the gambit (though not always as risky). Class will out: Ashley Freeman won on 6½. His only ½ point dropped was to […]

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Newbie sweeps HBGP2

Posted on 3 November, 202117 November, 2021 by Chesster

A dramatic second event in the Handicap Blitz Grand Prix demonstrated how the time handicap formula is a great leveller, with several of our higher rated players conceding points to players in lower rating groups. 24 players entered HBGP2, bringing the total number in the Grand Prix after two events to 31. But the real news is in the startling victory with a 100% score, 6/6, by Rob Parker on his first visit to the club. Rob previously played for […]

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October Friendlies

Posted on 27 October, 202127 October, 2021 by Chesster

Two wins and a draw Three fixtures, in October, billed as “friendlies” were nonetheless keenly contested. With teams matched for strength, the Club emerged with two wins by the narrowest margin – against Hackney and the Warriors (W&W JCCC) – and a draw in the other, against Chingford. Mark Murrell has penned a comprehensive report which you can find here: October Friendlies report Handicap Blitz Grand Prix 2 Speaking of keenly contested, Tuesday 2 November in the Club Room – […]

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It’s a thriller!

Posted on 28 September, 202128 September, 2021 by Chesster

The second half of the Rapid Championship 2020-21 produced more thrills and spills than seemed possible in the three further rounds. The leader after R3, Philip Staniland, lost in R4 to Ashley, while Terry beat Steve Gilmour; Terry and Ashley =1 on 3½/4. In a dramatic R5, Terry beat Ashley to steal the lead, while Philip held John Hodgson (playing hors concours) to a draw, allowing Valdimir to steal into clear 2nd on 4. So to the last round and […]

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Philip leads at half time

Posted on 22 September, 202122 September, 2021 by Chesster

The Club Rapid Championship for 2020-21 has received record support for this event, with 29 entries. This may have a lot to do with, for the first time, its being played over two weekday evenings (Club nights) rather than an all-day event on a Saturday. The first three rounds were played on 21 September, with the final three rounds (R4-6) to be played on 28 September. With the splitting of the event over two evenings, Members unable to play on […]

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Success amongst the Mayhem’s mayhem

Posted on 9 February, 20219 February, 2021 by Chesster

Played on Thursday 21 January there was unexpected success for the club’s first foray into the League of Mayhem’s invitational Team Battle blitz Arenas. With no club tournaments scheduled and a spare Thursday presenting during the second half of the League of Mayhem current season, skipper Peter Nickals entered a team into the league’s fourth Team Battle blitz (G5+3) for league participants, in the guise of our Lichess Arena social team. The previous two events had been won comfortably by […]

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