News Archives from the 2019-2020 Season:
01/07/2020
Looking ahead - strange times
As a result of the current situation throughout the country in relation to the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, all current chess information is very fluid and consequently the timetable for the season ahead is still rather unsure.
Within Northamptonshire we hope to run our usual 4 individual junior tournaments, and ideally around the same dates and at the same venues as usual, but this will very much depend upon what restrictions remain in place, both with regards to the actual holding of such events, and also that apply to the various schools that we are normally able to use for our tournaments.
The NSCA AGM has now been postponed, having originally been due to take place in mid July. This will now hopefully take place nearer to the end of the summer holidays when information may be such that we can clarify which events will take place, and on what dates and at which venues. As soon as we have any information with regards to this we will pass it on both here, and also via email should you be on our mailing list.
We would very much like to thank you for your patience during this time. However, if you should have any questions at all, please do feel free to contact us via the contact us page, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
For now though, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing many of you once the situation allows.
Within Northamptonshire we hope to run our usual 4 individual junior tournaments, and ideally around the same dates and at the same venues as usual, but this will very much depend upon what restrictions remain in place, both with regards to the actual holding of such events, and also that apply to the various schools that we are normally able to use for our tournaments.
The NSCA AGM has now been postponed, having originally been due to take place in mid July. This will now hopefully take place nearer to the end of the summer holidays when information may be such that we can clarify which events will take place, and on what dates and at which venues. As soon as we have any information with regards to this we will pass it on both here, and also via email should you be on our mailing list.
We would very much like to thank you for your patience during this time. However, if you should have any questions at all, please do feel free to contact us via the contact us page, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
For now though, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing many of you once the situation allows.
30/05/2020
Megafinal/Gigafinal/Terafinal update
Hello everybody.
We hope we find you all well during these very strange times, and that life for all of us will move to the “new normal” sooner rather than later, including the holding of chess tournaments.
However, during this period, Delancey UK Chess, who arrange the Megafinals and all the events that follow, have organised for this years challenge to now be completed online, via the website www.lichess.org
You would need to each enter as individuals through the Delancey website here should you wish to participate.
For those who do enter we at the NSCA would like to wish you all the best of luck.
Hopefully come the next school year we will be able to begin again a full program of events for juniors in Northamptonshire, but in the meantime may we wish you all the very best, stay safe, and look after each other.
We hope we find you all well during these very strange times, and that life for all of us will move to the “new normal” sooner rather than later, including the holding of chess tournaments.
However, during this period, Delancey UK Chess, who arrange the Megafinals and all the events that follow, have organised for this years challenge to now be completed online, via the website www.lichess.org
You would need to each enter as individuals through the Delancey website here should you wish to participate.
For those who do enter we at the NSCA would like to wish you all the best of luck.
Hopefully come the next school year we will be able to begin again a full program of events for juniors in Northamptonshire, but in the meantime may we wish you all the very best, stay safe, and look after each other.
18/03/2020
POSTPONED - Megafinal
Following on from our announcement of the cancellation of our Last Chance Saloon, the overall organisers of the UK Chess Challenge have announced the postponement of all Megafinals and Gigafinals until later in the year. We will pass on more details as to new dates when these should become available, or you can get further information from the UK Chess Challenge website here.
17/03/2020
CANCELLATION - Last Chance Saloon
Due to the current situation it has been decided to cancel the Northamptonshire Last Chance Saloon for 2020. This would have been a qualifier for the UK Chess Challenge Megafinal Indeed in light of how things are the Megafinal and all chess tournaments and matches are now in question. We will update you as and when we have any further relevant information.
17/02/2020
County Championships
Our 2020 County Champions have now been crowned!
Despite the approaching Storm Dennis, there was an excellent turnout for this years championships, which took place at Wellingborough School on 15th February. No less than three players all had a perfect day with six wins from their six games, with George Calvert in the under 9s, Mihir Sharma in the under 11s, and Toby Cox in the under 18s all finishing the day on maximum points. Congratulations to these, and all the winners on the day, and well done to everybody for a wonderful days play.
You can see some of the best players from the day here, whilst all the scores from all the sections can be viewed here.
As before this tournament also formed the third part of the current NSCA Grand Prix, and with one more tournament to be played (the charity congress in June) most of the sections are very close; none more so than the under 9 section where three players are all tied on 14.5 points!
You can see the latest leaders and their scores in the Grand Prix here.
Despite the approaching Storm Dennis, there was an excellent turnout for this years championships, which took place at Wellingborough School on 15th February. No less than three players all had a perfect day with six wins from their six games, with George Calvert in the under 9s, Mihir Sharma in the under 11s, and Toby Cox in the under 18s all finishing the day on maximum points. Congratulations to these, and all the winners on the day, and well done to everybody for a wonderful days play.
You can see some of the best players from the day here, whilst all the scores from all the sections can be viewed here.
As before this tournament also formed the third part of the current NSCA Grand Prix, and with one more tournament to be played (the charity congress in June) most of the sections are very close; none more so than the under 9 section where three players are all tied on 14.5 points!
You can see the latest leaders and their scores in the Grand Prix here.
06/02/2020
South of England Championships
Well done to all the players who made the journey down to Yateley Manor School in Surrey for the 2020 South of England Championships, which also forms a qualifying tournament for the England under 11 team.
In the Under 11 section Mihir Sharma scored 3 out of 5, in the under 12 closed section Alexander Richards scored 2.5, as did Lucian Cox in the Under 14 closed.
Meanwhile in the Under 16 closed section Toby Cox scored a very impressive 4.5 out of 5 making him the joint top scorer!
All the results from all the sections can be viewed via the dedicated website here.
In the Under 11 section Mihir Sharma scored 3 out of 5, in the under 12 closed section Alexander Richards scored 2.5, as did Lucian Cox in the Under 14 closed.
Meanwhile in the Under 16 closed section Toby Cox scored a very impressive 4.5 out of 5 making him the joint top scorer!
All the results from all the sections can be viewed via the dedicated website here.
21/01/2020
John Warren
It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of our previous chairman and great friend John Warren, after a long battle with cancer.
John really was Mr Chess in Northamptonshire, and had such a passion in encouraging young children throughout Northants to take up the game. There are many many chess players that would not have got into and improved their chess had it not been for John. His enthusiasm for children from all backgrounds to get involved was boundless, and even during his recent illnesses he was always wanting to know how chess was progressing within Northants and beyond. The establishment of our current events program, and the opportunities for children in Northants to represent their county are just two of his many achievements. Last February we were very pleased that despite his ill health John was able to make our County Championships, and presented all the trophies too - here you can see him handing over the recently introduced John Warren Trophy which is for the best older player in the county. We will all miss John greatly, and Northants Chess is much the poorer for his passing. Our heartfelt sympathies go to John's wife Karen and all their family. |
21/01/2020
Junior County Championships
Following on quickly from our 1st Primary Congress, the 2020 Junior County Championships are coming up at Wellingborough School on Saturday 15th February. Entries are now being taken, and you can download an entry form here.
21/01/2020
1st Primary Congress
This season we replaced our Christmas Congress with a new Primary Congress, taking place in January rather than between Christmas and the New Year. Pleasingly there was a really good turn out for this new event, which is for primary school age children only, so giving us an under 11 section and an under 9 section.
There was also a training element to the day, with the NSCA chairman Alan Bailey, and under 16 county player Manasi Mehta both helping these younger players to improve their games.
A magical interlude also took place, in the form of David Miller, who as well as being a long time chess parent to England player Max Miller is an accomplished magician, being the Northants Grand Prix Champion of Magic. It made for a very entertaining break, and I for one just can't work out where all those drinks went to!!!!?
You can now view some of the best players from the day here, whilst all the scores from the days chess can be found here, and with this tournament also forming the second part of this season's NSCA Grand Prix, the latest leader board update can now be found here.
There was also a training element to the day, with the NSCA chairman Alan Bailey, and under 16 county player Manasi Mehta both helping these younger players to improve their games.
A magical interlude also took place, in the form of David Miller, who as well as being a long time chess parent to England player Max Miller is an accomplished magician, being the Northants Grand Prix Champion of Magic. It made for a very entertaining break, and I for one just can't work out where all those drinks went to!!!!?
You can now view some of the best players from the day here, whilst all the scores from the days chess can be found here, and with this tournament also forming the second part of this season's NSCA Grand Prix, the latest leader board update can now be found here.
02/12/2019
British Rapidplay Championships
These were held recently at Pudsey in Yorkshire, and a number of local players were in attendance. Toby Cox was taking part in the actual Open section (won by a Grand Master!) and achieved a highly impressive 7th place overall with 6.5 out of 11. Toby's brother Lucian was playing in the Minor section, and played equally well to finish 4th with a score of 7.5 out of 11. Mihir Sharma also played well, in the England under 11 qualifying section, and finished with a very good 2.5 out of 5.
Many congratulations to all three of these players on an impressive weekends play against some very tough opposition.
You can read more about this event, with links to all the cross tables of all the section, here.
Many congratulations to all three of these players on an impressive weekends play against some very tough opposition.
You can read more about this event, with links to all the cross tables of all the section, here.
11/11/2019
!!! Christmas Congress replacement !!!
A note from our chairman, Alan Bailey:
The above congress has now been held over the Christmas period for several years and we believe that it is now outdated. Christmas is a family time and hence attendance at the above can prove inconvenient for all. We have therefore taken the decision to remove the Christmas Cracker from our schedule of events with immediate effect and I suspect that this decision will prove popular to all concerned.
We do intend to replace the congress with something better. It is our intention to hold a new Primary congress on January 18th 2020 and this will be specifically targeted at the u7-u11 age groups. It will be a normal congress but will incorporate some element of Teaching. It will form part of our Grand Prix for these age groups.
The above congress has now been held over the Christmas period for several years and we believe that it is now outdated. Christmas is a family time and hence attendance at the above can prove inconvenient for all. We have therefore taken the decision to remove the Christmas Cracker from our schedule of events with immediate effect and I suspect that this decision will prove popular to all concerned.
We do intend to replace the congress with something better. It is our intention to hold a new Primary congress on January 18th 2020 and this will be specifically targeted at the u7-u11 age groups. It will be a normal congress but will incorporate some element of Teaching. It will form part of our Grand Prix for these age groups.
04/11/2019
40th Northants Junior Congress
Our traditional first tournament took place at Wellingborough School in the shape of the Northants Junior Congress.
There was a particularly good turn out for this event, especially taking into account that we were up against the rugby world cup final, but there was much better play in Wellingborough than in Japan with some excellent chess games in all sections.
You can view photos of some of the best players from the day here, whilst all the scores from the tournament can be viewed here.
Being the first tournament of the season this was also the first leg of this season's NSCA Grand Prix, and so the first update to that can
also be viewed here.
There was a particularly good turn out for this event, especially taking into account that we were up against the rugby world cup final, but there was much better play in Wellingborough than in Japan with some excellent chess games in all sections.
You can view photos of some of the best players from the day here, whilst all the scores from the tournament can be viewed here.
Being the first tournament of the season this was also the first leg of this season's NSCA Grand Prix, and so the first update to that can
also be viewed here.
02/10/2019
Terafinal and Challengers
Following on from the Gigafinals earlier in the summer, a number of local players qualified for either the Terafinal or the Challengers
sections of the UK Chess Challenge.
The Challengers took place first, one for the northern area and one for the southern. The northern took place first in Manchester with three local players all performing well - in the under 12 section Lucian Cox scored 4 out of 6, and Vanik Singh 3, whilst in the under 8 section Risara Senadhipathy also scored 3 out of 6. Good performances all round. All northern section scores can be found here.
In the southern section, which took place in Harrow, Alexander Richards played in the under 12 section, finishing with a very good 4.5 out of 6, whilst in the under 10 section many congratulations to Mihir Sharma who scored a wonderful 5.5 and won the section thus enabling him to take part in the Terafinal which took place much closer to home, in Daventry. All southern section scores can be found here.
Four local players were in action at the Terafinal - along with Mihir also Rion Ray played in the same under 10 section, whilst Toby Cox and Samia Sheikh played in the under 14 section. The Terafinal had a new format this year, comprising of 10 rounds, but after the first 6 rounds had been played the top 4 players in each section then played a mini knockout tournament to determine the winners.
In the under 10 section a score of at least 4.5 was required to move onto the knockout section, which Mihir Sharma narrowly missed out on. Mihir finished the event on 5 out of 10, and Rion finished with 3.
In the under 14 section however, both Samia and Toby qualified, being in third and fourth places respectively after the first six rounds. They both narrowly missed out on the final however, but Toby finished the tournament in 3rd place overall, and Samia was the top girl.
All Terafinal scores can be found here, with an official write up here.
Well done to the four players at the Terafinal, and also those who played in the Challengers, as well as all the players who have given their all in every stage of the UK Chess Challenge, from the initial Megafinal qualification process and beyond.
sections of the UK Chess Challenge.
The Challengers took place first, one for the northern area and one for the southern. The northern took place first in Manchester with three local players all performing well - in the under 12 section Lucian Cox scored 4 out of 6, and Vanik Singh 3, whilst in the under 8 section Risara Senadhipathy also scored 3 out of 6. Good performances all round. All northern section scores can be found here.
In the southern section, which took place in Harrow, Alexander Richards played in the under 12 section, finishing with a very good 4.5 out of 6, whilst in the under 10 section many congratulations to Mihir Sharma who scored a wonderful 5.5 and won the section thus enabling him to take part in the Terafinal which took place much closer to home, in Daventry. All southern section scores can be found here.
Four local players were in action at the Terafinal - along with Mihir also Rion Ray played in the same under 10 section, whilst Toby Cox and Samia Sheikh played in the under 14 section. The Terafinal had a new format this year, comprising of 10 rounds, but after the first 6 rounds had been played the top 4 players in each section then played a mini knockout tournament to determine the winners.
In the under 10 section a score of at least 4.5 was required to move onto the knockout section, which Mihir Sharma narrowly missed out on. Mihir finished the event on 5 out of 10, and Rion finished with 3.
In the under 14 section however, both Samia and Toby qualified, being in third and fourth places respectively after the first six rounds. They both narrowly missed out on the final however, but Toby finished the tournament in 3rd place overall, and Samia was the top girl.
All Terafinal scores can be found here, with an official write up here.
Well done to the four players at the Terafinal, and also those who played in the Challengers, as well as all the players who have given their all in every stage of the UK Chess Challenge, from the initial Megafinal qualification process and beyond.
13/09/2019
First tournaments of the season
Our first tournament of the season will be the 40th Northamptonshire Junior Congress, taking place on Saturday 2nd November at
Wellingborough School. You can download an entry form here.
As in recent seasons this will also form the first part of the NSCA Grand Prix, details of which can be found here.
Meanwhile, before that, our neighbours in Leicestershire are holding a tournament on Sunday 13th October. This has graded sections, and also a junior section. You can see details and enter that online here.
Wellingborough School. You can download an entry form here.
As in recent seasons this will also form the first part of the NSCA Grand Prix, details of which can be found here.
Meanwhile, before that, our neighbours in Leicestershire are holding a tournament on Sunday 13th October. This has graded sections, and also a junior section. You can see details and enter that online here.
Read news from the 2018-2019 Season
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