The Chandler’s Ford Junior Chess Club will re-open for over-the-board chess on Wednesday 14th September 2022 – at its new venue, the Chandler’s Ford Central Club. The Junior Club meets 6-7pm term time Wednesdays. The adult chess club meets there (on Tuesday evenings), and it will be great to have the Juniors meet at the same place.

About the Junior Chess Club

• The Junior Chess Club meets on Wednesdays 6-7pm – in school term time only: see the schedule below for full Autumn 2022 schedule.
• There will be 25 minutes coaching by the experts and the rest will be games, Tournaments etc. Some of the tournaments’ fees are paid by the club so it is free for club kids.
• The age criteria will be 6-16 years but, in some cases, exceptional.
•  There is a Free on-site Parking at the back, front and side of the Central club for Junior chess club members.
• Please write the details on visitor’s page when you go inside the Club.
• The Junior Chess Club is run by Maha Chandar.
• The Junior Club on Facebook:

The venue: Chandler’s Ford Central Club

The address is: Chandler’s Ford Central Club, 2 Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO53 2FZ.

Parking is available at front and rear of the venue.

The venue’s website:

The Junior Chess Club age range is 6-16. The club will meet on Wednesdays at 6pm until 7pm each week – during school term time. See the schedule below for the rest of 2022.

Junior Chess Club schedule for the rest of the year:

2022 YEAR CHANDLER’S FORD Junior chess club
14/09/2022	6-7PM	starting
21/09/2022	6-7PM
28/09/2022	6-7PM
05/10/2022	6-7PM
12/10/2022	6-7PM
19/10/2022	6-7PM	finishing
26/10/2022	HOLIDAY BREAK
02/11/2022	6-7PM	starting
09/11/2022	6-7PM
16/11/2022	6-7PM
23/11/2022	6-7PM
30/11/2022	6-7PM
07/12/2022	6-7PM
14/12/2022	6-7PM	finishing
21/12/2022	HOLIDAY BREAK

Membership of the English Chess Federation enables playing ECF-graded games, such as the club’s own internal tournaments, plus Southampton Chess League matches, County matches, and Congresses (tournaments) across the country. The different membership levels will determine what is covered.

There are other benefits too: a range of discounts at online chess retailers Chess & Bridge (chess.co.uk) and Chess Direct, as well as discounts with other partners. See Membership partners and benefits – English Chess Federation for more information.

ECF Membership 2022-3 due

The ECF Membership year runs from 1st September to 31st August each year.

ECF Membership levels: what’s best for me?

• Basic Bronze level ECF membership gives players ECF Grading for their game results in club tournaments, local Leagues, and County games. 
• Silver as Bronze, plus grading at chess tournaments (Congresses – but not FIDE rated standard-play ones). 
• Gold membership: as Silver, plus it includes FIDE rated standard play tournaments.

For most club players, Bronze or Silver Memberships are sufficient: Bronze if you don’t plan to go to Congresses, but do want to play in the club’s events and the League.

Other ECF Membership types

Whilst Bronze or Silver would suit most of our Club members, there are other ECF membership types, and, just for information, here’s a brief overview:

• ECF Supporter: access, and ECF grading to ECF online members clubs and events on chess.com and lichess.org together with free online rating of all ECF rated online events. £10.
• Queen’s Gambit Scheme Supporter: Available to women aged 18 and over who have not been members of the ECF before, for their first membership year. Grants access to ECF online members clubs and events on Chess.com and Lichess, together with free online rating of all ECF rated online events. Free.
• Platinum. As per Gold, plus printed ECF Yearbook. £75.

ECF Membership rates for 2022/23

Bronze – £18.00 | Junior Bronze – £6.00
Silver – £27.00 | Junior Silver – £6.00
Gold – £39.00 | Junior Gold – £19.50
Platinum – £75.00

It looks like the ECF have kept the membership rates at the previous prices, which is good in these inflationary times.

Renewing your ECF Membership

This may automatically happen, and the subs will be taken (today, actually). If you are an existing ECF Member, but haven’t set up for automatic payments, you can renew by going to the ECF’s membership payment page ecf.justgo.com – or via the ECF’s Membership page:

Any other costs for chess players?

English Chess Federation membership is one of 3 possible costs of being an active member of Chandler’s Ford Chess Club. The other costs are joining our chess club, and membership of our venue, the Chandler’s Ford Central Club. See our ‘What does it cost?” Page:

Keith Gregory’s 4th simultaneous match against his friends in Chandler’s Ford Chess Club. Congratulations to Keith on being unbeaten in the match: he won 5 of the 6 games and drew the other game (Graham Stuart thwarted the whitewash).

Simultaneous Exhibitions

Keith has now set up four of these club simultaneous tournaments online. These events, where one player takes on multiple opponents, are known as Simultaneous Exhibitions, or ‘simuls’ . Simuls can be over the (several) boards, or online. Keith has set up four of the online simuls so far.

These are very busy for Keith of course – and good fun for all of us. Keith copes well with the pressure of multiple opponents and the technical issues, and plays very well, and scores impressively highly each time.

Keith’s 4th Simul vs Chandler’s Ford

The 4th ‘Simul‘ tournament was on Monday evening, 21st August, on the online platform lichess.org. The games had full, standard time control, this event being 60 minutes for each player plus an increment of 20 seconds per move. As host, Keith played as white, and had an overall extra 20 minutes. As it happened time was never an issue for Keith as he kept up a good pace of play in all the games.

Previous Simultaneous Exhibitions with Keith

Keith’s 1st Simul on 11th November 2021.

With all the pressures of setting up a type of online tournament we hadn’t played before, then playing nine of us from the Chandler’s Ford Chess Club simultaneously online, how would Keith do? Very well actually: see results at 1st Simul

Keith’s 2nd Simul. December 2021.

Keith takes on no fewer than twelve players simultaneously! See results at 2nd Simul.

Keith’s 3rd Simul. March 2022.

Players who had been so used to playing in the online rapid-play tournaments had now learnt that there is ample time in a classic length 60+20 time-control game. So a tougher prospect for Keith with eleven opponents all playing better with the time limits. He still does well though… See 3rd Simul

Round 1 of the 2022 Knockout Tournament saw 8 of the remaining 16 players eliminated. Eight now remain. The Knockout Round 2 Draw has now been made. The Knockout is organised by Steve Dunleavy.

The Knockout 2022 so far

26 players entered this year’s Knockout. The Preliminaries, 10 games and 6 byes, saw that field reduced to 16 to compete in Round 1. Eight of the Round 1 players have been eliminated. Eight players have made it to the second round.

Round 2 Draw

• Graham Stuart vs Joe Henbury
• David Culliford vs Keith Gregory
• Dick Meredith  vs John Kooner
• Rob Sims vs Nobby George

Pairings and results for each Round can be seen on the Knockout 2022 Page:

Rules recap

1) the player drawn first plays with white(in the event of a draw colours
are reversed in the replay)
2) both players have their clocks set at 90 minutes
3) all games to be played by the 24th August; please let me know if for any reason you need a time extension to that deadline
4) if possible all games to be played over the board at club nights(2/8,
9/8,16/8,23/8) or at an agreed alternative venue
5) if necessary games may be played on the internet but please check with me first that this is okay
6) enjoy your games and please email me your result asap + when you have agreed to play the game to enable me to monitor progress

Steve Dunleavy

The club’s popular Ladder Tournament has seen its numbers climb recently, and there are now 25 players in the contest. Tournament organiser Rob Sims reports on the latest games on Tuesday 26th July. The current, 2021-22 Ladder, ends on 13th September.

Three games were played at club on Tuesday night:-

• Peter Przybycin beat Lee Mundy  ( no change needed in Ladder positions)
• Nobby  George beat Daniel Phillips
• Cary Xie beat Pablo Vidal

The last two games have resulted in Cary and Nobby moving up while Daniel and Pablo drop down.

Only 7 more club nights before the current ladder finishes on 13th September and the mini tournament to decide the winner takes place.

A new ladder will start at the end of September.

Best wishes to all,

Rob Sims

For full Ladder player positions (latest is from 28th July), see the Ladder 2021-22 Page:

Ladder rules recap

• All games to be played on the clock, which will be set at ninety minutes and then played to a finish.
• Players may challenge up to four places above their own step.
•  If the challenger wins, he will exchange places with the loser, all other results then the positions remain the same.
• The same players may not play each other again without first playing another player.   
• Once a challenge is accepted neither the challenger nor the player being challenged may make or accept another challenge.
• A challenge cannot be made more than seven days ahead of the game to be played.
• The challenger will have the white pieces.
• All games to be played over the board, other than games for Mike Henbury, which can be played online.
• Please notify Rob Sims with the results of all games played.

The current Ladder will end on 13th September 2022. In previous years, after the ladder ends the two players in second and third place play each other and the winner of that game plays a final match against the player who is top, so we’ll go through that process when the final ladder positions are revealed on September 13th.

Summer Tournament 2022 Round 2 player pairings are announced by organiser Malcolm Clarke.

The Summer Tournament runs during the summer, and is a 5-round Swiss format event is played between May and September. Usually in the Summer Tournaments, the winner’s name is engraved on the Kooner Cup and receives a replica of the Cup. The organiser is Malcolm Clarke.

Round 2 Pairings (and player scores so far)

• Geoffrey Parish (1) v Iwan Cave(1),
• Sam Murphy (1) v Keith Gregory (1).
• Keven Lamb (1) v Graham Stuart (1),
• Mike Henbury (1) v David Culliford (1),
• Peter Przybycin (0.5) v Nobby George (1),
• Pablo Vidal (0.5) v Rob Strachan (0,5),
• Rob Sims (0) v Peter Eales (0.5),
• Steve Dunleavy (0) v Lee Mundy (0),
• John Kooner (0) v John Pellegrini (0),
• Alan Weaver (0) v Steve Saunders (0),
• Rose Saunders (0) v Ian Parker (0)

First named players white.

Summer Tournament 2022 Rules recap

• The Games are 90 minutes all moves per player.
• When the Round Pairings are announced, the first-named plays as white.
• Notify Malcolm Clarke of the results.

Click on the button below to see the Summer Tournament 2022 Page:

The 2021-22 Book Prize Tournament concluded this week, organiser Peter Przybycin announced. Keith Gregory is the winner of the Major, Nobby George the winner of the Minor. Both received their prizes from Peter at the end of season curry night. Congratulations Keith and Nobby!

Peter Przybycin announces the full results:

Hi All,

The Book Prize Tournament 2021-22 has now concluded.

We have known who the victors are for a few weeks now, with Keith Gregory winning the Major Section, and Nobby George winning the Minor Section. They were both presented with their prizes at the Club’s recent curry night.

Congratulations again to you both.

Runner up in the Major was Graham Stuart.

Well done Graham.

Third place in the Major was taken by Mike Henbury.

Well done Mike.

This section did have a slightly unsatisfactory ending, as Eric Jones was unable to play his final two games; defaulting against Rob Sims and Dick Meredith. This means that we will never know who would have finished in last place, possibly saving my blushes!

There are a couple of significant results to report in the Minor Section.

In round 8, Maha Chandar beat John Kooner, locking in the runner-up position.

Congratulations Maha.

In their round 9 game, Maha lost to Rob Strachan, meaning that three players finished the Minor section on six points; Steve Saunders, Rob Strachan, and John Kooner.

Steve Saunders takes the third slot on tiebreak, having the lowest ECF grade of the three.

Well done Steve.

Book Prize Tournament 2021-22 Final scores:

Major section:

• Keith Gregory 7.5
• Graham Stuart 6
• Mike Henbury 5
• Sam Murphy 4.5
• Manoj Chandar 4
• Eric Jones 4
• Keven Lamb 3.5
• Rob Sims 3 (+1 default)
• Dick Meredith 2 (+1 default)
• Peter Przybycin 2.5

Minor Section:

• Nobby George 9
• Maha Chandar 7
• Steve Saunders 6
• Rob Strachan 6
• John Kooner 6
• Geoff Parish 3
• Lee Mundy 2.5
• Ian Parker 2.5
• Rose Saunders 2
• Steve Dunleavy 1

I have thoroughly enjoyed running this tournament and I look forward to the next one. I expect to be asking for entries in a couple of months, once the Kooner Cup (AKA Summer Tournament) and Dunleavy Knockout have finished.

All the best,

Peter.

For full results of Major and Minor, all rounds, see the Book Prize Tournament Page:

The 2022 Knockout Round 1 draw has been made, now that the Preliminary Round’s record 26 entrants have been whittled down to the 16 players who begin Round 1.

Knockout 2022 Round 1

White	v	Black
Steve Saunders		Nobby George
Graham Stuart		Mike Henbury
Steve Dunleavy		John Kooner
Ewan Cave		Keith Gregory
Dick Meredith		Lee Mundy
Joseph Henbury		Peter Przybycin
Keven Lamb		David Culliford
John Pellegrini		Rob Sims

Knockout Rules recap

1. The name drawn first plays with white
2. In the event of a draw the players must play again (within the stipulated time period-13/7 if possible) with the colours reversed
3. Clocks to be set at 90 minutes for both players
4. All games to be played over the board at the club other than mike Henbury who can play his games on line (e.g. lichess.org)
5. All results will be sent for grading
6. The deadline date to play your games is the 13th July 2022 (club nights 21/6,28/6,5/7,12/7 + 1 day)
7. All results to be emailed to me Steve Dunleavy as soon as your game has been played
8. Please let me know if for any reason an extension of time to complete the game is required (as with Sam murphy and Mike Henbury in the preliminary round).

Steve Dunleavy

The Southampton Chess League will hold its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 14th June 2022 – at our club’s venue, the Chandler’s Ford Central Club. The SCL AGM will start at 7:30pm.

SCL AGM Agenda

SCL AGM 14th June. Southampton Chess League EGM, Tuesday 14 June 2022, 7.30pm, Chandlers Ford Central Club (2 Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 2FZ)

Agenda

1. Welcome Thanks to Chandlers Ford club for hosting us.
2. Apologies for absence
3. Minutes of previous EGM (13 October 2021) and matters arising
4. Secretary / Fixture Secretary reports
5. Treasurer Report and League Subs See statement below to be done, prepared by Fraser McLeod who is acting as interim treasurer as no one else has offered to take on the role since Robin Williams stood down.
6. Website Robin Williams wishes to stand down from the webmaster role. He advises that now the website is set up it requires minimal effort to maintain.
7. Grading
8. Election of officers – The roles of treasurer and webmaster are vacant. We will likely need a new Chairperson as we understand that Chris Priest has been in poor health. Matthew Coldwell (Vice-chair) may wish to take this role (to be confirmed). Malcolm Clarke and Fraser McLeod are willing to continue as Fixtures Sec and League Sec, respectively. Roger Marsh (Grading Officer) is willing to continue in this role despite no longer living in the area.
9. Proposals
10. Planning for the next season
    a) Do we want a full season, i.e. from October to May?
    b) Do we want 5-board matches instead of 4 in top divisions?
    c) How many teams does each club want to field?
    1. League structure – tentatively place teams into five divisions. The SCL committee hope that we will have more teams than this season and that this may avoid relegations this season.

11. Trophy presentations
    Note: Robertson Cup, Individual and Rapidplay competitions were not held this season. See League winners table below for 2018-9 and 2022:

Division	2018-9 winner	2022 winner
1	Ringwood A	Fareham A
2	Hamble B	Salisbury A
3	Ringwood B	Basingstoke A
4	Salisbury C	Fareham B
5	Ringwood C	Basingstoke C

12. Any other business
How the 2022 (half)-season ended: see table above for Division winners. Click the button below to go to the SCL Website to see the Division Tables for full fixtures and results:

Chandler’s Ford Secretary Honoured at Previous SCL Meeting

Our Club Secretary Malcolm Clarke was awarded League and Club Trophies for his long service at last year’s meeting, which was in October 2021.

2022 Chandler’s Ford Season Review

Graham Stuart has compiled an excellent review of Chandler’s Ford Chess Club’s 2022 season, and analyses the performances of each of our club’s League teams. Click below to see his Review.

The Summer Tournament 2022 begins as its organiser Malcolm Clarke announces the player pairings for the first Round.

The Summer Tournament runs during the summer, and is a 5-round Swiss format between May and September. Usually in the Summer Tournaments, the winner’s name is engraved on the Kooner Cup and receives a replica of the Cup. The organiser is Malcolm Clarke.

The Summer Tournament is usually 5, but sometimes 6 Rounds over the summer months – about a month per Round. The winner receives the Kooner Cup for a year and usually gets to keep a replica. The games are standard play in terms of time control, 90 minutes each player.

Click on the button below to see the Summer Tournament 2022 Page:

Round 1 Pairings

White	v	Black
Keith Gregory		John Kooner
Lee Mundy		Iwan Cave
Graham Stuart		Ian Parker
Rob Strachan		Peter Przybycin
David Culliford		Alan Weaver
Steve Saunders		Sam Murphy
Mike Henbury		Steve Dunleavy
Geoff Parish		Rob Sims
Nobby George		Rose Saunders
John Pellegrini		Keven Lamb

Summer Tournament 2022 Rules

• The Games are 90 minutes all moves per player.
• When the Round Pairings are announced, the first-named plays as white.
• Notify Malcolm Clarke of the results.