English Chess Forum

No result yet - must be a recount?

News has reached me of the passing of Tom Stonehouse. Tom was both a fine chess and bridge player, at the peak of his powers he was graded about 190 ECF. He played for various chess clubs in the Medway towns finally with the Rainham Club for about 35 years plus he played for Kent in inter-County mat...

A series of unfortunate events. Hard on Greater Manchester. The broken down car with players and kit was towed back to a Manchester garage. Plans for a taxi ride from Manchester to the venue was aborted. It just wouldn’t have made it in the time available. Boards, sets and clocks were then sourced l...

A series of unfortunate events.

On the many times I have been to the shop (in Euston Road and Baker Street) they always seem to have a fair number of customers. Indeed. I’ve even bumped (literally) into you in the shop! I do recall an American couple spending a small fortune on Bridge books conceding “we’ve nothing like this at h...

Was George Hutton a genius or are Jamboree pairings less complicated than they appear at first sight? The 2nd SCCU Jamboree takes place at Wanstead House on Saturday, 18 April 2026. The infamous ‘Beer Pump’ is at stake. I don't think this is the 2nd SCCU Jamboree. They were held annually for many y...

Was George Hutton a genius or are Jamboree pairings less complicated than they appear at first sight? The 2nd SCCU Jamboree takes place at Wanstead House on Saturday, 18 April 2026. The infamous ‘Beer Pump’ is at stake. Who has the enviable chore of rating this event? The rating process for this is...

Was George Hutton a genius or are Jamboree pairings less complicated than they appear at first sight?

The 2nd SCCU Jamboree takes place at Wanstead House on Saturday, 18 April 2026. The infamous ‘Beer Pump’ is at stake.

If anyone is tempted to get on a flight to Crete for some warn Autumn Sun and the ACO’s World Seniors (over 50s) World Championships starting on 1 October 2026, the €200 discount ends on 31 March 2026, so you’d need to get moving. Of the 123 entries so far there are 12 English, one Scot and one Wels...

Sir Bernard is delighted with the result. He whispered to me “it’s confirmation of who’s running the country”!

Great group portrait by the way, no doubt taken by a civil servant seeing the bigger picture!

Crikey! I say you fellows, I’ve just noticed GM Paul Motwani’s name has been added to the entry list for the ACO World Over-50’s on the island of Crete in October 2026. The Scot will be the top seed in Group A, coming in with a rating just one point below the maximum. At the moment he’s one of six G...

Another bulletin about the ACO World Over-50s Championships being held in Crete in October 2026. The three long-established GM Trainers will be joined this year by a forth - German Grandmaster Robert Rabiega. He’ll also be analysing players’ games, giving lectures, and holding a simultaneous exhibit...

It’s back. The 5th SCCU/London Club Championships will take place on Saturday, 27 June 2026 at St Luke's Church, Kidderpore Avenue, London NW3 7SU. Details and the entry form can be found on the Southern Counties Chess Union website https://sccu-chess.com/index.php/en/london-club-champs Past winners...

One more thing. Amateurs generally find it absorbing when a GM analyses their game. What did we miss? In the analysis area at ACO events the three GMs are usually encircled by a small throng waiting with their scoresheets for their turn. At the end of the tournament each GM choses a best game with t...

I haven't been for a while, but that is seriously tempting! Yes. You were there in 2021. Probably the first, and only, Bermudian to participate in an ACO tournament! And you did okay, finishing with 5/9 in 23rd place in Group C from a starting rank of 45th. We even have evidence of your participati...