ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

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Andrew Varney
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 pm

ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

Post by Andrew Varney » Tue Aug 27, 2019 11:29 am

The ECF Girls' Chess Championships (incorporating the inaugural Oxfordshire Girls' Chess Championships) is being held at Blenheim Palace on the weekend of 19-20 October. As well as the main 2-day Championship, there are one-day Rapid Play Minor sections for U9, U11, U14 and U18. A simul with former British Women Chess Champion WFM Sarah Longson (invitation only, including top-seeded entrants for the Championship) will be held on the Saturday evening.

Please see the entry form attached below with further details and follow the link to online entry at https://www.englishchess.org.uk/Juniors ... hips-2019/.

This event forms part of the Oxfordshire Girls' Chess Festival #OxonGirlsChessFest
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Last edited by Andrew Varney on Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

Andrew Varney
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 pm

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

Post by Andrew Varney » Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:55 am

After getting agreement from the ECF, I'm pleased to be able to announce that the Championship prizes will include an invitation to play for England Juniors at a 2019-20 international tournament in their relevant age group for the top U18, U16, U14 and U12. In this context, top U18 is for U17-18, top U16 is for U16-15, top U14 is for U14-13, but top U12 is for U12,11,10,9,8. In view of this, entry to the main Championship will require entrants to be registered with FIDE as ENG and I have updated the entry form to reflect this.

Kevin Thurlow
Posts: 5821
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:28 pm

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Thu Sep 05, 2019 11:36 am

Well done on getting such a spectacular venue. I visited last year for a triathlon (no, only spectating) and it was very impressive.

Andrew Varney
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 pm

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

Post by Andrew Varney » Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:15 pm

The list of entries so far confirmed is now posted on the ECF Juniors website at https://www.englishchess.org.uk/Juniors ... hips-2019/.
It is expected that this will be updated at least weekly from now on and more frequently closer to the event.

Andrew Varney
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 pm

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

Post by Andrew Varney » Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:02 pm

For anyone who is interested where at Blenheim Palace the playing venues will be , the Minor sections will be playing in the very impressive and spacious Orangery
(see e.g. the photo at https://www.blenheimpalace.com/hospita ... te-events/), while the Championship will take place in the more intimate and quiet but superb Spencer-Churchill Room. Indeed an impressive venue!

Andrew Varney
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 pm

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

Post by Andrew Varney » Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:08 am

Entries are coming in regularly but there is plenty of room for more, especially for the Sunday Minor Under 11 and Under 18 tournaments.

Invitations for the Saturday evening simul will be sent out this weekend (12-13 October) based on the entries received up to that point, so those wishing to be considered for a place (including potential top seeds in the main Championship) are advised to enter in the next few days.

The winner of each section will receive a bespoke trophy and a signed copy of a book/books by Judit Polgar or Jennifer Shahade. Smaller trophies or prizes are planned for other high-scorers in the tournaments.

Andrew Varney
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 pm

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

Post by Andrew Varney » Wed Oct 16, 2019 3:37 pm

Entry for the tournament will be closing at 17:00 on Friday 18 October to allow time for the relevant tournament files to be set up. Still two days left! Please visit https://www.englishchess.org.uk/Juniors ... hips-2019/ before then to enter.