Latest MCCU News

Triple tie in Midlands Blitz Qualifier

28 Sep 2024. FM Stanley Badacsonyi (London), IM Yichen Han (Oxon) and Finlay Bowcott-Terry (Warks) led the field of over 60 competitors with 12½ points at Quinborne Community Centre, Birmingham. Stanley and Yichen had the better tie-breaks. Top female players at Birmingham were Ana Williams (Notts, on 9 points) and WFM Ruqayyah Rida (Essex on 8½ points). Qualifiers go forward to the UK Open Blitz tournament to be held on 16 November at Leamington Spa.

Counties gear up for 2024-5 season

1 Sep 2024, Stephen Smithson reports. Detailed guidance has been sent to team captains in Lincs, Staffs, Warks and Worcs who have been asked to submit dates for matches. Teams will be of 12 players with default time controls (G135+10 for the Midlands team championship and G110+10 for the u1650 matches) unless captains agree a shorter playing session. Captains are encouraged to designate some boards in the u1650 matches for players rated below 1450. Other counties that have expressed interest have a few days more to make a late entry. Contact Stephen.

ECF presents awards to Midland club and player

20 Aug 2024, ECF website reports. Radcliffe and Bingham Chess Club (Notts) were awarded the Samll Club of the Year award. The club is celebrating its fiftieth year and has had a surge in membership. In the last season its teams competed in The Nottinghamshire League and its members have contributed to the Chess in Schools & Communities work in the county. Paul Lam (Warks) gained his award for contributions to junior chess. Paul has been a driving force in the Coventry Chess Academy that has attracted hundreds of children to the game and produced elite junior players. See citations.

Inter-county chess 2024-5

19 Aug 2024, Stephen Smithson reports. Several counties have confirmed their entry: Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire will be playing in the Midlands team championship and Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire will be playing in the u1650 competition. Top teams progress to the national stages played next spring. Stephen writes: "If you wish to play for your county, please contact your county contact, or me if you do not have their details. If your county does not have a team, you may be eligible for another county." Stephen can advise on eligibility.

Midland players at the British

30 Jul 2024. Alex Royle (Lincs) won the Penrose weekend tournament for players rated below 2000 with 4½ points and Rene Butler (Leics) won the Yates weekend tournament for u1500 players at Hull with 4½ points.

26 Jul 2024. Tara Tamilselvan (Leics) was the first Midlands winner of a tournament in the British Championships being held at Hull. She won the under-8 Rapidplay tournament with 6 points from 7 games in a field of 28 players.

Click "News" on the menu bar above for other recent items.

Text in blue-green links to entry form, website or email contact

Next in the Midlands

Sat 23 Nov & Sun 24 Nov. Derbyshire Chess Congress at Trent College, Derby Road, Long Eaton Nottingham NG10 4AD. Five rounds, Open, Major (u1950), Intermediate (u1750), Minor (u1580) and Foundation (u1350) tournaments, time control 90 min + 10 sec. Half point byes available in rounds 1-4.

Next Junior tournament

Sat 19 Oct. Birmingham Junior Open at King Edwards VI Five Ways, Scotland lane, Bartley Green B32 4BT. 1pm start and prize-giving at about 6pm. Seven age and ability sections: U-18 Open, U-18 u1400, U-18 u1000, U-11 Open, U-11 u1000, U-11 u800, U-11 u600. ECF silver membership required, free for new players.

Online competitions

Link for all ECF online events.

Link for all 4NCL online events.

Next national event

Sat 28 Dec - Sun 5 Jan 2025. Hastings International Chess Congress

The "chess counties" forming the MCCU

Ten "Chess Counties" form the Midland Counties Chess Union and cover the areas shown in the map on the right. A small Board of volunteer directors currently led by Chief Executive Ray Dolan (Staffs) is elected annually by delegates from member chess counties. The Board organises regional competitions based on policies agreed annually by delegates from member chess counties.

By playing in the competitions hosted on this website you agree that your name, chess rating and your membership status with the English Chess Federation (ECF) may be published on this website for the purposes of recording the results of the competitions. You also agree that such information will be passed to the ECF, the governing body, for rating purposes, and published on their website.

The MCCU

The current webmaster is Ray Collett (Worcs). The website's policy is to report results of the MCCU competitions, principally the MCCU county team tournaments and congresses. Brief results of other chess congresses held in the MCCU area and and links to organisers' websites are on the "News" pages. A calendar of upcoming chess congresses is on the "Congresses" pages. Some important national and international chess events will also be reported if there is a "Midlands" interest. In the menu bar above: "About" gives more information about the MCCU and has links to rules and administrative papers; "Guide" explains the site's organisation and provides links to most of the site's key pages.

Please send news of Midlands chess events, corrections, notifications of broken links, and suggestions to improve the website to Ray Collett.