News Archive 2020-21

Most recent news at top. Current news is on the home page.
Last updated 6 October 2021

News in the 2020-21 season

A short list of reports because of the Corona Virus epidemic

For much of the year people were not permitted to meet in groups. Much chess was transferred to online play.

John Reyes new ECF Silver members' rep

27 Jul. John (GMC) was elected to one of the two vacant positions. Tim Wall was the other successful candidate.

ECF Council meeting report

24 Apr. John Reyes (GMC) attended the meeting by Zoom. ECF membership fees remain unchanged for next year. Proposals to alter rating boundaries for ECF inter-county competitions were deferred until May. John’s report to MCCU is available here.

Free ECF membership for new women players

20 Feb. The English Chess Federation offers free membership for the first year for female players over the age of 18 who have not previously been members. The scheme is known as Queen's Gambit Scheme Supporter. Under the scheme you have access to ECF online members clubs and events on Chess.com and Lichess, together with free online rating of all ECF rated online events, plus access to the various benefits and discounts available at the ECF.

MCCU Directors receive community award

30 Dec. Eunice and Ray Dolan have received a Walsall Community Community Recognition award for their contributions, over many years, to Goscote Greenacres and Swannies Field community spaces as well as their leadership of Bloxwich Junior Chess Academy.

Andrew Davies 1960-2020

13 Dec. The death is reported of Brewood Club and Staffordshire stalwart Andrew Davies. Although living with health and physical problems he contributed principally as an organiser becoming secretary of Brewood club in 1995 and then qualifying as a coach for junior players before becoming ECF Manager for coaches and MCCU Director for Junior Chess. He also served as webmaster for English Primary Schools Chess Association and was Staffordshire CA secretary. Tributes by Robert Milne and Traci Whitfield and David Blower testify to the enthusiasm he brought to organising the game and his talent for making new players welcome.

Warwickshire win ECF Under-18 Online County Championship

21 Nov 2020. Warwickshire won with 12 points. Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Greater Manchester also competed but their teams were less competitive. See full results.

Greater Manchester scoop two online championships

15 Nov. Worcestershire beat Shropshire 8-4 in an online match in the open tournament. Links for MCCU online county match results.

31 Oct. Greater Manchester decisively beat Worcestershire in the online open team championship match 12½-2½. The Shrops-Worcs match was postponed and the Mancunians are Open Team Champions because they beat both teams. Greater Manchester celebrate a double because their u1825 team won the grade-limited competition earlier. Their teams did so in fine style with clear victories against Shropshire and Worcestershire.

Greater Manchester win u1825 Autumn competition

10 Oct. National winning teams GMC and Worcestershire played the first ever online MCCU team competition match. Greater Manchester faced Worcestershire with the teams looking well-matched. Greater Manchester prevailed by a clear 8½-3½ margin to become the first MCCU online champions.

West Midlands Area Summer winners

8 Oct. At the end of the West Midlands Area Summer season, Sutton Coldfield 1 emerged as champions defeating runners-up Solihull 1 in the final weekend of the Summer season in Division 1. Coventry Chess were Division 2 champions. See full details from ECF League Management System.

Earlier News in the 2019-20 season