Search found 89 matches

by Andrew Varney
Fri Jul 09, 2021 9:11 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: News
Replies: 221
Views: 21113

Re: News

I'm really pleased that this thread has turned to a lot more positive discussion after unfortunate negative posts that I do not believe represent the underlying sentiments of either "side" in the argument. As another of "the team" involved in co-ordinating EJCOA, I would not have wanted to be involv...
by Andrew Varney
Wed Oct 16, 2019 3:37 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace
Replies: 6
Views: 3004

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

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.
by Andrew Varney
Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:08 am
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace
Replies: 6
Views: 3004

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

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 con...
by Andrew Varney
Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:02 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace
Replies: 6
Views: 3004

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

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/hospitality/private-events/ ), while the Championship will take place in the more i...
by Andrew Varney
Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:15 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace
Replies: 6
Views: 3004

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

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.
by Andrew Varney
Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:55 am
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace
Replies: 6
Views: 3004

Re: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

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, to...
by Andrew Varney
Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:37 am
Forum: Women's Chess
Topic: English Women's Chess Championship 2019
Replies: 7
Views: 4076

Re: English Women's Chess Championship 2019

Especially when you consider it was the second game of the day, the first lasting nearly 4 hours in Sarah Longson's case and Katarzyna Toma's a decent 45 moves.
by Andrew Varney
Tue Aug 27, 2019 11:29 am
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace
Replies: 6
Views: 3004

ECF Girls' Chess Championships 2019 at Blenheim Palace

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 ...
by Andrew Varney
Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:09 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Media comments on chess
Replies: 5977
Views: 742178

Re: Media comments on chess

I wonder if we can work anything out, by retrograde analysis, about which White pawn under-promoted?
by Andrew Varney
Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:41 am
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: The ECF Nat Schools Girls Championships 2018
Replies: 19
Views: 5105

Re: The ECF Nat Schools Girls Championships 2018

I expect that there are various reasons, but could it be explained at least to a large degree by travel times to the venues?
Travel time to the venue weighted by population density would give a similar looking map, I think.
by Andrew Varney
Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:37 am
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: Have adults ruined children’s Chess?
Replies: 18
Views: 5372

Re: Have adults ruined children’s Chess?

I don't have nearly as many years experience, nor am I at the same level, in teaching chess as the likes of Andrew Martin or Richard James, so please excuse me if what I say is too specific to the area and level I teach at. My children got me into my new career and right from the beginning I have ap...
by Andrew Varney
Sat Sep 02, 2017 11:03 am
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: European Youth Chess Championship 2017
Replies: 42
Views: 8149

Re: European Youth Chess Championship 2017

Unfortunately the team will be down by 1 as Zoe is in hospital from a nosebleed that wouldn't stop. Although after 3 days and an op in early hours this morning, she is hopefully going to be discharged later today, she is not allowed to fly (for obvious reasons). Obviously very disappointed. All the ...
by Andrew Varney
Tue Aug 29, 2017 9:50 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: European Youth Team Chess Championship 2017
Replies: 11
Views: 3225

Re: European Youth Team Chess Championship 2017

England team in EYTCC2017 – final report The England team came to Poland with the intention to play chess against strong opponents, to work as a team and learn from each other. We were significantly lower rated than most of the other teams, seeded 17 out of 21 teams. Most, possibly all, of the othe...
by Andrew Varney
Tue Aug 29, 2017 9:47 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: European Youth Team Chess Championship 2017
Replies: 11
Views: 3225

Re: European Youth Team Chess Championship 2017

England team in EYTCC2017 – rounds 5 to 7 Rounds 5 to 7 featured two more matches against Polish teams (we ‘collected’ all but one during the tournament) and one against another Slovakian team. All of the games were shown on live boards on chess24 and the PGNs can also be downloaded from the tourna...
by Andrew Varney
Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:15 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: European Youth Team Chess Championship 2017
Replies: 11
Views: 3225

Re: European Youth Team Chess Championship 2017

England team in EYTCC2017 – round 4 We made it to the carpet! Not the red carpet, but nonetheless a milestone. Up until this point the highest team table that we had played on was number 7 in the first round, but for round 4 we were playing on table 6. The room is carpeted from that point towards t...