2026 National Stages

[Mick Norris]

website

LMS

23 March – Close of nominations from the Union stage

06 April - Due by date for publication of the draws following the meeting of the Draw committee

25 April – Preliminary Round where required

09 May – Open, Minor Counties, U1850 & U1450 Quarter Finals

16 May – U2050 & U1650 Quarter Finals

13 June – Semi Finals of all championships

04 July – Finals of all championships

With the exception of the Finals, matches can be made on the immediately following Sunday or on an earlier weekend by agreement.

[Mick Norris]

Nominations

[Mick Norris]

The draw has been published

Open

Minor

u2050

u1850

u1650

u1450

[Kevin Thurlow]

In the Minor, I imagine Lincolnshire and Norfolk are pleased to get a local derby, reducing the travelling.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Also, Worcestershire is by far the kindest draw Devon could have got in the same section.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Also, Worcestershire is by far the kindest draw Devon could have got in the same section."

I was thinking some of Somerset's opponents were a long way off, but it's worse for Devon and even more so for Cornwall.

[Jon Underwood]

Also, Worcestershire is by far the kindest draw Devon could have got in the same section.

Better still we won't face the monster journey to play either Norfolk or Lincs unless we make the final.

[Mick Norris]

Preliminary rounds complete

Merseyside beat Essex in the u1850

Middlesex beat Derbyshire in the u1650

[Mick Norris]

Also, Worcestershire is by far the kindest draw Devon could have got in the same section.

Better still we won't face the monster journey to play either Norfolk or Lincs unless we make the final.

Looks like it was a good match yesterday, with apologies to Carl

I see you have Cambridgeshire next

[Carl Hibbard]

Also, Worcestershire is by far the kindest draw Devon could have got in the same section.

Better still we won't face the monster journey to play either Norfolk or Lincs unless we make the final.

Looks like it was a good match yesterday, with apologies to Carl

I see you have Cambridgeshire next

Yes it was close.

Coming back after like 14 years off without moving a piece has been a first season struggle.

[Jon Underwood]

Also, Worcestershire is by far the kindest draw Devon could have got in the same section.

Better still we won't face the monster journey to play either Norfolk or Lincs unless we make the final.

Looks like it was a good match yesterday, with apologies to Carl

I see you have Cambridgeshire next

Yes decided by a win on time and then our player clinging on in the last game to finish. We were pretty fortunate all round really.

[Stephen Westmoreland]

For those interested, I did my usual Yorkshire match reports and various photos. This is for Saturday's u2050s match between Yorkshire and Surrey: https://holmfirthchess.org.uk/2026/05/1 ... er-finals/

Also the u1850s game against Lincolnshire: https://holmfirthchess.org.uk/2026/05/1 ... er-finals/

Two amazing events and as ever, the opposition were a pleasure to meet.

[MartinCarpenter]

I did wonder if it was that Peter Lee, my goodness

I do like Yorkshire U2050's results so far this season: 6.5-5.5, 6-6, 5.5-6.5 and now 8.5-7.5. That's what grade limited competitions exist for really!

Derbyshire should be pretty solid. The other semi looks likely to be close too.

[Graham Alcock]

Thank you Stephen, it’s always interesting to see the match from the opposition perspective. Well played to all at Yorkshire.
Peter Lee is still playing high level bridge as well as chess

[Matt Mackenzie]

I think that PGL only returned to active chess a few years ago, after several decades out.