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Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 8:41 pm
by Mick Norris
Open: Yorks v Surrey
Minor: Lincs v Devon
U180: Essex v Lancs
U160: Middlesex v Suffolk
U140: Yorks v Worcs
U120: Yorks v Essex
U100: Staffs v Notts
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 11:51 pm
by Neil Graham
Here are the Union title scores for the past four years
NCCU 9; SCCU 9; MCCU 7; EACU 2; WECU 1.
In the final this year there are four teams from each of the MCCU, SCCU and NCCU plus one each from EACU & WECU. There is one all MCCU final; otherwise each competition is between different Union teams with three SCCU v NCCU clashes.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 1:44 pm
by Jaimie Wilson
Hi friends, good luck to all teams competing in a final. I wish the English chess website had a link to the county results service website (
https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/36/home). It's an excellent service, but not easy to find!
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 1:13 pm
by Matthew Carr
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 4:43 pm
by John Saunders
The Counties' Championship this afternoon has provided excellent entertainment.
This game was particularly good value...
I wasn't surprised when Daniel Rosen decided to throw in the towel at the end as it looked to be all over but then I checked the game with Stockfish which flagged up a draw after 36.Rxh7+ Kxh7 37.Nxf6+ as 37...Kh8 38.Nxe4 and White threatens mate with 39.Qe5+. He would still have had to find some precise moves in the 37...Kxh6 variation, however, so he need not be too cheesed off.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 5:10 pm
by David Sedgwick
John Saunders wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2019 4:43 pm
I wasn't surprised when Daniel Rosen decided to throw in the towel at the end as it looked to be all over but then I checked the game with Stockfish which flagged up a draw after 36.Rxh7+ Kxh7 37.Nxf6+ as 37...Kh8 38.Nxe4 and White threatens mate with 39.Qe5+. He would still have had to find some precise moves in the 37...Kxh6 variation, however, so he need not be too cheesed off.
Rosen and Sucikova, both somewhat taken aback, are asking if you can post a bit more of the analysis.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2019 5:36 pm
by John Saunders
OK, here goes. Incidentally, if Black had played 35...Qb1! then this trick would not have worked, according to Stockfish.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:17 am
by Joey Stewart
It was kind of a shame Devon was forced out of the competition, even though I've been on the recieving end of many Devon victories I'd have still give them my support for such a great achievement of a 'proper' minor county making it to the final.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:29 am
by Mick Norris
Neil Graham wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2019 11:51 pm
Here are the Union title scores for the past four years
NCCU 9; SCCU 9; MCCU 7; EACU 2; WECU 1.
In the final this year there are four teams from each of the MCCU, SCCU and NCCU plus one each from EACU & WECU. There is one all MCCU final; otherwise each competition is between different Union teams with three SCCU v NCCU clashes.
Open – Yorkshire
Minor – Lincolnshire
U180 – Essex
U160 – Middlesex
U140 – Yorkshire
U120 – Essex
U100 – Staffordshire
So, updating Neil's scores from 4 to 5 years we have:
SCCU 12; NCCU 11; MCCU 9; EACU 2; WECU 1.
ECF report, games, photos etc
Not sure what the venue was like, but presumably after the Devon default, Kettering won't be chosen again
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:19 am
by Roger de Coverly
Mick Norris wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:29 am
Not sure what the venue was like, but presumably after the Devon default, Kettering won't be chosen again
Teams from south of London would periodically complain about being required to travel to the Midlands for the finals, particularly when facing another SCCU team. I don't think any voted with their feet against the location and defaulted.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:08 pm
by KMcCarthy
Joey Stewart wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:17 am
It was kind of a shame Devon was forced out of the competition, even though I've been on the recieving end of many Devon victories I'd have still give them my support for such a great achievement of a 'proper' minor county making it to the final.
Forced Out ? They chose to be the only team not to partake...yes it is further for Devon to travel always as they out on a limb...but not contacting the opposition captain until too late to avoid carnage ..then saying only play 12 boards as out of all the active minor county standard players (far more than Lincolnshire had to call on) whilst also stating that they would be kicking off at whatever decision was made..I stepped in for Lincolnshire when one player had to drop out..scraping the barrel I know...and bought a single ticket from Edinburgh to get there..340 miles though I was only going 320 to Peterborough to hop a lift. I did this as the County skipper who dragged the little chess county back to the final yet again inspires loyalty and pride in the team...at 12 boards I would have done 680 miles to not play and certainly without Devon offering any recompense despite offering to pay accommodation for their players to go to Kettering (30 or so miles further than last years venue for them)...along with 4 others...so as to keep to 180 average..had the finals been in Exmouth Lincolnshire would have fielded a team ..somehow and probably not as strong..This is not to downplay the difficulty of County Chess for the true Minors like both involved..it IS hard..it DOES need good captaincy...but for the childish Devon captain to cry foul at Lincolnshire for his predicament was the ultimate reason there was no match...hopefully next year 2 sides crazy enough to think that the 100th playing of finals day in what sounds a great venue somewhere between the powerhouses of Yorks Surrey etc was worth going out of your way for will compete...I will be sending the winners medal to the recycling bin as it became a worthless token as soon as the baby wept
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:20 pm
by Christopher Kreuzer
It is a great shame to hear that. Before the discussion gets dragged too far into the reasons for the default in the final, I'm going to re-post the link that was provided earlier to the ECF report, it is a nice read:
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/100th-c ... 13th-july/
It also contains a link to a history of the competition, by Anthony Fulton, see here:
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-cont ... ship-1.pdf
That looks well worth reading - I will mention it on the 'chess history' board as well.
Many thanks to Mark Murell and his team for organising the competition and finals day (a live blog was a nice touch).
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:12 pm
by David Sedgwick
Mick Norris wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:29 am
Not sure what the venue was like, but presumably after the Devon default, Kettering won't be chosen again
The venue was excellent and a vast improvement on the previous one. I hope that it will be chosen again.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 6:07 pm
by Nick Grey
From reports the venue was excellent. Thanks to Mark and his team.
I watched Serena lose in under one hour. Too many mistakes to win. Simona played the match of her life.
But then to have 16 LIVE Boards to watch plus other match scores was excellent.
Well played all. I feel for Lincolnshire we had a fantastic 99th final against them.
As for Devon's behaviour that will give the organisers some matters to consider.
I'm looking forward to the 101st competition.
Re: Finals 13 July 2019 @ Kettering
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:11 pm
by NickFaulks
David Sedgwick wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:12 pm
I can't think of any good reason why it should not be chosen again.
Particularly as, if the ECF Board have anything about them, Devon will be taking a year off.