Apologies for this delayed update…
The winners of the first NE Online League, which concluded before Christmas, were:
Division 1 – Durham City A; Division 2 – Durham City B; Division 3 (C) – Tynedale / Forest Hall D; Division 3 (D) – Gosforth Ivy.
The new league, starting on 19th January, will comprise 4 divisions of 6 teams each.
Here are the results of the first two rounds:
Division 1
Gosforth Empire 1 Durham City A 3; Jesmond 3 Durham University 1; Forest Hall A 3½ Tynemouth & Morpeth A ½.
Durham City A 2½ Durham University 1½; Tynemouth & Morpeth A 2 Jesmond 2; Gosforth Empire 2½ Forest Hall A 1½.
Division 2
Durham City B 2 Thornaby 2; Forest Hall C 2 Forest Hall B 2; Tynemouth & Morpeth B 2½ Newcastle University 1½.
Thornaby 1 Newcastle University 3; Forest Hall B 1 Tynemouth & Morpeth B 3; Durham City B 4 Forest Hall C 0.
Division 3 Prelim Group A
Bishop Auckland B 2½ Bishop Auckland A 1½; Billingham Synthonia 1 Tynedale 3.
Bishop Auckland A 1½ Tynedale 2½; Bishop Auckland B 2½ Billingham Synthonia 1½.
Division 3 Prelim Group B
Forest Hall D 3 Durham City C 1; Gosforth Ivy 3½ Tynemouth & Morpeth C ½.
Durham City C 1 Tynemouth & Morpeth C 3; Forest Hall D 3 Gosforth Ivy 1.
Full details are on the ECF League Management System website:
David Walker is organising an online competition on behalf of the Northumberland Chess Association. There are three sections:
Players must be current or former residents of Northumberland or Durham. They must also be ECF members at Supporter level or above.
The competition has 7 rounds, starting 24 October 2020 and finishing by 2 April 2021. Games will be played on lichess at a rate of 60 minutes per game plus a 15 second increment.
For more details, see this document:
https://northumberlandchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NCA-Online-Rules-i1d1.pdf
For free entry, email championships@
Tim Wall has proposed a North East Online League.
North Tyneside Council have advised that the congress cannot go ahead against the background of the latest North East lockdown measures. A great disappointment for the organiser Mick Riding after all his hard work.
In the online match on 5th September between the North of England and the South, the first such contest since 1894, the North, captained by Mick Riding, scored a convincing 62-45 win. Several Durham players took part, and the results, plus an online commentary by Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan, can be found on the ECF website:
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/the-online-north-v-south-challenge-2020/
This is going ahead over the weekend of 25-27 September, and has already attracted 39 entries. https://northumberlandchesscongress.webs.com/
From Mick Riding:
On September 5 we have the opportunity to take part in a historic rematch between North and South, the first since 1894.
To join just click on https://www.chess.com/club/ecf-north
For the background stuff go to https://www.englishchess.org.uk/online-north-v-south-challenge-2020/
The occasion is about participating. Of course it’s nice if you’re a 200+ ECF player, but us lesser mortals need not worry. The match will look to pair people up as closely as possible to their playing strength – so there’s room for all.
The only prerequisite is ECF membership. Be aware most expire end August. So if you haven’t renewed please do – or at least sign up as a Supporter (£10) which can later be upgraded to membership – and your £10 will counts towards membership.
With over-the-board chess unlikely to resume in the near future, for the coming season it is planned to arrange the DCCA League as an online event, with two divisions and teams of four. Details will be circulated early in September.
Northumberland are the winners of the first ever ECF Online County Championships! With the help of a few Durham-based players who have competed in the Northumberland League, they defeated Lincolnshire 8½-3½ in the final. Here is the link to the ECF website: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/online-counties-championships-2020-finals/