Midland
Counties Chess
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Midland Counties Chess Union
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The MCCU

Eleven "Chess Counties" form the Midland Counties Chess Union and cover the areas shown in the map on the right. A small Board of volunteer directors currently led by Chief Executive Julie Johnson (Leics) is elected annually by delegates from member chess counties. The Board organises regional competitions based on policies agreed annually by delegates from member chess counties.

The current webmaster is Ray Collett (Worcs). The website's policy is to report results of the MCCU competitions, principally the MCCU county team tournaments and the Midlands Grand Prix. Brief results of chess congresses held in the MCCU area and and links to organisers' websites are on the "News" pages. A calendar of upcoming chess congresses is on the "Congresses" pages. Some important national and international chess events will also be reported if there is a "Midlands" interest. In the menu bar above: "About" gives more information about the MCCU and has links to rules and administrative papers; "Guide" explains the site's organisation and provides links to most of the site's key pages.

Please send news of Midlands chess events, corrections, notifications of broken links, and suggestions to improve the website to Ray Collett.

Next Event in MCCU Counties

Sunday 5 February: Stockport Rapidplay. Midlands RGP 2011-12.

Next Junior Event for MCCU Counties

Sat 28 January: East Midlands Junior Grand Prix R3 at Nottingham. Contact David Levens

Next National Event

Sat, Sun 25 & 26 February: British Universities' Chess Association team championships at High Wycombe, Bucks. Contact Alex Holowczak


MCCU countiesThe "chess counties" forming the MCCU

 

Latest MCCU News

Warks are u180 Midlands champions

21 Jan. Warwickshire neatly reversed last year's result at Tyseley, Birmingham to take the under-180 title. Use County match menu button above and then the left u180 button to see details.

Walsall Kipping club mourns Norman Young

16 Jan. The death of Norman Young (1928-2012) has been announced. Norman was a former president of Staffordshire Chess Association and was active over the board until a few weeks before his death. "He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all of his friends in the Chess World" writes current Staffs President David Anderton in a brief obituary. The funeral will be at Streetly Crematorium, Little Hardwick Road, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 0SG at 3.30pm on Wednesday next 25th January

Notts team are first Midland Counties Champions this season

14 Jan. A young Notts side comfortably beat Warks, last season's winners, at Nottingham. Use the 'County Matches' menu button for more details.

Worcs retain lead in u140 county team championship

11 Dec. Results of all three matches are posted. Use the top "County match" menu button above and then the "u140 Championship" button for details.

Steve Crockett leads Midlands Rapidplay GP

5 Dec. After four events, Steve (Redditch, Worcs) leads this tournament by a healthy margin having entered all Midlands Rapidplay events so far. He is pursued by two juniors. Use the "Grand Prix" menu button above to get link to standings in the Midlands Rapid Grand Prix.

Don Mason wins Bury Rapidplay

4 Dec reported by Rod Middleton and Mick Norris. Don Mason (Shirley & Wythall, Birmingham) was first in the Open with 5/6. The Major was shared by Martin Burns (Stockport, GMC) and Brendan Kane (Aigburth, Liverpool) also with 5/6. Tim Hilton (3Cs, Oldham, GMC) was sole first with 5½/6 in the Minor. Entries included a phalanx of juniors from 3C's (Oldham), and a special Junior (u14) Prize was won by Becky Kerton with an impressive 4½ points in the Minor, leaving most of the adults in her wake! Nearly 100 players participated. Controllers Rod Middleton, Julian Clissold and Anthony Lee ran the show cheerfully and efficiently, and the Sports Club staff provided a warm welcome, and refreshments.

Alex Holowczak appointed national controller County Championships

4 Dec. Alex from Oldbury, Worcs has taken on this role. Julie Johnson remains the MCCU representative. The 2012 dates for the preliminary, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals are published on the ECF website.

Northampton Girls second in 4NCL Junior Division 3

26, 27 Nov. Northamptonshire Girls scored 8/14 coming second to Yateley Manor A. In Division 2, midland teams trailed teams from the south.

Midlanders at the British Rapidplay, Leeds

19, 20 Nov. Ali Jaunooby (3Cs, Oldham, GMC) was highest placed Midlander at the British Rapidplay Championships at Leeds on 7 from 11 games. First was GM Gawain Jones 10½/11. In the Under-16 Rapidplay, Ashwin Kalyana (Solihull Checkmates, Warks) was first on 3½/5. In the Intermediate, Phil Talbot (Wigan, Greater Manchester) was first on 8½/11. Harry Croasdale (Nottingham) was first on 4/5 in the one-day under-16 event.

Miroslav Gruca wins Bolton Rapidplay

13 Nov from Rod Middleton, organiser. Miroslav (Widnes) led from the start and half a point clear after four rounds. His final round victory ensured first place by a clear point. Arthur Mehmood (Newport, Shrops) dominated the Major with 6 straight wins. The event attracted nearly ninety players and held at Bolton Ukrainian Club. Results of MCCU players graded under-150 now added to Rapid Grand Prix. Use this link for more details.

Worcestershire and Staffs Terriers share lead in under-120 championship

12 Nov. For more details use "county matches" menu button above.

Greater Manchester Juniors are Champs

6 Nov. Greater Manchester were first with 17½/24 in the under-16 competition. The winning Manchester side comprised: Jamie Horton, Daniel Lea, Nathan taylor, Andrew Horton, Jacob Manton, Tim Chays, Jennifer Neil, Phoebe Price, Jack Virgin, and Jason Lau and was managed by Phil Adams. In the same competition Staffordshire were 7th on 8½. In the under-12 event, Greater Manchester were 3rd, Warwickshire 4th, and Staffordshire 6th equal. The event was organised by NYCA (National Youth Chess Association) at Abraham Derby Academy, Madeley, Shropshire.

Lincolnshire lead in Minor Counties

5 Nov. Worcs and Derbys fought a nail-biting draw while Shrops beat Leics in spite of the latter fielding a grand master. Use the "county matches" menu button above for match details.

 

Click "News" on the menu bar above for other recent items.