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The 2nd Worcestershire Open was held on 24-25 July at Worcester University, attracting 110 players. First in the Open section was Lawrence Cooper (Stafford) winning the playoffs against Jane Richmond (Swindon) and Derek Pugh ( Bristol). For pictures, other results, and details of the massive 7-way tie in the Minor Tournament read more...

17 July. Midlands Grand Prix and NEW Rapidplay Grand Prix 2010-2011
The Midlands Grand Prix is expanded this year with a new Rapid Play GP as well as the Standard Play GP.
Midlands Standard Play Grand Prix. Winner receives title if Individual Midlands Champion and a bursary to the British Championships in 2011 in Sheffield for the best score in competing standard play events in the GP. Rules for the 2010-11 MCCU Grand Prix are here.
Midlands Rapid Play Grand Prix. For the first time, MCCU offer a £50 prize for the best percentage score in 3 or more events in rapidplay games organised in the MCCU Area by clubs, counties or individuals eligible for County Chess in the Midlands.
Congress Organisers. Your congress will be contacted, but if you wish to be proactive and send your details in now to Cyril Johnson, MCCU Events Director (Tel: 0116 2609012. e-mail) marking them "MCCU GRAND PRIX", the Controller would be very grateful. Last date for organisers for congress entry is 31 August 2010.

Bushbury win Minor Plate in National Club Finals
Bushbury, Staffs with two teams, and Leamington League associated Chipping Campden teams made it to the finals. In the Minor Plate, Bushbury beat Forest of Dean 3-1. In the Intermediate Plate, Bushbury were beaten on board count 2-2 by Hackney. In the Minor Cup, Chipping Campden defaulted a board and lost ½-3½. The finals were held at Syston, Leics and Golden Lane Community Centre, London on 11July. View the full report by Julie Johnson on the ECF site.

Warwickshire u180 are National Champions
12 July. Moat College, Leicester saw four MCCU county sides battle for championship honours. Local MP Sir Peter Soulsby welcomed players. The u180 competition guaranteed an MCCU champion team with Nottinghamshire facing Warwickshire. Warks ran out winners with a 9 - 7 victory. In the new u100 competition, Warwickshire were put to the sword(s) by Essex. In the u140 competition, Nottinghamshire lost on board count to Hampshire. For other Finals match details, click here. MCCU stalwarts Julie and Cyril Johnson were key organisers of the 2010 counties finals.

David Anderton New President of Staffordshire CA
10 July. David Anderton, captain of Staffs open team, was elected President at their AGM at the end of June. David is a past captain of the England team and has also been President of the ECF and an ECF Director of international chess, a post now held by fellow Staffs member Lawrence Cooper.

Don Mason MCCU Champion and Grand Prix Winner
22 June. The leading players in the Grand Prix have been announced. Read more...

Warwickshire have two teams in the National Finals!!
An all MCCU final for u180 competition
20 June. Warwickshire u100 team thrashed Yorkshire in a match with several defaults and Warwickshire's u180 side scraped a win on board count against Devon. Nottinghamshire u180 won on board count against Essex. Leics go out to Suffolk in the u160 competition. News is awaited from other MCCU captains. Read more...

Lincolnshire out of Minor Counties
19 June. A strong Middlesex side beat Nigel Birtwistle's side at Syston. Detailed results ...

International Chess
19 June. Fisher's body to be exhumed to settle paternity dispute to distribute his estate reports the Guardian. Russian chess Federation raided after supporting Karpov against Ilyumzhinov in FIDE race reports The Times.

Keith McLaughlin wins MCCU Correspondence Competition
6 June. The 2009-2010 Peter Gibbs Correspondence Tournament has been won by Keith McLaughlin, Leics. Paul Walters, Staffs, is second, but three players are in contention for third place. Read more...

MCCU Annual General Meeting: Saturday 26 June at Syston
6 June. Read the agenda, minutes of 2009 AGM, and proposals for rule changes to the MCCU inter-counties competitions using links from the admin page.

Government Slashes Support for Chess
2 June. The Department of Cutlure Media and Sports (DCMS) has just announced a 25% reduction of its support for chess. This shortfall could be made good by raising game fee by about 5p, raising subscriptions, cutting services, or a combination of measures. Read the DCMS letter here.

Proposed Changes to MCCU Rules
1 June. Proposals to change rules for the MCCU inter-county competition will be discussed at the MCCU AGM to be held 26 June. Proposals cover several issues: the MCCU open and minor competitions, digital clocks, mobiles and electronic gadgets in ithe playing hall, neutral venues, notification of match results and postponements. If you would like to make points about these proposed changes, please contact your county delegate or secretary. Better still, ask your county secretary whether you can attend as a delegate. Read the full text of these proposals here.

Nottinghamshire field 60 Players in County Quarter Finals
29 May. Notts had four teams playing on Saturday 22 May. They were the U-180 and U-140 at Milton Keynes, the U-160 at Huntingdon, the U-120 at Huddersfield. Every one of the matches went right down to the last game to finish - the two at Milton Keynes down to the last two minutes- with Notts victorious in two and losing in two. Read more on the ECF stage page and its links.

Two MCCU Teams through to Semi-Finals in Minor County Competition
24 May. Both Leics and Lincs had convincing wins, but Notts had mixed fortunes winning in the u140, but losing in the u160 competition.

Notice of MCCU Annual General Meeting: Saturday 26 June at Syston
3 May. Julie Johnson, CEO, has notified County Secretaries that the AGM is to be held 2pm at Syston Social Club, Syston, Leics on Saturday 26 June. The business of the meeting wil include: election of officers; presentation of accounts and buget; officers' reports and discussion of any changes to rules or the constitution. If you want something discussed, for example rules for MCCU competitions, please contact Julie or your county delegate. Proposals to change rules or constitution must be formal motions received by Julie by Saturday 29 May. Some counties did not send a full quota of delegates last year and if you would like to attend to represent your county at the MCCU AGM, please contact your County Secretary.

Stafford Congress results
22 April. Over 80 players took part in this stars-barred event on 10 and 11th April. Mike Surtees (Bolton, GMC) won the u200 Premier. The rapidly improving junior player Joseph Friar, from Hagley, Worcs won the u120 Minor. For a full list of winners on the Staffs website read more...

Staffordshire U-140 through to National Inter-County Quarter-Finals
20 April. In the preliminary rounds, Greater Manchester lost to Essex in the Open, Worcestershire lost on board count to Sussex in the U-140, and Staffordshire overcame Yorkshire 'A'. Cyril Johnson (Leics) again takes role of national controller.

August Hereford 2010 Congress Called Off
15 April. This popular Bank Holiday tournament will not run in 2010. Wreford Davies, Congress Secretary has told the webmaster that building alterations at their normal venue and no suitable alternative in Hereford mean the next congress will be planned for 2011.

Ali Jaunoobi's double at Bolton Easter Congress
10 April. This popular event was held 2-4 April at the Bolton Excel Centre in the centre of the city. Any intruding southerners were kept firmly in place. In the Open, Adam Ashton and Ali Jaunooby, both from Three C's, Oldham shared first prize with 4½/5. The Major was won by Carl Atkinson (Crusaders, Oldham) and the Knights section was shared by Chris Stratford (Huddersfield) and Anthony Roberts (Wallasey) all with 4½/5. Ali Jaunoobi took time out of the Open to win The Busy Person's 10-minute Blitz with 7½/8. For more results ... (pdf)

Otto Hardy (1927-2010)
The death is anounced of Otto Hardy Loughborough, Leics. He died in the morning of 4 April aged 82 peacefully at home. Loughborough Echo states his funeral is to be Friday 16 April 10:30am at All Saints Church Loughborough. Read an obituary with a link to illustrative games here.

MCCU Provisional Nominations of County Teams for National Stages
The CEO has announced provisional nominations for the ECF stages of the inter-counties competition. MCCU Champions are: Open - Staffordshire; Minor - Lincolnshire; u180 - Warwickshire; u160 - Leicestershire; u140 - Nottinghamshire; u120 - Staffordshire Bulldogs. Warwickshire were the only MCCU county to enter the u100 and are nominated. All MCCU nominated teams are listed here and the finish of the close U-160 competition is here.

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