The National Schools Under 19 Chess Championships 2017/18 sponsored by Winchester College
Entries are invited for the United Kingdom’s leading and most prestigious Team Competition for schools. This competition, formerly the Sunday Times and then the Times Championship, and now with the generous sponsorship of Winchester College, has existed continuously since 1957. Whilst the strongest teams are always very strong, they now get automatic qualification to the Regional Stage. Most teams are not as strong, and many are quite inexperienced. So do consider entering even if you have not done so before. 16 teams will play at a two day National Final at Uppingham School on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th July 2018.
You can enter local afternoon events or request to join a small local League Group of up to 4 teams. All of these are opportunities to qualify for the Regional Stage in Spring term 2018. Strong teams can claim automatic qualification to the Regional Stage if they played at the July 2017 finals or have six pupils with a total grade of at least 750, or if they qualify from specific tournament (such as the Eton College Rapidplay)
Upon registration, you should get an email confirming your entry within a few days. Details of all afternoon events will be updated on the website. Entry deadline is 7 days before any afternoon event or 30th September 2017 to play in a League Group. You can switch your entry between events and leagues if you need to. If you’re unsure about which – enter and then enquire!
The Championship is open to all schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Teams are of 6 players, who must all be pupils of the school they represent.
Age limit – Under 19 on 31st August 2017. A school may enter any number of teams, but players would normally only play for one team (see rules on the website for more details).
Age handicap – There is no longer an age handicap
Entry fee – Free
Contact – John Swain Email: john.swain@englishchess.org.uk
Final entry date – 30th November 2017 (midnight). This applies to teams claiming an automatic place (graded 750 or more, or due to their performance at the Eton or KES Rapidplays) and to organisers reporting League or Afternoon Qualifier results
Teams which have already entered and wish to play in the Repechage on 3 December (restricted to eight teams) must also email Neill Cooper with their entry by this time on manager.schools@englishchess.org.uk
Notes
1) Addresses and phone numbers – in practice nearly all correspondence is by email, but mobile telephone numbers, where supplied, can also be useful for arranging fixtures.
2) Some details about League Group and Regional Stage matches – normally you will visit or entertain one opponent at a time, mid-week. The date and time of a match are by agreement between the two sides (who is home and who is away will always be laid down in advance.)
Matches are usually played after school, but there is no rule about it. Schools must provide their own equipment. Chess clocks should be used.
Afternoon Qualifying events
These events normally have 3 rounds, and the time limit is typically 20 mins for all moves or a ‘Fischer’ increment equivalent. Each event should last about 2½ hours. Many events are limited to a maximum of 8 teams. Team who score 2 wins (or one win and 2 draws) or better qualify for the Regional Stage in the Spring Term.
South London Qualifier – Wilson’s School – Monday 9th October, 4.00 – 6.30pm
Qualifiers: Westminster School A and B both 6/6; Dulwich College, Wilson’s D and F 4/6
Others: Sacred Heart Catholic School; St Andrews Catholic Secondary School, Leatherhead A and B; Wilson’s C and E
Kent Qualifier – Tonbridge School – Tuesday 7th November, 4.00 – 7.00pm
Qualifiers: The Skinners’ School A 6/6; Sevenoaks School 4/6
Others: The Skinners’ School B; Tonbridge School A and B
West London Qualifier – King’s College Junior School, Wimbledon – Thursday 9th November, 4.30 – 7.00pm
Qualifiers: King’s College Senior School A 6/6; King’s College Junior School A; Westminster Under School A; Tiffin School A all 4/6
Others: King’s College Junior School B; Westminster Under School B; Tiffin School B; King’s College Senior School B
North West Qualifier – Bolton School Boys’ Division – Thursday 9th November, 12.45 for 1.00pm start
Qualifiers: Bolton School Boys’ Division A 5/6 ; Kirkbie Kendal School A 5/6;Bolton School Boys’ Division B 4/6
Others: Kirkbie Kendal School B; Notre Dame Catholic College A and B
Devon Qualifier – Torquay Boys Grammar School – Tuesday 14 November, 2.00 – 5.00pm
Qualifiers: Torquay Boys Grammar School A and B
Others: Teignmouth Community School
Hampshire Qualifier – Winchester College – Tuesday 14th November, 2:30 pm
Qualifiers: Highcliffe School 5/6; Winchester College D 4/6
Others: Horris Hill; Winchester College C
Bristol Qualifier – Bristol GS – Monday 20th November 2017, 4.00 – 6.30pm
Qualifiers: Hereford Cathedral School A 6/6; St John’s College Cardiff 6/6; Chepstow School B 4/6; Hereford Cathedral School B 4/6; Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital B 4/6; Sir Thomas Rich’s School B 4/6
Others: Churchill Academy A 3/6; The King’s School Gloucester B 3/6; Bristol Grammar School B 2/6; Clifton High School 2/6; Churchill Academy B 1/6; Monkton Combe 1/6; Redland Green School A 1/6; Redland Green School B 1/6
Bristol Qualified Teams Rapidplay
Queen Elizabeth Hospital A 14/18 ; Sir Thomas Rich’s School A 12.5/18; Chepstow 10.5/18; Bristol GS 8/18
Surrey/Hampshire qualifier – RGS Guildford – Wednesday 22nd November, 4.00 – 6.55pm
Qualifiers: Royal Grammar School Guildford B; ACS Egham; RGS C; Guildford County A
Others: Guildford County B; RGS E; RGS D
North East qualifier – John Spence Community High School, Newcastle – Thursday 23rd November, 2.00pm start
Qualifier: Yarm B 6/6
Others: Keswick 3/6; Yarm C 3/6; John Spence CHS 0/6
North London qualifier – Highgate School – Thursday 23rd November, 4.15 – 6.30pm
Qualifiers: North London Collegiate A 6/6; Fortismere School 4/6; Highgate School A 4/6; NLC B 4/6
Others: Mossbourne Community Academy 2/6; Highgate B 2/6; Archer Academy 1/6; Mill Hill County High School B 1/6
Birmingham U18 Rapidplay Tournament – King Edwards School, Birmingham – Saturday 25th November, 11.00am to 5.00pm
Please contact Dominic Tuohey Email: dlt@kes.org.uk directly – £10 entry fee
East Midlands qualifier – Nottingham High School – Tuesday 28th November, 4.00 – 6.30pm
Qualifiers: Nottingham HS ‘B’ 6/6; Bourne GS ‘A’ 4/6; Nottingham HS ‘C’ 4/6
Others: Stamford School 2/6; Bourne GS ‘B’ 1/6; The Kibworth School 1/6
Berks and Bucks qualifier – Reading Blue Coat School – Wednesday 29th November, 4.30 – 7.00pm
Qualifiers: Desborough College 15/18; Aylesbury Grammar School 12/18; Reading Blue Coat School A 10/18
Others: Burnham Grammar School 5/18; Reading Blue Coat School B 2/18
Repechage qualifier – University College, London – Sunday 3rd December from 2.00 – 5.00pm
[this is for any team not qualified, including those for whom this is their first event – limited to 10 teams]
Qualified: St Paul’s Girls’ School 6/6; Mossbourne Community Academy 4/6
Others: Dame Alice Owen’s School 2/6; William Ellis School 0/6
Leagues/Other events
Liverpool and Cheshire
The King’s School Chester ‘B’ qualifies on default
Cheshire – Altrincham Grammar School for Boys; King’s School Macclesfield
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys 4-2 King’s School Macclesfield
King’s SM 2-4 Altrincham GS
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys qualifies
South Manchester – Stockport GS A and B; Urmston GS, all at Stockport GS on Monday 25th November
Urmston Grammar School 6-0 Stockport Grammar School ‘A’
Stockport GS ‘B’ 1-5 Urmston GS
Stockport GS ‘A’ 3.5 – 2.5 Stockport GS ‘B’
Urmston Grammar School qualifies
South West London (I) – Twickenham Preparatory School; Wellington College; Ludgrove School (withdrawn)
Twickenham Preparatory School 0-6 Wellington College – Wellington College qualifies
South West London (II)
Qualifiers: Yateley Manor A 3/3; Tormead School 2/3
Others: Yateley Manor B 1/3; St Catherine’s 0/3
Essex and Herts Tuesday 7th November
Qualifiers: Southend High School for Boys 6/6
Others: Saint Thomas More High School Southend-on-Sea; The Bishop Stortford High School ‘A’ and ‘B’
North London League (I) – Forest School vs St John’s Senior School, Monday 27th November
Forest School 4-2 St John’s Senior School
St John’s Senior School 2.5-3.5 Forest School
Forest School qualifies
North London League (II) – North Bridge House; University College School ‘B’
North Bridge House 3.5 – 2.5 University College School ‘B’
University College School ‘B’ 1 – 5 North Bridge House
North Bridge House qualifies
Norfolk and Suffolk – Friday 24th November
Qualifier: Norwich School ‘A’ 6/6
Others: Norwich School ‘B’ 3/6; Woodbridge School ‘A’ 3/6; Woodbridge School ‘B’ 0/6
East Yorkshire qualifier – Hymers College (only entrant)
West Midlands qualifier – cancelled
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys A, B, C all withdrawn
Additional Hampshire qualifier – Bridgemary School A vs B
Bridgemary School A 5-1 Bridgemary School B
Bridgemary School A qualifies
Automatic Qualifiers who have entered
Last year’s finalists
City of London School, Eltham College, Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’, Hampton School; King Edward’s School A, Birmingham; King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford) A, Nottingham High School A, Queen Elizabeth Hospital A; Queen Elizabeth’s Barnet, Reading School, RGS Guildford A; Sir Thomas Rich’s School A; The Judd School, Wilson’s A, Winchester College A; Wirral Grammar School for Boys; Yarm A; Stewart’s Melville College & ESMS Junior School; St Pauls Juniors; St Olave’s Grammar School
Graded over 750
Brighton College; The King’s School Chester A; Mill Hill County High School A; RGS Newcastle; University College School A
Eton Rapidplay
Abingdon School, Bristol GS A; Chepstow A; King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford) B; Eton College; Heathside School; The King’s School, Gloucester; Reigate Grammar School; Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys; Wilson’s B; Winchester College B
ECF Secondary School Rapidplay Chess Tournament
Sunday 17th September 2017 at Eton College, Berkshire
Winners – RGS Guildford; 2nd – Wilson’s School; 3rd – Millfield School; Plate – Norwich School
Qualifiers for National School Regional Stage from the Eton rapidplay
RGS Guildford A, Wilson’s School A, Millfield, Reigate Grammar School, Hampton School A, Mill Hill County High A, Queen Elizabeth Barnet, KEGS Chelmsford A, The Judd School A, Brighton College, Eton College, Simon Langton A, Winchester College B, Bristol Grammar School, Abingdon, Chepstow A, Heathside School, KEGS Chelmsford B, St Paul’s Juniors SW13, Wilson’s School B, King’s School, Gloucester