LATEST NEWS

SEPTEMBER 17: The English Chess Federation's new grading site is now live and can be viewed here. Players' grades have been converted to ELO-style four-digit codes. Well done, Jaimie Wilson, who comes in at an impressive 2185! Monthly grade revisions are being brought in from October. The club's thanks are due to Jamie Wood for all his work on compiling our grades for submission.
THE WRITE STUFF ... Phil Clinker, who has had his second book published, and former Bognor star Mandy Hepworth
SEPTEMBER 13: News of two ex-Bognor chess club members - one player from many years back, the other a more recent participant. Phil Clinker has published  the second book in his Sheriff John Withers series, entitled Thurlow Junction. The book  is available on Amazon, and you can follow Phil and his blog on www.philclinkerwrites.com There's also news of Mandy Hepworth, a former Bognor player who represented England: https://britishchessnews.com/2020/03/12/happy-birthday-mandy-hepworth-12-iii-1968/ It is understood she now works as a dietician in Northern Ireland and has a married name of Gilmore. 

​SEPTEMBER 13: A number of players are going to take part in a 'playing at home' tournament while club nights are not possible. The mini all-play-all tournament will be run by Jaimie Wilson. Details

AUGUST 9: A number of players have kept their skills up to scratch by playing graded games courtesy of Jamie Wood. He has made his garden available on Saturday afternoons for chess throughout August. Tables are limited so arrange your opponent and contact Jamie to book  a game.

​JULY 25: The new grades are out. They can be viewed here.

​JULY 25: Players still have the opportunity to play graded games - despite the fact the club premises are closed until further notice. Jamie Wood has kindly made his garden available for Saturday afternoon games throughout August. 
There is a limit of six chess players per Saturday and games need to be booked in advance. Jamie suggests you arrange your opponent in advance too, and book as a couple. To book just phone, text or email Jamie. 

JUNE 23: Bognor took up a challenge from St Maur in France for an online chess match between chess clubs from the twin towns - bringing back memories of Bognor players’ visit to Paris to take part in the St Maur chess tournament almost 25 years ago. Jaimie Wilson, Jamie Wood, John Hargreaves and Adam Rafael Holmes were among those who participated in Tuesday evening’s tournament - with Bognor finishing eighth in the nine-team battle. The 90 minutes of blitz chess was won by St Maur.
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JUNE 21: The chess club has taken up an online chess challenge from the chess club based in Bognor's twin French town, St Maur, Paris. The match takes place this coming Tuesday and all players are invited to participate. The match will take place on lichess. If you want to play, contact either Jamie Wood or Jaimie Wilson as soon as possible! The match revives memories of Bognor chess players travelling to St Maur several years ago to participate in a major weekend tournament involving top players from several countries.

APRIL: Club chess is not available for the foreseeable future - hopefully it won't be too long before we can resume competitive play at  The Bognor Club. Meanwhile, several players have joined an online Bognor Chess Club team - Bogor Brilliancies - on lichess.org. Jaimie Wilson has the full details.

MARCH 27: A number of Bognor Chess Club players are signed up to the chess website lichens - and Jaimie Wilson has organised them collectively under Bognor Brilliancies. The site is easy on the eye and intuitive to use. Apply to join at https://lichess.org/team/bognor-brilliancies After you have been approved, the easiest way to challenge a player is to hover the cursor over their username on the team screen and click on the clashing swords icon that appears. Many thanks to Jaimie Wilson for setting this all up.
Covid-19: club statement
Bognor and Arun Chess Club committee has met to discuss the possible ways forward for us to play over-the-board (OTB) chess. The club is currently unable to meet at The Bognor Club, but the committee remains very hopeful that chess will return to The Bognor Club at some point in the future. 

Since March, some members have been playing chess online, others OTB thanks to Jamie Wood’s garden being available during August, and one or two privately arranged games but because of safety concerns it is appreciated and understood that it will be a long while before some members will contemplate face to face chess and, indeed, one or two have indicated they do not intend to return to the club at all, unfortunately. 

The committee felt, however, that it should attempt to make provision for some form of rated long-play OTB chess if at all possible for those who would like it. We are asking members if they would be interested in playing individual graded games at players' homes. Depending on numbers, a tournament will be organised accordingly, either an all-play all, Swiss or whatever suits. The committee felt that if we were able to do this it would ensure some form of continuity and the means to enjoy competitive chess, albeit on a reduced scale, to help fill the void until we can return properly to the club. 

There are encouraging signs that ‘normal’ chess is on the way to returning. Fareham  and Northumberland chess congresses are still due to take place late-September, albeit with strict protocols in place. Baby steps, obviously, but encouraging nevertheless.

Any club member interested should contact the club:
Not everyone has chess equipment, but these could be loaned out to those who need clocks and chess sets. We would envisage opponents agreeing certain protocols in advance if either player requests it, eg whether to wear face masks, hand sanitiser use etc.

Players are expected to re-register with the ECF to ensure their games are graded. The ECF is up to September 13 giving us the chance to get our ECF subscription back in full when making a purchase from Chess and Bridge - details: https://www.chess.co.uk/ecf-members/

PORTSMOUTH LEAGUE RESULTS

A Team      Div 1      
B Team      Div 2      
C Team      Div 3      

JOIN THE CLUB!

Bognor's chess players enjoy some of the best chess-playing conditions in the country. Accommodation is within the splendid Bognor Club in Sudley Road (currently closed due to Covid-19). There is ample free on-road parking and a subsidised bar. More information.   Contact us.

SUSSEX CHESS NEWS

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THE 2020 edition of Sussex Chess News can be downloaded here ​​
sussex_chess_news_2020.pdf
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Club member Michael Hemming has been putting the Lockdown to good use - by teaching  himself The  Knights  Tour’ ...  in  reverse.  Michael says: "It is  more  difficult  than  you would  think." Michael has entertained members with previous demonstrations of the Knight's Tour - moving a knight around the board, visiting every square exactly once.