Details of adult chess are in the left hand column, junior chess in the right hand column below. Watford teams compete in the national league, local leagues and other over-the-board events, as well as online.
Watford Chess Club's venue is Herts Bowling Club, Bellmount Wood Avenue, Watford, WD17 3BT. Club nights are on Mondays for both adults (7.30 onwards) and juniors (6.0 onwards). The club is assessed as a 'Centre of Excellence' on the English Chess Federation's junior development pathway.
The club's Adjourned Annual General Meeting took place on 16 September. Agenda, and Minutes of the July AGM, appear below with September's draft minutes.
Club nights are from 6.0 until 10.45 (but no obligation to stay late!) on Monday evenings at Herts Bowling Club in West Watford, a comfortable and spacious venue. As well as the playing area, there's normally an overflow lounge area where parents can sit and relax while their progeny checkmate one another. The bar isn't usually staffed but there are three admirable vending machines (cash only) respectively dispensing coffee, cold drinks and nibbles.
Intending new members of all levels and abilities (with the obvious proviso that they know how to play chess) are welcome - but, if it's your first visit, we recommend contacting us first to let us know you're coming. That way, we know to expect you. Club policy is that newcomers are allowed two visits (as from 1 September, one free visit) as guests to sample the atmosphere and decide whether they wish to apply to join the club. This website aims to give full information about the club but, if you find there is anything not covered here, please use the "Contact Us" facility and a committee member will get in touch.
Adults and juniors play competitively. League match programme for 2024-25 is provisionally as follows:
4 Nations Chess League (4NCL) - two teams, dates on fixtures list
Junior 4 Nations Chess League (J4NCL) - to be decided
Hertfordshire League - two teams, dates to 31 January on fixtures list
Hillingdon League - two teams (juniors only), dates to follo
World Chess League.live - one junior 6team (Chess.com)
Online 4NCL - one team (Lichess), dates to 31 December on fixtures list
Online Junior 4NCL - one team (Lichess), dates to 31 December on fixtures list
Please note that the 2023-24 fixtures list will shortly be deleted.
We have to report the sad news that Keith Hylands has died. Keith's membership of Watford Chess Club goes back to at least 2005 and he last played in a club match on 29 April. Keith was never a star player but he was a thoroughly nice guy, genuinely well-liked by those who knew him. As well as club chess, he was a regular at weekend tournaments, most recently playing in the Isle of Wight Congress earlier in April.
We also learn of the death of former club member Edwin Kalerwa. Edwin last played for the club in 2015, having been granted asylum in the UK after fleeing oppression in his home country in Africa. A memorial service is planned, details to follow.
And, giving credence to the notion that deaths happen in threes, we receive confirmation that former club member Simon Charles has also passed away.
4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE
In the 2023-24 season, Watford "A" finished 10th out of 27 teams (+5 =1 -5) in Division 4. This was a disappointing result compared to previous years, largely attributable to the loss of several of the club's middle-ranking players although the playing locations (Warwick and, worse still, Telford) did not help. Consequently we had difficulty raising a "B" team which took part in only one of the five weekends.
For 2024-25, the venues are somewhat better - 9-10 November at Peterborough, 11-12 January at Coventry, 15-16 February and 12-13 April at Peterborough, and 3-5 May at Coventry. As a result, the club will again run a "B" team.
One (long) game per day. Time control in this event is first 40 moves in 90 minutes with another 30 minutes for all remaining moves plus 30-second increments per move starting at move 1.
Above - the 4NCL scene before the action starts
4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE ONLINE
See above. Contact Paul Litttlefair if interested.
HERTFORDSHIRE CHESS LEAGUE
See above. Use "Contact us" tab if interested.
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Roger Lancaster (RL) appointed as Chair
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Ushma Chadha (UC) appointed as minute taker
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It was also agreed that the committee would meet again in September to discuss fee structures and junior member engagement for matches representing the club.
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Free "trial" visits for those wishing to join the club are limited to one visit and thereafter membership
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Future items for consideration can we improve tracking of membership and payment by use of software.
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Membership renewal reminder emails will be sent earlier in the future.
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Recruitment of new members to be reviewed.
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The committee needs to meet to discuss how to attract new members. The Facebook page itself has certainly attracted paid dividends in this space.
JUNIOR CLUB NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2024:
Most Monday evening sessions start with group coaching (6.0 to 6.40) following which training games take place. The length of playing sessions means that we can stage classical games (typically 45' + 15") as well as rapidplay. Some evenings instead have matches against other clubs. We aim to ensure that all rated training games at the club, whether rapidplay or classical, count towards juniors' ratings by the ECF within 7 days of being played.
14 August 2023 (see above) saw a departure from normal club nights with WIM Natasha Regan and NI Matt Ball giving a presentation of "Zwischenzug - a comprehensive guide to intermediate moves" based on their Chessable course. Go to https://www.chessable.com/zwischenzug-a-comprehensive-guide-to-intermediate-moves/course/139623/ for an 18-minute preview video. The session was targeted at players in the 1200-1600 bracket as those below/above that range might find it too advanced/basic
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Ramsey Dairi (below) became joint British u-12 champion (and sole English u-12 champion) with 6/7 at Leicester in July 2023
4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE
See opposite.
JUNIOR 4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE
The over-the-board Junior 4NCL has not operated since the 2021-22 season, when Watford Juniors finished sixth in the top division. If and when J4NCL restarts, the intention is that Watford Juniors will compete again.
Results of Club Rapidplay, 29 July
Final Ranking crosstable after 5 Rounds
Rk. | Name | Rtg | FED | 1.Rd | 2.Rd | 3.Rd | 4.Rd | 5.Rd | Pts. | |
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1 | PATEL Ananya | 1454 | ENG | 6w1 | 4b1 | 2w1 | 3b½ | 5w1 | 4,5 | |
2 | CHAN Harry | 1020 | ENG | 10w1 | 6b1 | 1b0 | 5w1 | 3w1 | 4 | |
3 | PATEL Aashna | 1295 | ENG | 8b1 | 5w½ | 7b1 | 1w½ | 2b0 | 3 | |
4 | LATH Shlok | 1065 | ENG | 9b1 | 1w0 | 5b0 | 8w1 | 7b1 | 3 | |
5 | SHAH Prem | 1085 | ENG | 7w1 | 3b½ | 4w1 | 2b0 | 1b0 | 2,5 | |
6 | AVALA Hithesh | 891 | ENG | 1b0 | 2w0 | 8b1 | 9w1 | 10b0 | 2 | |
7 | DAVE Akyra | 820 | ENG | 5b0 | 9w1 | 3w0 | 10b1 | 4w0 | 2 | |
8 | KASHYAP Vivaan | 826 | ENG | 3w0 | 10b1 | 6w0 | 4b0 | 11w1 | 2 | |
9 | BEHL Shiven | 699 | ENG | 4w0 | 7b0 | 10w1 | 6b0 | -½ | 1,5 | |
10 | BAHL Taran | 511 | ENG | 2b0 | 8w0 | 9b0 | 7w0 | 6w1 | 1 | |
11 | CHAN Marie | 0 | ENG | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | 8b0 | 0 |
Results of Club Rapidplay, 24 June
Final Ranking crosstable after 4 Rounds
Rk. | Name | Rtg | FED | 1.Rd | 2.Rd | 3.Rd | 4.Rd | Pts. | |
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1 | SALVI Amit (adult) | 1634 | IND | 10b1 | 7w1 | 2w1 | 6b1 | 4 | |
2 | SRIRAM Gautam | 1448 | ENG | 5b1 | 8w1 | 1b0 | 7w1 | 3 | |
3 | KHANDELWAL Akshaj | 1480 | ENG | -½ | 14b1 | 4b½ | 9b1 | 3 | |
PATEL Aashna | 1281 | ENG | -½ | 16b1 | 3w½ | 11b1 | 3 | ||
5 | ANAND Reyansh | 678 | ENG | 2w0 | 15b1 | 13w1 | 8w1 | 3 | |
6 | PATEL Ananya | 1448 | ENG | -½ | 12b1 | 9w1 | 1w0 | 2,5 | |
7 | BANSAL Ayush | 1081 | ENG | 13b1 | 1b0 | 14w1 | 2b0 | 2 | |
DAVE Akyra | 853 | ENG | 11b1 | 2b0 | 16w1 | 5b0 | 2 | ||
9 | PANKHURST Dylan | 0 | ENG | 18w1 | 10w1 | 6b0 | 3w0 | 2 | |
10 | CHAN Harry | 883 | ENG | 1w0 | 9b0 | 18w1 | 17b1 | 2 | |
11 | AVALA Hithesh | 664 | ENG | 8w0 | 18b1 | 17b1 | 4w0 | 2 | |
12 | ESPASANDIN Maximo | 408 | ENG | 15w1 | 6w0 | -½ | -0 | 1,5 | |
13 | KANNADASAN Kirtika | 621 | ENG | 7w0 | 17b0 | 5b0 | 15b1 | 1 | |
LUAN Zorian | 426 | ENG | 17b1 | 3w0 | 7b0 | -0 | 1 | ||
BAHL Taran | 0 | ENG | 12b0 | 5w0 | -1 | 13w0 | 1 | ||
RATHOREE Anaiya | 0 | ENG | -1 | 4w0 | 8b0 | -0 | 1 | ||
17 | DAVIDS Joshua | 296 | ENG | 14w0 | 13w1 | 11w0 | 10w0 | 1 | |
18 | WALLER Lawrence | 305 | ENG | 9b0 | 11w0 | 10b0 | -½ | 0,5 |
Below - Advait Keerthi Kumar, London u-10 champion (+6 =1 -0, December 2022)
HILLINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE - JUNIOR DIVISION
Two Watford teams played in this competition in 2023-24, the second team aiming to give match experience to our newer and younger juniors The "A" team finished as runners-up (+7 =0 -3) while the "B" team finished fifth of the six competing teams - Harrow and Uxbridge provided the opposition - with a record of +3 =0 -7..
Results of WLCA Rapidplay, June
Final Ranking crosstable after 6 Rounds
Rk. | Name | Rtg | 1.Rd | 2.Rd | 3.Rd | 4.Rd | 5.Rd | 6.Rd | Pts. | |
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1 | DESHPANDE Anay | 985 | 16b1 | 18w1 | 3w½ | 8b1 | 10w1 | 4b1 | 5,5 | |
2 | NEDUNGADI Vedant | 1017 | 20b1 | 5w0 | 14b1 | 9w1 | 3w1 | 6b1 | 5 | |
3 | AGGARWAL Aashi | 1172 | 15b1 | 4w1 | 1b½ | 5w1 | 2b0 | 9w1 | 4,5 | |
4 | DUDHE Arjun | 1230 | 12w1 | 3b0 | 13w1 | 7b1 | 8w1 | 1w0 | 4 | |
5 | ASTRAKHANTCEVA Elizaveta | 998 | 13w1 | 2b1 | 10w1 | 3b0 | 6w0 | 12b1 | 4 | |
6 | YEO Alex | 976 | 9b0 | 19w1 | 18b1 | 11w1 | 5b1 | 2w0 | 4 | |
7 | AHMED Zaydan | 763 | 8b½ | 15w½ | 21b1 | 4w0 | 11b1 | 10b1 | 4 | |
8 | SATHEESWARAN Kavish | 1024 | 7w½ | 12b1 | 11w1 | 1w0 | 4b0 | 15w1 | 3,5 | |
9 | BEKAKHMET Tauyekel | 936 | 6w1 | 10b0 | 17w1 | 2b0 | 13w1 | 3b0 | 3 | |
10 | TSE-FONG-TAI Lucas | 872 | 17b1 | 9w1 | 5b0 | 15w1 | 1b0 | 7w0 | 3 | |
11 | GADGIL Max | 408 | 19b1 | 21w1 | 8b0 | 6b0 | 7w0 | -1 | 3 | |
12 | BELLARY Soham | 836 | 4b0 | 8w0 | 19b1 | 21w1 | 18b1 | 5w0 | 3 | |
13 | ALI Ismael | 695 | 5b0 | 20w1 | 4b0 | 19w1 | 9b0 | 18w1 | 3 | |
14 | HUSSAIN Ibrahim | 605 | 18b0 | 16w1 | 2w0 | 17b0 | 21b1 | 20w1 | 3 | |
15 | ADAMS Billy | 785 | 3w0 | 7b½ | 16w1 | 10b0 | 17w1 | 8b0 | 2,5 | |
16 | HABBA Maxim | 665 | 1w0 | 14b0 | 15b0 | -1 | 20w1 | 17b½ | 2,5 | |
17 | HABBA Sebastian | 552 | 10w0 | -1 | 9b0 | 14w1 | 15b0 | 16w½ | 2,5 | |
18 | TSE-FONG-TAI Oscar | 582 | 14w1 | 1b0 | 6w0 | 20b1 | 12w0 | 13b0 | 2 | |
19 | HUSSAIN Amira | 413 | 11w0 | 6b0 | 12w0 | 13b0 | -1 | 21w1 | 2 | |
20 | BAJAJ Anay | 316 | 2w0 | 13b0 | -1 | 18w0 | 16b0 | 14b0 | 1 | |
21 | MUTHUKUMAR Kavin M | 511 | -1 | 11b0 | 7w0 | 12b0 | 14w0 | 19b0 | 1 |
Jennifer Hurrell presents Ernest Karumazondo, joint 2019 winner with Andrew Stone, with the Price Cup
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PLAY AN AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
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Also embedded in the updated article is now a video of how to get the best of Arena and Leela at home.
USEFUL CONTACTS AND WEBSITES |
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Watford Chess Club email address |
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (allow up to 2 days for reply) |
English Chess Federation |
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Hertfordshire Chess Association |
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Hertfordshire Chess League results |
http://ccgi.stevelaw0.plus.com/chess-results/ |
Hertfordshire Schools Chess Association |
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4 Nations Chess League (incl. J4NCL) |
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Tournament chess results (main site for this) |
http://chess-results.com/Default.aspx?lan=1 |
ARCHIVE:
Article in Watford Observer, 19 February: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/18247132.
watford-chess-club-looking-sponsors-ahead-international-tournament
Club rapidplay, 30 December 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/Tnr501649.aspx?lan=1
3rd Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 29 July 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr457143.aspx?lan=1
Club rapidplay, 8 July 2019, results at http://chess-results.info/tnr453784.aspx?lan=1
Price Cup (2018-9 club championship), October 2018 to June 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/
2nd Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 27 May 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr435032.aspx?lan=1
Club rapidplay, 13 August 2018, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr374277.aspx?lan=1
1st Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 30 July 2018, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr373197.aspx?lan=1