County Championships
23 September 2024
Each year Middlesex participates in the County Championships. They have two stages:
- Regional or Union Stage. Middlesex enter various teams in the SCCU County Championships which are run by Southern Counties Chess Union. These league competitions act as a qualifier for the National Stage and run from October to March.
- National Stage. A knock-out competition run by the English Chess Federation (ECF) between April and July. Teams who qualify for this stage are drawn against teams from other regional Unions.
The ECF’s League Management System and the SCCU’s county championship website provide detailed and up-to-date information about these competitions.
How to play county chess
Why not play chess for your county?
Eligibility for MCCA’s county teams is based on your ECF rating and where you live or work or were born or educated. Membership of any chess club affiliated to a county also qualifies you!
All matches take place on a Saturday.
County chess is an important part of the chess pyramid. Its benefits include:
- a good quality game of classical chess
- playing an opponent of similar standard
- playing in a team with people you may have played against in league or tournament chess - the equivalent of golf's Ryder Cup
- an opportunity to graduate to a higher-rated team, where you can demonstrate your improvement and continue to test yourself against your peers
