Leicestershire & Rutland Chess Association is the body recognised by the English Chess Federation as being responsible for chess in the city of Leicester and the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The Association is affiliated to the Midland Counties Chess Union.
Treasurer's Report & Accounts Full article
All matches in the 2023–24 League season have now been played. Congratulations to Wigston 1 for winning Division 1, thus ending Syston 1's winning streak.
Congratulations also to the other Division winners:
- Division 2: Wigston 2
- Division 3: Market Harborough 2
- Division 4: Wigston 4
- Division 5: Wigston 5
Online Entry is now open for an LRCA organised 6 round ECF rated rapidplay (Sections: Open, Major (U1950), Inter (U750), Minor (U1550) and Improvers (U1300) to be held at The Cedars Academy, Birstall on Saturday 13th July.
The 'Atkins' Standardplay congress also finally returns this year and will be held on 27th-29th September also at The Cedars Academy. Full details and online entry to follow
Once on the results/pairings site you can navigate between sections by using the top left drop-down menu
All clubs and members are invited to the Leicestershire and Rutland Chess Association 2024 Annual General. The meeting will be held at the Regent Club, Regent Road Leicester on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 at 7:30PM.
Entries are invited for the 2024 tournaments. Please see the article in the County Championships section
Entries are invited for the 2024 County Individual tournaments. There are 4 separate events: The County Championship (open to all) and the Major (U1750) will be held at the Wigston Chess Club. The Challengers (U1900) and the Minor (U1600) will be held at Anstey Chess Club. The tournaments will be controlled by Andy Morley. Entries should be sent to Paul Mottram. See the attached entry form for all of the tournament details. Full article
Martin Burrows reports:
The Leicestershire team of Kajus Mikalajunas, Jack Pilley, Stefan Savic and Linday Pyun took part in the ECF online junior county championship on Saturday 27th January, held on the Tornelo platform. Before the chess could commence we had to deal with the various fair play requirements, which caused a delayed start as some frustrating technical issues with cameras, screen sharing and pairings were resolved.
When we finally got going it was a shaky start as, despite four battling performances, we went down 4-0 to a strong Warwickshire team that won the event. Undeterred, the team rallied strongly in the next round against Middlesex. Kajus and Jack won convincingly, and Stefan and Lindsay managed to turn round difficult positions to also register wins. After several twists and turns Kent beat us 3-1 in the 3rd round. A final round 4-0 win against Hampshire left the team in 3rd place overall.
A professor saved a man's life after he suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of a chess match in Leicester.
Richard Hanscombe, 77, collapsed during the match at Braunstone Civic Centre on 11 October, prompting the University of Leicester's Prof Simon Gay to begin CPR.
It was not until 35 minutes after he collapsed that medical staff could detect a heartbeat.
Mr Hanscombe's wife, Paulette, described him as a "miracle man".
Prof Gay, a trained GP and head of the university's medical school, recognised the danger and began CPR.
Mr Hanscombe was then taken to Glenfield Hospital by ambulance, where he was hooked up to a ventilator.
While there, his family were told his brain had little chance of survival and hospital staff began to remove his breathing apparatus.
But Mr Hanscombe suddenly showed signs of life - kicking his legs out and trying to open his eyes.
"One minute we were crying our eyes out, and the next we were jumping for joy," Mrs Hanscombe said.
As his breathing apparatus was being removed, Mr Hanscombe suddenly kicked his legs out and tried to open his eyes
Mr Hanscombe said: "I'm a glass half full sort of person and I just get on with things, so even though I'd felt a little unwell that evening, I decided to play chess anyway.
"I'm pleased I did because if it hadn't happened where it did, Simon wouldn't have been there to help and I wouldn't be here today.
"I owe Simon my life for what he did and I'm extremely grateful."
Mr Hanscombe, who spent nearly a month in hospital, has also overcome liver and lung cancer, as well as a life-threatening sepsis episode in recent years.
"He's the man with nine lives, but we're not complaining," his wife added.
Prof Gay said he was "very pleased" to have been able to help.
"This just goes to show how important having basic CPR skills can be," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to the next time Richard and I are both playing chess together - it will certainly have a bit more meaning to it." Full article
The charity Chess in School and Communities (CSC) is looking to develop school chess within Leicestershire and can provide training and remuneration to chess players interested in helping schools with chess. This can either by running a chess club for the school or teaching a chess lesson within the school day.
The government has for the first-time allocated funding to promote chess in schools. Schools who meet the criteria have been allowed to bid for a grant on £2000 to promote chess. Schools are currently being informed if they have had their grant awarded.
There are two ways that you may be able to help:
Do you have a child \ grandchild already at a school who you think would want a chess club in some form? If we have a contact this way it is more likely to get something setup than just cold calling the school reception. CSC are interested in any school willing to setup a chess club, whether they receive the grant or not. For example, they will provide free chess sets and advice for schools where the school will be getting one of their teachers to run the club and will also provide a training course for the school.
Are you interested in doing any work as a tutor? The pay is £42.50 per hour plus travel expenses if any, and there is a good training course you can go on. Also, you would have the opportunity to shadow an existing teacher (probably me) in a school before starting your club.
If you are interested in knowing more about any of the above, please let Alan Agnew know (tel: 07434 286893 email: alanagnew_uk@yahoo.co.uk)