Surrey v Essex under-2050 county match, Cheam Parochial Rooms, 17 October 2026

My favourite form of chess is the county match. It starts at a leisurely time on a Saturday afternoon. We play a classical time control which allows some real thought. I find evening league chess too busy and error-prone and 4NCL rather pressurised due to not wanting to let down one’s team-mates. Also, to be honest, I love to drop by at the La Petite Boulangerie opposite the Parochial Rooms for a delightful taste of France before every game.

In the first stage of the county championships, Surrey must compete against the other Southern Counties Chess Union teams – Essex, Kent and Middlesex. These are usually tough scraps against regular opponents. If we reach the national stage, we usually face the mighty teams from Yorkshire or Lancashire. Winning the county championships is quite an honour. There are different levels: Open, under-2050, under-1850, under-1650, under-1450, so players of all strengths can participate.

The main challenge for SCCU matches is to get all the players to the venue, which means getting across the other side of London – no mean task. Surrey won this closely fought match 9-7 with everybody present. Thanks to Surrey captain Graham Alcock for using his organisational ability to get the team together. The other county match played on the same day saw Middlesex lose 9-7 to Kent due to three players defaulting, which could have reversed the result of the match.

This game entertained the spectators so I promised to annotate it. I need to remind myself from time to time that I was once a decent player.