News from 2025-26 for Oxfordshire Chess

Season 2025-2026

Dear Chess Community,

Our new season is upon us and as is custom there are a few points to both remind and of course inform new captains about.

Firstly I would ask that Team Captains ensure that they are able to login and are certain that all details are correct for their teams and their own contact details. If there are any errors or late changes needed then do let us know ASAP if you are unable to alter these.

Secondly to remind and inform captains that team sheets should record the ratings of players as per the rules of the league and to ensure that team selection orders are correct. In recent seasons we have had fewer than 2 or 3 issues out of all the matches. This is monitored to ensure integrity throughout the competition.

However as at 1 October, the ECF ratings database is blocking rating requests from the web server. The ECF is aware and is trying to understand why this is happening, and remove the blockage. Meanwhile, captains should obtain ratings directly from the ECF ratings database at the link below. Additionally, the match results will not show ratings until the link is reinstated.

Thirdly to refamiliarize yourselves with the rules. The only major change to the league rules relates to time controls: Division 3 stays at 65 minutes + 10 second increment, and the reinstated Division 4 also uses this control. Additionally, regarding the starring of players, for which an email will be sent to club secretaries, where teams in Divisions 1 and 2 will star 4 players while outside of these the starring will be for 3 players. There remains no starring for the lowest ranked team of a club.

Finally, I would ask that for this season that if you have any league queries to email me and copy in Roger Thetford.

As many of you may be aware I was unwell for much of the summer and I wish to thank both Roger Thetford and Sara Sengenberger for their efforts and work; for example to arrange the recent AGM and to ensure that the season is ready, and their excellent coordination since, in being patient with me. They have been remarkable and I am certainly in their debt for their stepping in to organise where I would normally have been.

Best wishes for a great season.

John

League secretary OCA

Oxford 3 in 4NCL

Hi, I have taken over captaincy of the Oxford 3 team in the 4NCL. If you are interested in playing for Oxford 3 and haven't been emailed by me then email me at [email protected]. I have 5 players at the moment so need some more. For information we play in Division 4 of the 4NCL, a total of 11 rounds. The timing is something like 90 minutes for the first 40 moves with a 30 second increment, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game (this is from memory I couldn't find the exact timings). The matches are played on 5 weekends, the first being on the 18th/19th October, with one game on the Saturday one on the Sunday. You don't need to play both days if you can only manage one. The opposition varies but players typically have a rating of 1200-1900. The 4NCL website is - https://4ncl.co.uk/

ODCL Fixture Lists for 2025-26

Yesterday's AGM approved the proposed divisional structure. The divisions have therefore had their provisional status removed and the fixture lists can be regarded as official.

The uploaded fixtures contain just two changes from draft 3, with the home matches for Banbury 3 against Witney 3 moving to 8 January and against Wantage 3 moving to 12 March (as advised to the captains last month).

Witney Rapidplay and 12th Witney Congress

The Witney Rapidplay and the 12th Witney Congress will take place on Sunday 28th September 2025 and the weekend of 8th - 9th November 2025 respectively at Cokethorpe School, Witney OX29 7PU.

You can find all the details you need here:

Witney Rapidplay 28th September 2025:

Entry form: https://form.jotform.com/250511033651342

Information: https://www.witneychess.co.uk/witneyrapid25_information.htm

Witney Congress 8th - 9th November 2025:

Entry form: https://form.jotform.com/250511434795356

Information: https://www.witneychess.co.uk/12thwitney_information.htm

Please note that juniors who have not previously been English Chess Federation members can get their first years Junior Gold membership free of charge: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membership-rates- and-joining-details/. ECF junior memberships are open to all players aged under 18 on the date the membership is taken out.

We look forward to seeing you!

Oxford 4NCL - are you interested in playing?

Hello everyone

Following Tim Dickinson's sad and untimely passing, Jon Manley, Sean Terry and I have decided to honour his legacy by managing Oxford's presence in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL). As you know, Tim invested much of his time, energy and ingenuity for over 20 years to make Oxford a major force in the league. We hope that you will join us in the effort to continue his work.

We are hoping to enter three teams into the 4NCL this year. The competition starts in October and ends in May. It involves 11 games spread over five weekends in the Midlands. We've had a good response so far from existing and new players. If you are keen to join, and have a rating of circa 1500 or above, we would be very grateful if you would spend a few minutes completing the short online form (below) by end August 2025.

Jon Manley shall captain Oxford 1 (Division 1) and Sean Oxford 2 (Division 3 Knights). We are still seeking a volunteer to run Oxford 3 (Division 4), so please contact one of us if you are interested in being involved.

Best wishes

Jon, Sean, Anna