News from 2025-26 for Oxfordshire Chess

Next OCA AGM: Tuesday 15th September 2026 at 7.30pm

The OCA AGM will next occur on Tuesday 15th September 2026 at 7.30pm. This will be at the Rose Hill Methodist Church, the home venue of Cowley.

As usual, this will be the meeting to determine any regulation changes and to confirm any changes recommended by the committee at the end of season meeting we had in May 2026.

I look forward to welcoming all clubs at this meeting. Should your club be unable to attend, it is essential that you let me know through your club representative so that any voting intentions on certain issues can be provided (such as the vote on the recommendation by the committee as to the league design for next season).

ODCL Fixture Lists for 2026-27

The only comments I received on draft 2 of the fixture list were "OK for us", so I've loaded those fixtures to the provisional divisions, pending confirmation by the AGM of the divisional structure.

Casual Chess in Witney

It's that time of year again!

Please join us for a casual day of chess at The Como Lounge in Witney, 
on Saturday, the 15th of August.
 
What: Casual games of chess
Where: Como Lounge, 34 Market Square, Witney OX28 6BB
When: 12pm - late, 15/8/2025
 
All chess-players, friends and family are welcome.
 
There are currently road works taking place in Witney. I think all the 
local buses will still stop in the centre, near the Como Lounge.
Travelling from Oxford, you can take the S1 bus.
There should also be plenty of free parking nearby too.
 
I will be getting there at about 12 but feel free to come along and 
leave whenever you like.
 
There is reasonably priced food and drink available.
 
Bring a chess set and chess clock if you can. (or download the free 
chess.com clock app onto a smartphone).
 
I look forward to seeing you there.
 
Gareth Stevens
					
Link: https://fb.me/e/brEHjJtoE
				

Individual Prizes 2025-2026

An error strewn list has been removed as a false assumption about the eligibility was made. I have checked and verified the following list to be accurate.
Division one and two required a minimum of 8 games played, while Division three and four required a minimum of 7 games played. Then the best percentage scorer is awarded the divisional prize.
Additionally, a prize for best junior with the best percentage meeting the criteria across all divisions is awarded a further prize.

Division One: Stuart White City 1 7.5/8 93.75
Division Two: Owen Ngai Abingdon 8.5/10 85
Division Three: Andrey Tishkin Bicester Ashton 1 8.5/9 for 94.44
Division Four: Bendek Varga Banbury 3 6/9 66.67
Junior: Owen Ngai Abingdon 8.5/10 85

End of Season Round-Up

1. Season Round-Up: The season 2025-2026 has concluded with the following results
Division One Winners - University 1;
Division Two Winners - University 2;
Division Three Winners - University 3;
Division Four Winners - Bicester 2
Frank Wood Shield - Bicester Pheonix
Any games you wish to submit for consideration of best game prize, please email to me by July 31st 2026

2. For Season 2026-2027, the OCA committee will make the recommendation to AGM for the structure of the league to be 8, 8, 8, 6 - Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will be played home and away for 14 games; Division 4 will have 3 rotations of games so 15 matches. Reasons for this recommendation will be made in full to the AGM but briefly it was felt that this structure would address some concerns from players about the reduction in games experienced in the lower divisions.
Additionally, Division 4 would be retained over 4 boards.
Finally, the Rapid-play time control adopted in the Frank Wood Shield will be maintained for the coming season.

3. Volunteers
The OCA committee seeks to recruit a County Captain for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Anyone interested should contact either the outgoing captain who can answer any immediate/handover questions (Tony Burcham) or myself.
Additionally, in order to future proof the committee, we are keen for any volunteer to identify themselves at any time.
There will be roles upcoming in future seasons that shadowing/preparing would be useful to have some people ready and able to stand in when required, as well as widening the pool of people who can bring fresh ideas to the committee.

Oxon A record their first win of the season

A strong Oxon team convincingly beat Bucks 15.5 - 4.5 on Saturday 24th January in the Chiltern Chess league to record their first win of the 25/26 season. It was great to see so many strong players representing the county, so thanks to everyone for your availability. This proves what we are capable of as a county chess contingent and what should really be the norm, rather than the exception. Thanks to all who helped out setting up and putting away the equipment, it really does make a difference. We have a few weeks break now before our next fixture, which is a home fixture against Hants, to be played on Saturday 14th March 26. I will be in again touch closer to the time.

Don't forget the Kidlington Chess Congress takes place this coming weekend Sat 31st Jan and Sun 1st Feb. There is still time to enter.

Oxfordshire Junior Chess Tournament Results 3rd / 4th Jan 2026

The Oxon Junior Chess Trials and Championships were held at Cumnor Primary School on the weekend of 3rd /4th Jan 2026. Despite the chilly weather, we had almost 100 entries over the four sections: U9, U11, U13, U15/18. It was lovely to meet so many new, young players, as well as to see the top junior talent in the county contest the top places.

Congratulations to our 2026 Oxfordshire junior champions:

U9: 1st Nicholas Tanuwidjaja, 2nd Yuqi Liu, 3rd Gregory Schlackow

U11: 1st Anna Gray, 2nd Yechu Chen, 3rd Edmond Du

U13: 1st Aden Kennedy, 2nd Gavin Wang, 3rd Kadhir Cholan

U15 champions: Daniel Udovenko and Jan Murawski

U18 champion: Kenneth Hobson

U18G champion: Shambavi Hariharan

Best performing primary schools: Dragon and MCS *

Best performing secondary school: Cherwell *

*based on top four scores of players, no single school can win the prize twice in consecutive years.

Player lists and results can be found via the following links:

U9s U11s U13s U15/18s

Special thanks to the welcoming Cumnor Primary School for hosting and to:

- arbiters / controllers: Joe Conlon, Alex Conlon, Andrew Varney, Zoe Varney, Craig Miller, Matt Bevis

- U9, U11, U11G captains: David Scott, Dan Schmidt Valle, Julie Gray

- front desk and bookstall: Ola Murawska

- general help: Juliette Sherwood, Fulya Markham

- Ojays coach: Joe Cossins-Smith.