Category: Achievement

On 18^th April 2026, a young but experienced Essex team travelled to Loughborough for the EPSCA U11 National Championship.

After last year’s fantastic performance, Essex arrived as defending champions, with seven of the 2026 squad already proudly displaying their 2025 trophies at home.

Retaining the title would be a real test—something Essex had never managed before.

This year the tournament had a new format: teams fielded six players plus three reserves, and results were calculated on county v county match points—a first for this event.

Starting with the Reserves, youngsters Sarah and Eva played 4 matches against opponents from Oxfordshire. Sarah won all 4 and Eva won 2. Ezara and Ava also played 2 games each in the Reserve area and all 4 games were won. A brilliant performance in that section of the tournament.

In the main tournament, Essex began against Warwickshire. Kayal scored first to put us 1–0 up, and Aashini and Ava soon extended the lead. Mary then finished her game to make it an unassailable 4–0. Grace and Dyuthi both found the time control tough and were narrowly beaten, but Essex still took the match 4–2.

There was little time to regroup before round two against Cheshire and North Wales, who had started strongly with a 5–1 win over Leicestershire. Once again we struck first, with Aashini giving us an early lead. Ezara then faced a very strong sequence and was checkmated. After a quieter spell, Mary and Kayal both converted to take us into a 3–1 lead, and Dyuthi’s draw secured the match. Grace rounded off the match with an excellent win, earning immediate praise from the opposing manager.

With only eight teams in the Major tournament, the standings formed quickly. After two rounds, just two teams remained on maximum points—setting up a decisive clash with a very strong Oxfordshire side.

For the first time that day we were outgraded on half the boards, so it was especially pleasing to take an early point, with Ezara scoring a fine win. Aashini was next to finish, but a strong opponent edged ahead in the middlegame. With the other counties finishing their matches more quickly, all eyes turned to the top table, where the remaining four games were all finely balanced. Dyuthi was the first to conclude, taking a well-earned draw in a tight game. At that point Grace was pressing in a very promising position, Mary’s game was too complex to call, and Kayal had reached a drawish-looking endgame. Kayal and her opponent agreed and shook hands on a draw. With Grace looking increasingly likely to convert her advantage, Mary realised that a draw in her game would secure the team win. Mary offered; Oxfordshire accepted. When Grace then finished her game in style, Essex sealed a 3.5–2.5 victory and went into the final round in first place.

That set up a final-round showdown with Kent, where a 3–3 draw would be enough to retain the Championship. Kent are historically tough opponents, but not this time. Early wins for Aashini and Dyuthi, and a queen advantage for Kayal, meant the match swung our way quickly. Kayal soon converted and Essex had retained the title. In keeping with the team’s determination all day, Grace, Mary and Ava all fought on to the finish. Grace added another win, and the final 4–2 scoreline meant Essex were champions again—four matches played, four matches won.

So, it was another proud day to be an Essex girl, as the team proved for the second successive year that they are the best in the country. I’m sad to say goodbye to three of our team: Grace, Ezara and Ava all move into senior school this year, so they will be too old for next year’s tournament. Thank you for all your efforts over the years—and you can proudly leave us with the title of double champions!

A special mention for this year’s Board 1, Grace. She has played in all the U11 girls’ tournaments since 2022 across boards 1 to 3, scoring an incredible 13.5 out of a possible 16 points. She will be greatly missed next year, but there are plenty of youngsters coming through who will be eyeing up that impressive record.

Congratulations to the whole team.

This year’s EPSCA Inter Association Under 11 tournament has been revamped to a four round team v team format – the number of players has been cut from 20 to 12, but associations can have two teams.  To allow for the extra round game time has been reduced from 40/10 to 25/10.  A final complication is that there are now two finals – the top three teams in each of the zonals qualify for the Major Final and the next three for the Minor Final.

So it was with some trepidation that on Saturday 24^th January 24 Essex players and families made their way to Fortismere School in Muswell Hill to meet the best from Barnet, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire (two teams), Hillingdon & Ealing (two teams) and Kent.  

The Round One draw was based on the average grading strength of the teams with the top half meeting the bottom half.  This meant that Essex A started against the Herts A team and won  11-1  however the Essex B team had the unenviable task of playing the top seed Kent – the disparity in grading (over 1,100 in one case) gave the inevitable result Essex B lost 2-10 – well done to Dhruv and James (Kent were a little weaker on the lower boards but still tough) for getting the points.

Round two and the roles were reversed. Essex A was now playing Kent, and Essex B had a much easier opponent in Herts B.  The Essex A match was very close throughout with Kent ahead a couple of time only to be pegged back and then Essex ahead with three games to go (good wins for Amaan, Digby and Dyuthi Sri) but then two losses and a final game draw for Mary after a tremendous tussle, and Kent had won 5.5-6.5.  Essex B had an easy win 12-0.

Round 3 and Essex A had another tough opponent in Barnet.  Essex B were rewarded for beating Herts B with a match against Herts A.  Essex A were never behind in their match moving into an early two-point lead and although Barnet fought back valiantly the winning score was secured by Digby with one game to finish.  An excellent win for Eitan and draw for our board one Grace helped to secure a win 7-5.  Essex B has a much tougher game and although they moved into an early lead which was kept until the ninth game to finish, Herts A then won the last three games to pull ahead leading to a loss 5-7.

Round 4.  Essex A now had the Hillingdon & Ealing A team (who were playing well) and to keep it simple Essex B now had the Hillingdon & Ealing B team.  The Essex A match was close throughout with Essex usually just ahead but then being pegged back.  Dyuthi Sri ensured at least a draw with her win, but the winning point was only secured when Sarwayogan won the last match.  A close 7-5 win for the Essex A team.  So, to Essex B’s match – on playing strength, this could have been quite close, however good wins for top board Alexander and Arjun and a draw for Ian and the rest of the team only giving up two other draws meant this ended up as a good win 10.5-1.5.

Overall Essex A (30.5 points) finished in second place behind Kent (33.5 points).  This is the best result for an Essex team in the Under 11 qualifier for many years.  And who was third, well after what was a very favourable draw and favourable results it was Essex B (29.5 points), finishing ahead of two stronger teams and nearly pipping the A team.  These were brilliant results, thoroughly enjoyed by the players and parents. It was a proud manager as the medals were awarded at prize giving.

I should like to give my thanks to all the players for putting on a great performance, to the parents and supporters for all their support and encouragement, to Eva for being our reserve, to John for board stewarding (and Daniel for being a backup).  I would also like to thank Mike Forster for taking this on and Lance Leslie-Smith for controlling the day, and especially I would like to thank Angela Eyton who yet again managed to organise a venue in extremely difficult circumstances. We really appreciate your efforts.

Essex A have qualified for the Major Final in March, and as only one team per association allowed in the Major under EPSCA rules, Essex B will be in the Minor Final.  Well done all! See you in the Final!

Mark McCallum, Essex Under 11 Team Manager