The Initial Idea

The B&DCL Summer Chess League was run for the first time in 2022 to provide an opportunity to play relaxing, social chess in a friendly outdoor setting.

The Highcliffe, Ringwood, Southbourne & Wimborne clubs took part last year.

Format

To maintain maximum flexibility, the formalities will be kept to a minimum – There are no rules, no restriction on the number of players in each team, no set time controls and due to the possibility of outside interference (from the weather and other non-chess players), the games will not be rated.

These are the suggested guidelines …

• Each team to play each other once or twice depending on the number of team entrants.
• It is hoped many of these matches can be played outdoors, perhaps in pub gardens … weather permitting.
• It is expected that all matches to be held on a Monday evening across June & July as this is when the venues should be less busy.
• There will be no restriction on the number of players in each team. Match captains to agree in advance.
• Guest players from other clubs are permitted to take part and players can also play for more than one team as it is the playing rather than winning that counts.
• All games will be unrated.
• Match captains to agree on the logistics of each match but suggest a start time of around 7.15pm and a time control of 45 minutes + 15 second increments to avoid any daylight issues (and to help juniors play on a school night).

Last Summer’s Matches & Results

There was a friendly atmosphere at all the matches and a great opportunity to socialise before, during and after the games.

Going into the final round of matches both Wimborne & Highcliffe had a chance of winning the league and they produced an exciting high scoring draw meaning Wimborne came out on top!

Home Team	Result	Away Team	Date
Wimborne	4 – 3	Southbourne	Mon 26th Jun 2023
Highcliffe	6½ – 3½	Ringwood	Mon 26th Jun 2023
Southbourne	4 – 4	Highcliffe	Mon 10th Jul 2023
Ringwood	3½ – 4½	Wimborne	Tue 11th Jul 2023
Wimborne	5½ – 5½	Highcliffe	Mon 24th Jul 2023
Ringwood	4 – 2	Southbourne	Tue 25th Jul 2023

All match reports can be found here … https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/league_comp/119460/efixtures

Last Summer’s Final League Table

Team	Play	Won	Draw	Lost	For	Against	Diff	Points
Wimborne	3	2	1	0	14	12	2	5
Highcliffe	3	1	2	0	16	13	3	4
Ringwood	3	1	0	2	11	13	-2	2
Southbourne	3	0	1	2	9	12	-3	1

Club secretaries will be contacted very shortly asking if their club would like to enter a team in this summer’s competition.