In order to celebrate the resumption of OTB play Hendon, the only recognised Middlesex League Champions for 2019-20, have agreed to play an 8board match against the Rest of Middlesex on 30th September 2021. The match not only celebrates the intention to return to OTB play but is also one to congratulate Hendon moving to a new venue – The Holly Bush in Hampstead. It has been sometime since a Club has been based in Hampstead, the Hampstead Community Centre was the home of Hampstead Chess Club before their dissolution.
One criterion for the respective
teams is that the grades cover 1800-2300 range so that Rest of Middlesex do not
have an unfair advantage! For this cycle at least the Rest of Middlesex also
need to consider the following: Members of the team are comprised of –
a) Individuals
whose Club is affiliated to MCCA who are committed to playing OTB
b) Individuals
whose Club is not affiliated to MCCA but is in Middlesex catchment area and
they are committed to playing OTB, e.g., Hillingdon League, London League,
Thames Valley League, etc.
c) Individuals
who are unaffiliated to any Club but satisfy County Championship Eligibility
rules
The idea of the League Champions
playing the Rest is something other sports and Chess Associations have
regularly engaged in but is new to Middlesex. It is hoped that the idea will be
an ongoing one and matches will be played annually. If so, it can potentially
replace some of the defunct competitions once run by the MCCA, e.g., Winter’s
and Ralph Barnett Trophies – Middlesex Team Competition and MCCA match against
London League.