Head to cc-chess.com to check out my new website and to enter my next event - The London Chess Extravaganza in Hammersmith on Saturday 29th June.

May Chess Training

 

I am excited to announce my first online chess events in May-half term . Details are as follows!

• 10am - 2pm online
• Tuesday 1st June and Saturday 5th June
• 90  minutes coaching in small groups with experienced trainers including one former and one current England Junior
• Three training games against opposition of similar strength
• For beginner to 1900 ECF (160 with old grades)

Following the success of my informal Christmas group lessons, I am launching the first training mornings in the May half-term. It promises to be an opportunity to play and learn with like-minded players in a friendly environment. For some of your children, it will be their first experience of online chess. For those with more experience, it will provide valuable practice!

The event will comprise of two parts:

The Coaching

There will be three 30-minute coaching sessions in small groups. Students will cover a variety of important topics including The Endgame and Attacking the King (my personal favourite!). There will be the opportunity for students to complete some exercises after the sessions if they wish. 

The Games

Everyone wants to play chess and after the coaching sessions, players will get the opportunity to practise what they have learnt. Players will be sorted by strength into "Quads" (groups of four) and will play each of the other three players in their group once. The time control will be 15 minutes each - so games should take no more than 30 minutes.

How do I enter my child?

Please fill in this form. The price is £10 for one event or £17 for both days.  Bank details will be provided on entry.

If you have any questions, please email me at conradchesscamp@gmail.com

2nd Orpington Tournament Results - Shlok defends title

Shlok Verma was again victorious in the Bishop section of the 2nd Orpington Junior Tournament and Training Day (OJCTATD!). However, this time he was taken to a play-off finish against Marius Kobler.

Shlok Verma V Marius Kobler - Watched closely by (some of) the coaching team - Victor Jones, Aaravamudhan Balaji and Jacob Waton

We videoed the game (in case it turned violent) and will upload that once we have edited it.

Below are the full  Bishop results

The top four choose a range of poses to celebrate their success

Chess Players deep in thought with Jo - Tournament Director - in the background

The reigning champion of the Knights was promoted to the Bishop section and unable to defend his championship. Instead, Alex was our new winner, scoring 4/4. Ievan was also undefeated, but a half-point bye in the first round meant he missed out on first place!

The top four are joined by a jolly intruder (far-left)

Congratulations to everyone who took part and thanks to the kitchen, the coaches and most of all to Jo for her invaluable work as tournament director. 

Your feedback is critical to improving our events. You can email, call or send hate-mail in the post. Alternatively you can use this form. Feedback is anonymous, but undoubtedly google and the CIA will store your identity forever.

We hope our next event will take place in early December as practice for the London Junior Championships. In the meantime, I will be running weekly clubs in Shortlands (Thursdays), as well as Blackheath and Coney Hall on weekends. Let me know if you are interested. 

If you would like to see more photos of your child at the event, don't hesitate to email me.

2nd Orpington Junior Chess Tournament and Training Day - 27th October

I am pleased to announce that the 2nd Orpington Junior Chess Tournament and Training Day will take place on Friday 27th October, in half-term. You can enter here.

What?

The day will comprise of four rounds of chess, in two sections, and two hours of coaching. The coaching will be targeted at all levels from beginner to grade 140.

Where?

St John's United Reform Church, Lynwood Grove, Orpington, Kent, BR6 0BG. This is the same location as last time. There will be room for parents, who must supervise their children when they are not playing or in a training session, and a small number of other cheering supporters. The sharing of childcare is encouraged as space is limited but we cannot take responsibility for supervision outside of the playing hall and training rooms during tournament games and training sessions.

When?

Friday 27th October. Registration is from 9-9.15am and we will begin at 9.30am. The tournament, including prize-giving, will finish by 4pm.


Who is running it?

Conrad Allison (the writer of this blog) will be running the tournament. I currently run seven chess clubs and also tutor privately. I am fully DBS checked.

I will be assisted by several other DBS checked adults. The coaches will be confirmed shortly, and is likely to include highly-talented juniors who have experience of coaching (Under-18s cannot be DBS checked, but must and will be supervised by adults).

How to enter

Please enter by using this form and the payment details will be emailed to you. Entry is £24 but there is a £5 early-bird discount for entries on or before October 6th.

Will there be food?

Of course!
Homemade soups and sandwiches, as well as hot dogs will be provided by a fully-qualified chef. There will also be a range of cold snacks and hot drinks.


Will there be prizes?

There will be trophies, medals and book prizes. To encourage greater entry from secondary school pupils, there will be a £50 prize for the best secondary school pupil (providing there are at least 6 entries from this group).

Who won last time?

A big congratulations to James Merriman, who won the Bishop section with 4/4 and George Buckles-Motts, who travelled from afar and also won all his games in the Knight section. Amherst Primary are the defending school champions. The standings can be found on this blog.

In the meantime

Why not join ACES Chess Club in Shortlands to improve your chess?

Oxbridge Prep - Tuesday 24th and Sunday 29th - Orpington

Oxbridge Prep - Orpington

Economics, PPE, English, History, Classics/modern languages, general interview and exam support

-Exam prep

-Interview prep

-General Advice

Delivered by recent Oxbridge graduates with knowledge of system, advised by current students (who just sat the exams we are preparing you for).

Tuesday 24^th October

Sunday 29^th October

Tutoring Lead, Economics and PPE
Conrad Allison – Economics BA, St Catharine’s, Cambridge, 2013
History and English Tutor

Ciaran Chillingworth – History BA, St Catharine’s, Cambridge, 2011
Classics Tutor, Oxford lead 
Alex Hardwick – BA Classics (Starred 1st), Queens’, Cambridge, 2013, MSt Classical Languages and Literature, Magdalen College, Oxford (distinction), 2016, Dphil Classical Languages and Literature, Magdalen College, Oxford (first year)
Consulting supervisor 

Jingwen Dai – BA Land Economy (Starred 1st), first-year supervisor

Supported by:

William Jones – Maths BSc, Warwick 2012

Ellie Shaw – English BA, Roehampton, English MA, UCL

Alongside A-Level support.

Contact Conrad Allison

crga.allison@gmail.com

07962960828

Academic and Chess Classes in October half-term

In addition to the October Tournament I shall be running the following academic and chess classes . They will take place in Orpington or possibly Bromley.


Sunday 29th October 


Subjects:
Chess: (all levels)
Maths: GCSE, A-level and 11+
English: GCSE, A-level and 11+
Science: GCSE and interactive sessions for younger children
11+
UCAS, Oxbridge and careers advice

Only classes for which there is sufficient demand will take place.

After these classes, we can all be this suave and confident

Academic classes will be grouped by ability and no larger than eight children.

Chess groups will be no larger than eight children and will be split by ability according to which Institute of Chess Level they are working towards. Children who are not working towards these levels will still benefit from the teaching.

Chess lessons will be interactive, based on past games and endings. They will be the opportunity to play out certain positions for practice (such as Queen and King V King at the lowest level and complex rook endings for more advanced students).

However, only a short 15 minute break will be given for playing chess to ensure that children get the most from the session. If there is demand, I will run mini-competition in the afternoon to satisfy the need for chess.

There is no minimum or maximum strength for the chess classes. If very strong players enter, I shall arrange for stronger coaches to teach.

Please register your child for these chess classes here and academic classes here.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I can be reached on conradchesscamp@gmail.com and am happy to discuss your situation over the phone.


Conrad Chess Camp is recruiting! Get in touch if your a chess trainer or tutor, even if it is something you are trying for the first time. Administrative, strategic and marketing work is also available.

First Orpington Blitz won by Aaravamudhan Balaji

The First (and impromptu) Orpington Blitz was won by Aaravamudhan Balaji, who pipped Jacob Watson by half-a-point after defeating him in the final round. It took place on Friday 13th (Is there bad luck in chess?) October at St John's Church, Lynwood Grove.

The tournament, paired with a scrap piece of paper and an old biro, was admittedly chaotic at times as cries of "Who am I playing?" and "What colour am I?" repeatedly rang out. Our new clocks sustained a battering, but they held their own. The time control was an exciting 5 + 2s.

Pictures to follow.

Congratulations to Aaravamudhan Balaji and Jacob Watson. Congratulations must also go to Aryan Sanka (A student of mine), who scored a solid 3/6 against strong opposition. We will be following his progress closely.

Thanks to everyone who took part.

We hope that our November tournament will be 5 rounds and 10 minutes each on the clock. There will be prizes. Over Christmas I anticipate at least one mega-blitz tournament and an afternoon rated rapid-play. Stay tuned!

Full standings below:

5/6              Aaravamudhan Balaji
4.5/6           Jacob Watson
3/6              Mikey Watson
                   Conrad Allison
                   Balaji xxx
                   Aryan Sanka
2/6              Shaun Pasari
                   Rohan Pasari
1.5/6           Yifan Luo
                   Reuben Moisey
                   Aneesh Batura                      
1/6              Joshua Moisey