News from 2025-26 for Oxfordshire Chess

Witney Rapidplay and 12th Witney Congress

The Witney Rapidplay and the 12th Witney Congress will take place on Sunday 28th September 2025 and the weekend of 8th - 9th November 2025 respectively at Cokethorpe School, Witney OX29 7PU.

You can find all the details you need here:

Witney Rapidplay 28th September 2025:

Entry form: https://form.jotform.com/250511033651342

Information: https://www.witneychess.co.uk/witneyrapid25_information.htm

Witney Congress 8th - 9th November 2025:

Entry form: https://form.jotform.com/250511434795356

Information: https://www.witneychess.co.uk/12thwitney_information.htm

Please note that juniors who have not previously been English Chess Federation members can get their first years Junior Gold membership free of charge: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-membership-rates- and-joining-details/. ECF junior memberships are open to all players aged under 18 on the date the membership is taken out.

We look forward to seeing you!

Draft 3 Fixture Lists for 2025-26

Draft 3 of the fixture lists for ODCL 2025-26 has been published, see link below. This has been agreed by all clubs but is provisional, pending agreement of the divisional structure at the 2025 AGM.

Oxford 4NCL - are you interested in playing?

Hello everyone

Following Tim Dickinson's sad and untimely passing, Jon Manley, Sean Terry and I have decided to honour his legacy by managing Oxford's presence in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL). As you know, Tim invested much of his time, energy and ingenuity for over 20 years to make Oxford a major force in the league. We hope that you will join us in the effort to continue his work.

We are hoping to enter three teams into the 4NCL this year. The competition starts in October and ends in May. It involves 11 games spread over five weekends in the Midlands. We've had a good response so far from existing and new players. If you are keen to join, and have a rating of circa 1500 or above, we would be very grateful if you would spend a few minutes completing the short online form (below) by end August 2025.

Jon Manley shall captain Oxford 1 (Division 1) and Sean Oxford 2 (Division 3 Knights). We are still seeking a volunteer to run Oxford 3 (Division 4), so please contact one of us if you are interested in being involved.

Best wishes

Jon, Sean, Anna