Description
Book Synopsis'Southern Counties Chess Union - a retrospective' is an important book that makes a significant contribution to English chess history. It is informative and compelling; an engaging piece of work that sometimes evokes a frontier spirit, where those seeking to advance their plans of a chess union are caught between known and unknown worlds.This book is a comprehensive, authoritative account of major episodes in the first 125 years of the Southern Counties Chess Union (SCCU) in England. Each page resonates with the author's knowledge of chess history and his research. In the book you will discover:* an overview of English chess in the mid- to late-nineteenth century* why counties in the south of England formed the first chess union* steps undertaken to realise and strengthen the union* essential facts and statistics pertaining to the SCCU's primary over-the-board competitions.
Table of ContentsPreface 9Part 1: Opening - Union Historical Facts 17I. Origins: Formation of the Southern Counties Chess Union 19II. Development: Formation of South of England Chess Associations 45III. The Challenge: 1893 Northern Counties vs. Southern Counties Contest 156IV. North vs. South the Return: The Championship of Southern Counties 1893-94 166V. The Legacy: SCCU Inter-County matches 174VI. Conclusion: Transformation 179Part 2: Middle - Union Competition Facts 193I. SCCU Union Competition Summary 195II. SCCU Competition Timeline 197III. SCCU Competition History 198Part 3: End - Union Competition Stats 221I. Union Competition Stats Summary 223II. Performance Tables by Competition 229III. Competition Performance Tables by County 241IV. County Performance Tables 251Appendices 303Appendix I: Account of 1st meeting of South of England Chess Associations and Clubs 304Appendix II: The Constitution of the Southern Counties (1893) 308Appendix III: Rules of the Southern Counties Chess Union for the Regulation of County Matches (1893-94) 310Appendix IV: How to resolve the problem of Adjudications? 314Appendix V: Revised List of Adult Team Champions 1893 to 1924 320Appendix VI: Missing Data 323Afterword 328SCCU Timeline 339Bibliography 348Results Sources 378
