Fixtures 2019/20
The Hindhu deities Krishna and Radha playing chaturanga
Most modern scholars agree that chess originated in South Asia having evolved from earlier games notably the Indian game of chaturanga sometime between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD. This game spread to Persia where it was known as chatrang and after the Muslim conquest of the Persian Sasanian Empire in 651AD the game was adopted by the Arab world as shatranj. From here it spread by the Moors to their empire in North Africa, Sicily and Spain and by merchants to the Byzantine empire and the Viking and Carolingian empires of Northern and Western Europe. Meanwhile Bhuddist pilgrims and Silk Road traders took the game to the Far East where the modern variants in Thailand makruk and in Cambodia ouk-chatrang are considered the closest to the original Hindhu game.
In China it is argued the game evolved into xiangqi although this game is also heavily influenced by the Chinese game Go and other earlier board games.
In Japan the earliest forms of shogi were undoubtedly based upon chatrang although shogi has evolved radically differently than chess.
It was in Europe that the game evolved into classical chess as played across the world today.
The two most famous classical chess players to have emerged from South Asia are Mir Sultan Khan (1905-66) the British Champion in 1929, 1930 & 1932 and Viswanathan Anand GM (FIDE World Champion 2000-2001, World Champion 2007-2012).
At the KCCA AGM held on 17th September a vote was held that declared the 2019 season 'null and void'. So no trophies will be avoided but the results of matches will presumably stay on the record.
First Team, County Cup
This is a triple round event involving three teams of six players per side; it is an open competition with no upper grade limits. The top team shall qualify for the County Cup final. The second and third placed teams shall qualify for the semi-final stage of the Lewis Cup with the teams restricted to an average grade not exceeding 170.
Wednesday 6th November 2019 - Maidstone 1 v Rainham 1, won 2 - 4
Wednesday 11th December 2019 - Rainham 1 v Tunbridge Wells, won 4 - 2
Saturday 18th January 2020 - Tunbridge Wells 1 v Rainham 1, won 2.5 - 3.5
Wednesday 5th February 2020 - Maidstone 1 v Rainham 1, lost 3.5 - 2.5
Wednesday 12th February 2020 - Rainham 1 v Maidstone 1, won 3.5 - 2.5
Wednesday 25th February 2020 - Rainham 1 v Tunbridge Wells 1, cancelled.
Second Team, Stevenson Cup
This is a single round event involving six teams of six players per side; the average grade of each team should not exceed 155 in each match. The top two teams shall qualify for the semi-final K.O. stage.
Wednesday 23rd October 2019 - Rainham 2 v Folkestone 1, won 4.5 - 1.5
Wednesday 20th November 2019 - Maidstone 2 v Rainham 2, draw 3 -3
Wednesday 27th November 2019 - Rainham 2 v Weald of Kent 1, won 4.5 - 1.5
Wednesday 11th March 2020 - Rainham2 v Swale 1, won 4.5 - 1.5
Sunday 15th March 2020 - Hastings 1 v Rainham 2, match conceded, lost 6 - 0
Third Team, En Passant Cup
This is a single round event involving six teams of six players per side; the average grade of each team should not exceed 140 in each match. The top two teams shall qualify for the semi-final K.O. stage.
Wednesday 15th January 2020 - Rainham 3 v Swale 2, draw 3 - 3
Monday 3rd February 2020 - Tunbridge Wells 2 v Rainham 3, lost 3.5 - 2.5
Saturday 22nd February 2020 - Folkestone 2 v Rainham 3, lost 4.5 - 1.5
Wednesday 26th February 2020 - Rainham 3 v Hastings 2, won 4 - 2
Wednesday 18th March 2020 - Maidstone 3 v Rainham 3, cancelled.
Fourth Team, Harvey Cup
This is a single round event involving seven teams of six players per side; the average grade of each team should not exceed 125 in each match. The top two teams shall qualify for the semi-final K.O. stage.
Thursday 17th October 2019 - Swale 1 v Rainham 3, draw 3 - 3
Wednesday 13th November 2019 - Rainham 4 v Hastings 3, won 3.5 - 2.5
Wednesday 11th December 2019 - Rainham 4 v Maidstone 4, lost 0.5 - 5.5
Wednesday 22nd January 2020 - Rainham 4 - Snodland 1, won 4.5 - 1.5
Wednesday 19th February 2020 - Medway 1 v Rainham 4, won 2.5 - 3.5
Monday 6th April 2020 - Weald of Kent 2 v Rainham 4, cancelled.
