Sussex Junior Chess is a not for profit organisation run by volunteers which exists to promote and popularise chess amongst school age children in the county.
We also select and run county teams – Under 9, Under 11, Under 11 Girls, Under 12, Under 13, Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18 – who compete in national events.
All surpluses from SJC events are used to develop junior chess in Sussex.
Training days take place about once a month during the school year at various schools around the county; catering for all ages (4 – 18) and all standards from complete beginner to England standard.
We run a series of 6 tournaments (grand prix) which are open to all, as well as smaller age-restricted tournaments open just to Sussex participants.
We run one of the largest competitions for Schools in the UK, with an average of 40 Sussex Schools entering teams at U11, U14, U16 and U19 age groups. We have also set up an ‘Academy Schools’ program to encourage wider participation in schools. If your school doesn’t have a chess club, we may be able to help you find a coach in your area.
Latest News
3rd place in the Worldwide Junior Online tournament for Crowborough Juniors and Friends
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East Grinstead Bookshop vs Crowborough Juniors – Round 2
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Sussex’s Rhys Cumming gains his first IM norm
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New Online Tournaments Scheduled
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East Grinstead Bookshop Chess Club vs Crowborough Juniors
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Online Chess Opportunities for SJC Players
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Upcoming Events
Full information about the events we organise can be found on our Events Page.
You can book any of our events using our online system.
Entries will close at 6:00pm the day before the event to allow us time to prepare the event – for example ensuring we have sufficient and appropriate coaches on training days; and sufficient equipment and staffing for tournaments
** We politely ask that you do not turn up without prior registration as this causes delays inconveniencing other attendees. **
Coronavirus/Covid-19 Update
All Autumn ‘in person’ events are cancelled, however we are running a reduced programme of online training and tournaments.
SJC Coach David Graham is running online tournaments on Thursdays; 5:15 – 6:45pm.
Any Sussex Junior Chess player is welcome to attend.
Join for as long as you wish, you do not have to play the whole 1.5 hours.
You will need a lichess account – https://lichess.org/ – for safeguarding reasons you MUST contact Dave with both your real name and your Lichess name.
Each week there will be 2 tournaments set-up on lichess – experienced players should play in the Premiership and less experienced players (and players who can only play for part of the time) should choose the Championship.
I will email out the lichess URL for the tournaments on Tuesdays.
If you are not sure which tournament to enter, just get in touch.
More Information
David Fryer of Crowborough Chess Club is running weekly beginner online chess training for juniors via Zoom.
After the training players may join in with the Worthing Knights Online Tournament.
Any Sussex junior may apply to join (nominal fee £10 for September – December).
Apply through Crowborough Chess Club website or contact us and we will put you in touch with David.
SJC Coach David Graham is running online tournaments on Thursdays; 5:15 – 6:45pm.
Any Sussex Junior Chess player is welcome to attend.
Join for as long as you wish, you do not have to play the whole 1.5 hours.
You will need a lichess account – https://lichess.org/ – for safeguarding reasons you MUST contact Dave with both your real name and your Lichess name.
Each week there will be 2 tournaments set-up on lichess – experienced players should play in the Premiership and less experienced players (and players who can only play for part of the time) should choose the Championship.
I will email out the lichess URL for the tournaments on Tuesdays.
If you are not sure which tournament to enter, just get in touch.
More Information
David Fryer of Crowborough Chess Club is running weekly beginner online chess training for juniors via Zoom.
After the training players may join in with the Worthing Knights Online Tournament.
Any Sussex junior may apply to join (nominal fee £10 for September – December).
Apply through Crowborough Chess Club website or contact us and we will put you in touch with David.
SJC Coach David Graham is running online tournaments on Thursdays; 5:15 – 6:45pm.
Any Sussex Junior Chess player is welcome to attend.
Join for as long as you wish, you do not have to play the whole 1.5 hours.
You will need a lichess account – https://lichess.org/ – for safeguarding reasons you MUST contact Dave with both your real name and your Lichess name.
Each week there will be 2 tournaments set-up on lichess – experienced players should play in the Premiership and less experienced players (and players who can only play for part of the time) should choose the Championship.
I will email out the lichess URL for the tournaments on Tuesdays.
If you are not sure which tournament to enter, just get in touch.
More Information
David Fryer of Crowborough Chess Club is running weekly beginner online chess training for juniors via Zoom.
After the training players may join in with the Worthing Knights Online Tournament.
Any Sussex junior may apply to join (nominal fee £10 for September – December).
Apply through Crowborough Chess Club website or contact us and we will put you in touch with David.
SJC Coach David Graham is running online tournaments on Thursdays; 5:15 – 6:45pm.
Any Sussex Junior Chess player is welcome to attend.
Join for as long as you wish, you do not have to play the whole 1.5 hours.
You will need a lichess account – https://lichess.org/ – for safeguarding reasons you MUST contact Dave with both your real name and your Lichess name.
Each week there will be 2 tournaments set-up on lichess – experienced players should play in the Premiership and less experienced players (and players who can only play for part of the time) should choose the Championship.
I will email out the lichess URL for the tournaments on Tuesdays.
If you are not sure which tournament to enter, just get in touch.
More Information
David Fryer of Crowborough Chess Club is running weekly beginner online chess training for juniors via Zoom.
After the training players may join in with the Worthing Knights Online Tournament.
Any Sussex junior may apply to join (nominal fee £10 for September – December).
Apply through Crowborough Chess Club website or contact us and we will put you in touch with David.
Fun, fast and furious online championship on the Lichess platform – time limit 5/3 – the whole event lasting 90 minutes.
Sussex compete in Division 1.
If you are under 18, and live or attend school in Sussex, you are eligible to join our squad – contact us for joining instructions.