The new six-monthly grades were published yesterday morning. This is the second time the English Chess Federation has issued half-yearly grades for standard-play games, and generally people seem pleased to get the update. Of course, the July 2012 grades are still used for Kent League matches, but the latest grades supercede any estimated grades given at the start of the season.

The excellent on-line Grading Database provides details of grades going back to 1994, and details of individual games from 2003.

There are congratulations for Ian McAllan who equalled his highest grade which he achieved in 1996. David Helps goes on improving. He had a grade of 95 back in 2006 and has moved up every year and has now reached 149. Lee Brockwell and Ian Reeve have played enough games to get their first grade. Lee comes in at 110 and Ian at 99. That compares with their estimated grades of 99 and 98 respectively.

It makes you want to play more chess doesn’t it!

                Jan '13-July '12 
Ian McAllan     176-175 
David Helps     149-143 
Gary Sharp      137-136 
David Gilbert   131-130 
Robert Pezet    129-129 
Keith Thompson  115-124 
Kenneth Smith   113-115 
Leon Hopkins    112-107 
Lee Brockwell   110
Chris Cheeseman  99- 99 
Ian Reeve        99- 
Dennis Halton    96- 99 
Peter Houching   95-100 
Ken Grist        83- 84 
John Morris      75- 76 
Don Chapman      71- 72 
Phil Broughton   32- 32

David Gilbert