The League draw will follow soon, but here is the Cup draw. 29 counties have entered. 3 receive byes into round 2, the other 26 play matches to join them. The teams receiving byes were drawn at random.

Matches must be played 2 games at a time, have 3 days per move and have 1+ players. Matches must have at least 5 boards, 2-point penalties will be imposed for not reaching that requirement. They should be locked no later than Wednesday, January 13. The League will start three weeks after this, to give a chance for some games to end, or make progress with. You can open registration for this game now, if you wish. Either captain can create the initial challenge, but please send me the link to it. Call the match "County Championship, 1st KO Cup Round 1, team1 v team2".

Round 1 draw:

Norfolk v Bedfordshire
Northamptonshire v Cheshire
Surrey v Cambridgeshire
Staffordshire v Middlesex
Devon v Kent
Shropshire v Derbyshire
Wiltshire v Yorkshire
Somerset v Suffolk
Herefordshire v Worcestershire
Durham v Leicestershire
Hampshire v Lancashire
Sussex v Gloucestershire
Dorset v Hertfordshire

Byes: Essex, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire

If your county isn't listed here, it probably means you haven't entered. Contact me straight away, and I'll add you to the tournament (and the League).

Tie-breakers:

In the event of a draw, boards will be removed from the bottom up until there is a winner. If this fails to produce a winner, lots will be drawn.