This season proved to be far harder going than 1997/98 as Andrew Brett and Larry Marden became ineligible and were both missed. Rod Nixon returned to Essex chess to turn in some outstanding performances, but could only make one of the National Stage matches, while Dave Pearse commanded a regular place for the first time and was a model of reliability.The first half of the SCCU competition was very closely contested, with Essex having to come behind to tie the home matches against Sussex and Middlesex, although the team demonstrated its class in the second half, with the performance in the return match against Middlesex being particularly convincing.
Each of the matches in the National Stages was hard fought, with real pressure on the last few boards left in play, but on each occasion the players rose to the occasion. This culminated in the final, when with the score 7½-7½ and board count favouring Devon, George McNally had to win a clearly drawn ending to retain the title. George made the most of such possibilities as the position offered, while his opponent cracked under the pressure.
Three consecutive titles have been achieved before both at the SCCU level and at the National level, but not simultaneously.
SCCU RESULTS
| 24/10/98 | Surrey | A | 9 | - | 7 |
| 7/11/98 | Sussex | H | 8 | - | 8 |
| 5/12/98 | Middlesex | H | 8 | - | 8 |
| 9/1/99 | Surrey | H | 13½ | - | 2½ |
| 23/1/99 | Sussex | A | 9½ | - | 6½ |
| 20/2/99 | Middlesex | A | 11½ | - | 4½ |
SCCU TABLE
| Position | County | Match points | Game points |
| 1 | Essex | 5 | 59½ |
| 2 | Middlesex | 3 | 45½ |
| 3 | Sussex | 3 | 47½ |
| 4 | Surrey | 1 | 39½ |
NATIONAL STAGES
| 8/5/99 | Lancashire | Syston | 9 | - | 7 |
| 5/6/99 | Warwickshire | H | 9½ | - | 6½ |
| 26/6/99 | Devon | Uppingham | 8½ | - | 7½ |
PLAYER STATISTICS
Appearances (maximum 9)
9 – Tim Hebbes, Ian Hunnable, David Millward, Bill Saunders and Neville Twitchell
8 – Paul Barclay, Roy Heppinstall, George McNally and Dave Pearse.
Points scored
6 – Tim Hebbes, Bill Saunders and Neville Twitchell (all from 9).
5½ – Ian Hunnable (from 9), Rod Nixon (from 6) and Dave Pearse (from 8).
5 – John White (from 7).
