Sussex secured top-flight status for another season and enhanced their chances of a loft finish in the Rothesay County Championship.
But their injury and availability problems piled up as they prepare to host Surrey at Hove.
The county took an hour and 20 minutes, or 21 overs, to wrap up the last three Essex wickets and complete a 47-run victory that lifts them clear of any lingering worries about relegation.
Sussex lost Australian opener Dan Hughes to a side strain (Oli Carter taking over as injury substitute) and all-rounder Tom Clark to a knee injury that meant he was unavailable to bowl in the fourth innings.
They will also lose Henry Crocombe and James Coles to the England white-ball squad for most of the run-in.
The duo were key in leaving Sussex just three wickets from victory going into day four.
They met stern resistance from Essex all-rounder Matt Critchley, who batted for three-and-a-half hours in defying Sussex’s efforts.
He was eventually last man out when he popped up a catch to slip off Coles for 96 from 132 balls.
The game had turned on a crazy 26-ball spell on the second evening when Essex lost seven wickets, tumbling from 171-3 to 177 all out.
That gave Sussex a 98-run lead on first innings and, with Coles hitting 79 in the second innings, Essex were set a mammoth 329 to win.
Coles took 4-98 with two wickets apiece for Crocombe, Ari Karvelas and Jack Carson.
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