4NCL 2023-24 Division Three Knights

[Neil Graham]

A new thread to discuss Division Three Knights which started today along with the two top divisions.

This one is going to be really contested - two matches were halved 3-3 and the remaining four all finished 3½ - 2½. The average ratings were all close as well; there was less than 100 points between the highest and lowest.

[Graham Alcock]

Another closely fought round. One drawn match and all the others 3.5-2.5

[Roger de Coverly]

Another closely fought round. One drawn match and all the others 3.5-2.5

Round 6 was more of the same except that Hull broke the mould by beating Surbiton 5.5 to 0.5.

The round 6 table has yet to be published, but I think it will show the top 5 or 6 pulling away slightly from the rest.

[Joey Stewart]

I know it might be a bit of self promotion but I feel it is still worth drawing attention to what a great achievement wotton hall are accomplishing as a 4ncl team comprised entirely of local club players with no mercenaries.

[Mick Norris]

Table shows it is close at the top and the bottom

[John Foley]

Division 3 is tough with most of our match losses being close. I am not aware of any mercenaries at this level. Here is a short write-up of the CSC/Kingston squad at the weekend. Irrespective of the mixed results, the players enjoy the experience not least for the social aspects.

[John Upham]

Talking of CSC/Kingston it occurs to me that this very team has morphed from its original team name in 4NCLs 31 year history more than any the team.

AFAIK, the time line (except that I have omitted the seasons) is this:

Cavendish (Team Manager: Kenny Harman) became
AMCA (aka Andrew Martin Chess Academy) (JEU) which turned into
BCM (aka British Chess Magazine with no support at all from BCM) (JEU) which meta morphed into
CSC (aka Chess in Schools and Communities) (John Foley) which merged with Kington to become
CSC / Kingston

Is there another team with a greater number of invocations?

[IM Jack Rudd]

Slough 2&3 to Slough Sharks to Sambuca Sharks to Grantham Sharks to The Sharks is also 5.

[John Upham]

Slough 2&3 to Slough Sharks to Sambuca Sharks to Grantham Sharks to The Sharks is also 5.

Agreed but I felt that Something Sharks to Something Else Sharks to Another Sharks provides a greater degree of continuity.

How is Nigel Johnson these days BTW?

[LawrenceCooper]

Talking of CSC/Kingston it occurs to me that this very team has morphed from its original team name in 4NCLs 31 year history more than any the team.

AFAIK, the time line (except that I have omitted the seasons) is this:

Cavendish (Team Manager: Kenny Harman) became
AMCA (aka Andrew Martin Chess Academy) (JEU) which turned into
BCM (aka British Chess Magazine with no support at all from BCM) (JEU) which meta morphed into
CSC (aka Chess in Schools and Communities) (John Foley) which merged with Kington to become
CSC / Kingston

Is there another team with a greater number of invocations?

Blackthorne were previously Blackthorn Russia, Betsson, Midland Monarchs, not sure if they were ever anything else.

[Jonathan Rogers]

If we take their team to be a continuation of your own Midland Monarchs team - and we might, since they took your place in division one on that basis - then they were also called Bigwood, if I rightly recall.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Slough 2&3 to Slough Sharks to Sambuca Sharks to Grantham Sharks to The Sharks is also 5.

One of those followed a merger though (there was a previous team called Grantham) which might be a complication. Similarly I sometimes lose track of the Welsh teams, but that is partly because of mergers, most recently with West is Best, whose latest name change, however, I do not understand.

[LawrenceCooper]

If we take their team to be a continuation of your own Midland Monarchs team - and we might, since they took your place in division one on that basis - then they were also called Bigwood, if I rightly recall.

Bigwood was definitely whilst I was still captain. I can't remember if we went Midland Monarchs-Bigwood-Midland Monarchs but we did get money from them for two of the five years (if my memory is correct) in years 4 and 5 (or possibly 3 and 4).

[IM Jack Rudd]

Slough 2&3 to Slough Sharks to Sambuca Sharks to Grantham Sharks to The Sharks is also 5.

One of those followed a merger though (there was a previous team called Grantham) which might be a complication. Similarly I sometimes lose track of the Welsh teams, but that is partly because of mergers, most recently with West is Best, whose latest name change, however, I do not understand.

It's a tribute to a former team member who used to announce check.

[LawrenceCooper]

Slough 2&3 to Slough Sharks to Sambuca Sharks to Grantham Sharks to The Sharks is also 5.

One of those followed a merger though (there was a previous team called Grantham) which might be a complication. Similarly I sometimes lose track of the Welsh teams, but that is partly because of mergers, most recently with West is Best, whose latest name change, however, I do not understand.

It's a tribute to a former team member who used to announce check.

I remember a player who tended to play in events in Derby & Nottingham would announce "Check to the king" I think this player: https://www.ecfrating.org.uk/v2/new/pla ... de=113343D or at least it's the same surname and the grade seems about right.