English Chess Forum

We're holding the above event at Park Inn Birmingham West over the August bank holiday weekend of 29-31 August. There are two separate events, with a discounted entry fee for those who would like to play on all three days. The total prize fund is £3,400, with an £800 first prize in the Rapidplay and £400 first prize in the Blitz (plus a £250 prize for the player with the most points in the Rapidplay and Blitz combined).

You can find entry forms, information etc on the 4NCL website www.4ncl.co.uk.

PS I should have mentioned that the 4NCL Team Rapidplay is still going ahead as planned on 3-4 October. However, we have it in mind to turn it into a more leisurely two day affair - five rounds per day, ten rounds in total, 25 minutes + 10 second increment time control. So very similar in format to the new Individual Rapidplay event.

Mike Truran wrote:You can find entry forms, information etc on the 4NCL website http://www.4ncl.co.uk.

The information on entry fees needs a bit more work I think.

Online, it says "GMs / IMs free, FMs and female players half price.", but there's no option on the online entry form to select these entry fees.

Printed entry forms also say "GMs / IMs free, FMs and female players half price.", but then the Entry Form section says "Discount (Rapidplay only)".

If you want to enter online, just go ahead and I'll make any necessary refund on a same/next day basis through PayPal if you drop me an email. That's what most people have done so far for the first three 4NCL congresses (and the rapidplay/blitz). It's a bit clunky, but it seems to work OK.

And IM Richard Bates has now entered - so four GMs and an IM so far. Thank you Richard!

The manual refund/rebate system for GMs, IMs, FMs, female players etc is a little bit clunky, but seems to work fine.

GM Peter Wells has just confirmed his entry, making it five GMs already.

Entries so far can be found here. We have six GMs and two IMs already, but need more entries please to make the weekend financially viable. Whatever forumites can do to help will be appreciated!

Mike Truran wrote:PS I should have mentioned that the 4NCL Team Rapidplay is still going ahead as planned on 3-4 October. However, we have it in mind to turn it into a more leisurely two day affair - five rounds per day, ten rounds in total, 25 minutes + 10 second increment time control. So very similar in format to the new Individual Rapidplay event.

You've changed your minds then, according to the information on the 4NCL website?

Yes we have, after consulting last year's captains who were keen to leave the format unchanged.

The team rapidplay took place yesterday, and I pass my full report on to this forum.

We won

(signed, Wellington)

There was an interesting new entry composed of some of our best known juniors, who finished second. Barbican 2 were rather lucky to finish third, but them's the breaks. Overall, numbers were slightly down, with the Isle of Man clash having some impact.

The individual competition (today) looks very competitive, as ever.

Jonathan Rogers wrote:There was an interesting new entry composed of some of our best known juniors, who finished second.

The same line up that represented England in the European Youth Team Championship earlier this year, albeit with a slightly different board order.

Jonathan Rogers wrote:The individual competition (today) looks very competitive, as ever.

I'm not sure that any rapid or blitz can be considered competitive with Ameet Ghasi playing

Results for both days are on the 4NCL website.