English Chess Forum

Mick Norris wrote:So, is the conclusion that the Irish players are better than their ratings would suggest?

Look forward to hearing Neil's impressions of his first experience of Div 3 N

It is unfortunate, IMHO, that the early rounds weren't arranged in the way I suggested. I believe that the management/control team were worried about a team defaulting and messing up an all-play-all.

Ashfield-Breadsall 1 had a very easy victory on Saturday and should have won 6-0; a couple of fingerslips meant we conceded two draws. The team was weaker on Sunday but our top three boards held Gonzaga who won Boards 4-6. I think that result gives hope to other teams that the Irish champions are not invincible. The Manx team looks exceptionally strong at the top (1 GM & 2 IMs) but will need to bring in their stronger Boards 4-6.

A-B 2 achieved a good draw on Saturday; we will draw a veil over our performance on Sunday. My own hugely disappointing first half of the season continued - no wins (and hardly any draws) in eight games.

The venue was fine, easily reached up the M1 from our base in Nottingham/Derby.

SoA report from Andy Mort

Do we know when the pairings for weekend 2 will be available?

Mick Norris wrote:Do we know when the pairings for weekend 2 will be available?

My guess would be just after the registration deadline so January 6th.

Mick Norris wrote:Do we know when the pairings for weekend 2 will be available?

It may be old news by now but I noticed that pairings for round 3 have appeared: http://www.4nclresults.co.uk/2016-17/4ncl/3/3n/export/

I thought the pairings were supposed to be done for round 4 as well as round 3?

Some interesting match ups though

31 Gonzaga - - - Manx Liberty
32 Holmes Chapel - - - Manchester Manticores 3
33 Ashfield Breadsall 1 - - - Manchester Manticores 1
34 Ashfield Breadsall 2 - - - Manchester Manticores 2
35 Hounds and Bears - - - 3Cs 2
36 Bradford DCA Knights C - - - Spirit of Atticus B
37 Cheddleton 2 - - - Manchester Manticores 4
38 Enniscorthy - - - Bradford DCA Knights B
39 3Cs 3 - - - Jorvik

They should be yes. Less titled players for Jorvik this round I think Although an obvious threat of getting beaten up by tiny juniors instead!

Gonzaga - Manx could be quite interesting/telling in some ways, as well as a few others I guess.

Mick Norris wrote:I thought the pairings were supposed to be done for round 4 as well as round 3?

Some interesting match ups though

31 Gonzaga - - - Manx Liberty
32 Holmes Chapel - - - Manchester Manticores 3
33 Ashfield Breadsall 1 - - - Manchester Manticores 1
34 Ashfield Breadsall 2 - - - Manchester Manticores 2
35 Hounds and Bears - - - 3Cs 2
36 Bradford DCA Knights C - - - Spirit of Atticus B
37 Cheddleton 2 - - - Manchester Manticores 4
38 Enniscorthy - - - Bradford DCA Knights B
39 3Cs 3 - - - Jorvik

I was going to repeat my comments at the top of the page but I think I'll do the Fantasy Football round-up instead!

Based on the table, it is essentially 1-5 v 6-10 and 11-14 v 15-18, which is interesting

I'm looking forward to seeing the round 4 pairings

Rounds 3 and 4
Rank all the teams into 4NCL order and then do two rounds of balanced pairings in which no further account is taken of previously earned points.

Round 4 will be the give away as to what they're up to. It'll sort itself out OK now anyway.

AB1 might be a bit unlucky to be playing Manchester 1 in Bolton - must be fair chances for a really good team to roll out with it being so close.

[quote="Mick Norris"]I'm looking forward to seeing the round 4 pairings [quote]

They've just appeared.

I think that answers Martin's question!

31 Manchester Manticores 4 - - - Gonzaga
32 Manx Liberty - - - Holmes Chapel
33 Cheddleton 2 - - - Manchester Manticores 3
34 Manchester Manticores 2 - - - Ashfield Breadsall 1
35 Manchester Manticores 1 - - - Ashfield Breadsall 2
36 3Cs 2 - - - Bradford DCA Knights C
37 Spirit of Atticus B - - - Hounds and Bears
38 Bradford DCA Knights B - - - 3Cs 3
39 Enniscorthy - - - Jorvik

Balanced it is then If MM are over strength vs Wakefield then AB may well rate as a bit unlucky!

Cheddleton 2 seem to have a slightly soft pair of draws, but these things will happen somewhere.

MartinCarpenter wrote:Balanced it is then If MM are over strength vs Wakefield then AB may well rate as a bit unlucky!

A bit unlucky? A lot unlucky - especially if you're playing for AB2 !

The bottom couple of pairings have disappeared from the website

I expect 3Cs 3 have withdrawn from the weekend, and that a triangular match will be needed between the other 3 teams