National Club Championships 9-10 April 2016

[Brendan O'Gorman]

Details here: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/competit ... pionships/

This really is an enjoyable event catering for all playing abilities. My club entered one team in 2014, two in 2015 and is hoping to have three teams competing this year.

[David Gilbert]

Right. We’re on. There’ll be two teams from the Men From the Ministry. Good hotel, reasonable prices and great facilities. And plenty of friendly pre- and post-match banter between the Clubs. If you’re a happy Club player, it’s probably the best weekend chess event of the season. Probably. Two Braille players were visiting our Club last week and said they expected to enter again, while Greater London Chess Club told me on Wednesday that they have at least two teams too.

Let’s hope to see an early entry list on the website soon. Can’t wait! Why not get your Club to put together a team or two?

[NickFaulks]

Please forgive me if the answer is obvious, but are Jan 2016 grades used?

[Brendan O'Gorman]

Please forgive me if the answer is obvious, but are Jan 2016 grades used?

From the competition flyer: The January 2016 ECF Grading List will apply

[NickFaulks]

Thanks, no doubt I should have found that flyer but I didn't.

[Brendan O'Gorman]

Link to flyer: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-conte ... s-2016.pdf

[David Gilbert]

Goody! The first entry list was sighted yesterday. Delightful to see some new teams joining in as well as a few familiar names. Still early days. I’m expecting to see Greater London’s two teams appear shortly, and I’m left wondering whether any team will dare show up in corresponding cardigans? The question on everyone’s lips is whether Sutton Coldfield and Newton Abbott will reappear to attempt to defend their titles, or whether Wycombe & Hazlemere will show up this time? Any other teams packing their bags?

And what about the Open. It looks like there could be shortage of entries again. I can’t see that changing until there’s something better on the table for the winners. A qualifying place in the European Club tournament might appeal to more top Clubs? Seems reasonable, after all this is the National Club Championship.

[Roger de Coverly]

whether Wycombe & Hazlemere will show up this time?

No doubt their secretary will comment for himself, but try this.

Club secretary/ captain : Let's organise a weekend away for the National Club
Potential Player : Where?
Club secretary/ captain : an airport hotel near Birmingham
Potential Player : I'm prepared to play there in the 4NCL up to five times a year, but not by choice.

[Joey Stewart]

I just had a look at last years tournament - was that a joke or something?! Only two teams in the open, one massively out of their depth (though good on them for getting a drawn match first game) and everybody else played in the minor sections.

Kind of reminds me of the way the county championships run....

[MartinCarpenter]

Slightly less of a joke than it has been in the directly previous years, I think?
(Having gone from entirely moribund to merely mildly so with the switch of format etc.).

The Open section is still a clear problem.

[Brendan O'Gorman]

One club's experience at this year's event: http://www.chessdevon.co.uk/HTML/nanat.htm

[NickFaulks]

I don't understand. Sutton Coldfield won the Open because nobody else entered?

[MartinCarpenter]

Looks that way from the website. Don't think the open comp has ever got above 2 in this format, so dropping to 1 team is only mildly more futile

The lower sections seem a bit healthier, if unsurprisingly (given the venue) rather strongly Midlands based.

[Mick Norris]

Did Sutton Coldfield turn up and find anyone to play? Maybe organise a match between them and the reigning NCCU Open champions? I don't think anyone other than the NCCU organise a Union club championship, although happy to be corrected on this

It would seem a better idea to scrap the Open and let the event continue for the average grade limited sections, as there appears to be demand for those

[Brendan O'Gorman]

I wasn't there but I believe Sutton Coldfield's team entered in the Open happened to have an average grade below 175, so they played in the Major and came fifth!