English Chess Forum

The opening rounds of Division Four took place at the weekend with 32 teams. Originally there were 34; however there was one team not there and Rhyfelwyr Essyllwg had moved to Division Three (East) to replace Wessex.

There are two outstanding teams in the Division with average ratings in excess of 2050 for the two rounds. They are Average Woodpushers "A" who were able to field five players with ratings 2000+ and CSC/Kingston. I understand that CSC/Kingston 1 are due to replace Wessex A in Division Three West so the Woodpushers must be firm favourites to win this Division. The third seeds are The Full Ponty, the only team with an average rating in the 1900s followed by a host of teams with ratings in the 1800s. The lowest rated team is Cambridge University Y2 with a three figure average.

The opening round which was seeded saw some very one sided results with defaults meaning some teams started with minus game points. After two rounds six teams are on maximum points (excluding CSC1). They are Oxford 3, Wotton Hall, Ashfield 2, Woodpushers "A", Poole Patzers & CSC/Kingston 2. Spare a thought for Ashfield 3 - in Round One they were paired against third seeds Full Ponty losing by 5.5-0.5. "Easier round tomorrow" I told them then they found themselves paired with fourth rated side Celtic Tigers 2 who had contrived to lose their opener 5-0 to Woodpushers "A". This time a slight improvement as we went down by 5-1 and join another 8 teams with no match points to date. Hopefully an easier draw in Round Three!

Check out David Curran's entertaining win for Oxford 3 against Michelle Chan in Round 2.

Phil Neatherway wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 09, 2022 1:21 pm

Check out David Curran's entertaining win for Oxford 3 against Michelle Chan in Round 2.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't realise there was so much fun to be had from the black side of the Caro-Kann.

A national rail strike has been called by the RMT that affects Weekend 2 at Daventry and the days before.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61634959

I've already had a message from one of my team members who thinks he will be stuck at Hastings and unable to play.

The third round pairings are out

Division Four Round 3

41 Oxford 3 - - - Average Wood Pushers A
42 Wotton Hall - - - CSC/Kingston 2
43 Ashfield 2 - - - Poole Patzers
44 Barnet Knights C - - - Cambridge University Y1
45 The Full Ponty - - - Guildford Young Guns
46 Crowthorne B - - - Celtic Tigers 2
47 Iceni 2 - - - She Plays to Win Young Stars
48 Oxford 4 - - - Sussex Martlets 3
49 She Plays To Win Lionesses - - - War and Piece A
50 MASCeteers - - - Anglian Avengers 2
51 She Plays To Win Uni - - - Coventry
52 War and Piece B - - - Wessex Some Stars A
53 Ashfield 3 - - - Cambridge University 3
54 Iceni 3 - - - Deaf England
55 Cambridge University Y2 - - - Celtic Tigers 3
56 Watford B - - - Average Wood Pushers B

32 teams compete - a Wessex team has appeared for this weekend; CSC/Kingston 1 are now in Division Three. The other absentee is Barnet Knights "D"

Sussex Martlets 3 have now withdrawn for Rds 3 & 4 leaving the dreaded three-team match.

Sussex Martlets 3 have now withdrawn for Rds 3 & 4 leaving the dreaded three-team match.

"Sussex Martlets 3 have now withdrawn for Rds 3 & 4 leaving the dreaded three-team match."

which made War & Piece somewhat unhappy, (especially as a software glitch said we were playing on boards 7xx, but the board numbers said 6xx). Alex H said that the 3-way match should not happen to us again this season. It is quite unsettling reaching the end of the day, not knowing whether you have won, lost or drawn.

However, as we have 5.5/6 so far, we won't grumble (yet)!

Wessex came back with a bang - winning 6-0 in their first game. If by some miracle they make it back into the promotion spots it would be the biggest starting deficit any team has ever overcome

Joey Stewart wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 07, 2023 10:36 pm

Wessex came back with a bang - winning 6-0 in their first game. If by some miracle they make it back into the promotion spots it would be the biggest starting deficit any team has ever overcome

Unfortunately we only managed 5-1 in round four

"Unfortunately we only managed 5-1 in round four"

Nevertheless, you're only 2 points off 3rd place - admittedly, game points are uderstandably low.

On a different matter, can someone think of a nicer abbreviation for Poole Patzers than "poo"?

My old Diplomacy-playing days would suggest abbreviations of PoP or PPa.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 08, 2023 7:54 pm

"Unfortunately we only managed 5-1 in round four"

Nevertheless, you're only 2 points off 3rd place - admittedly, game points are uderstandably low.

On a different matter, can someone think of a nicer abbreviation for Poole Patzers than "poo"?

Poozers?

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 08, 2023 7:54 pm

"Unfortunately we only managed 5-1 in round four"

Nevertheless, you're only 2 points off 3rd place - admittedly, game points are uderstandably low.

On a different matter, can someone think of a nicer abbreviation for Poole Patzers than "poo"?

Football broadcasters appear to have had some difficulties over the years in their attempts to abbreviate Arsenal.

Tim Spanton wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 08, 2023 9:30 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 08, 2023 7:54 pm

"Unfortunately we only managed 5-1 in round four"

Nevertheless, you're only 2 points off 3rd place - admittedly, game points are uderstandably low.

On a different matter, can someone think of a nicer abbreviation for Poole Patzers than "poo"?

Poozers?

More sensibly, PoPa?