And so starts the 31st season

[Jonathan Rogers]

I think we can safely call that a record.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I did deliberately exclude White Rose from my earlier list of title contenders, but the extent of their butchery by Wood Green Youth is still extraordinary. Willow looks likely to win and if memory serves, that would be two wins in two seasons for him against Rowson.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Oh, breaking news in division two - Jack won! Neutrals everywhere applaud.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Don't know if the D&Ds are still going, but wasn't the parent-child thing their gimmick?

[Nick Ivell]

I think Shirov's record shows he is in a different league at 4NCL, so long as Adams is not present.

[LawrenceCooper]

I did deliberately exclude White Rose from my earlier list of title contenders, but the extent of their butchery by Wood Green Youth is still extraordinary. Willow looks likely to win and if memory serves, that would be two wins in two seasons for him against Rowson.

Being 5.5-0.5 up before settling for a 6-2 match win was beyond my wildest dreams.

[Nick Burrows]

A point screwed into the board today by Daniel Fernandez Vs Ravi Haria

[Neil Graham]

I have received an e-mail about Ukrainian GM Iuri Shkuro who, it states, is resident in Manchester. Clearly he is better than the standard required for my Third/Fourth Division teams. If any captain of First/Second Division teams haven't received this e-mail please let me know and I will forward this on.

[Mick Norris]

I have received an e-mail about Ukrainian GM Iuri Shkuro who, it states, is resident in Manchester. Clearly he is better than the standard required for my Third/Fourth Division teams. If any captain of First/Second Division teams haven't received this e-mail please let me know and I will forward this on.

I don't think we have seen him yet playing OTB in Manchester, but please forward me the email, and I can pass it on to the relevant parties locally

Google throws up some interesting info about him including a Chessbase article by Mikhail Golubev

[LawrenceCooper]

I have received an e-mail about Ukrainian GM Iuri Shkuro who, it states, is resident in Manchester. Clearly he is better than the standard required for my Third/Fourth Division teams. If any captain of First/Second Division teams haven't received this e-mail please let me know and I will forward this on.

I don't think we have seen him yet playing OTB in Manchester, but please forward me the email, and I can pass it on to the relevant parties locally

Google throws up some interesting info about him including a Chessbase article by Mikhail Golubev

I did e-mail but his requested fee of £300 per game persuaded me not to sign him up!

[Graham Borrowdale]

I did e-mail but his requested fee of £300 per game persuaded me not to sign him up!

I do sometimes wonder what the going rate is for professional players (not expecting you to tell us, Lawrence!). In many fields (consultancy, legal advice, plumbing...) £300 per day would be good value. I guess it depends on how much the sponsors want to win (buy?) the league, since there is not really a financial business case to be made. I doubt we will be having FFP rules applied any time soon.

[Ian Thompson]

I did e-mail but his requested fee of £300 per game persuaded me not to sign him up!

I do sometimes wonder what the going rate is for professional players (not expecting you to tell us, Lawrence!).

It's a bargain compared to what Anand wanted to play a game 15 - 20 years ago.

[Mick Norris]

I have received an e-mail about Ukrainian GM Iuri Shkuro who, it states, is resident in Manchester. Clearly he is better than the standard required for my Third/Fourth Division teams. If any captain of First/Second Division teams haven't received this e-mail please let me know and I will forward this on.

I don't think we have seen him yet playing OTB in Manchester, but please forward me the email, and I can pass it on to the relevant parties locally

Google throws up some interesting info about him including a Chessbase article by Mikhail Golubev

I did e-mail but his requested fee of £300 per game persuaded me not to sign him up!

He has appeared I am told at Manchester Social Chess Club, but didn't seem to get on with anyone from what I gather

[LawrenceCooper]

I did e-mail but his requested fee of £300 per game persuaded me not to sign him up!

I do sometimes wonder what the going rate is for professional players (not expecting you to tell us, Lawrence!). In many fields (consultancy, legal advice, plumbing...) £300 per day would be good value. I guess it depends on how much the sponsors want to win (buy?) the league, since there is not really a financial business case to be made. I doubt we will be having FFP rules applied any time soon.

The players in my teams play for expenses only so I'm not the right captain to ask. Manx, Chessable, Cheddleton etc would be the ones in the know.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I did e-mail but his requested fee of £300 per game persuaded me not to sign him up!

I do sometimes wonder what the going rate is for professional players (not expecting you to tell us, Lawrence!). In many fields (consultancy, legal advice, plumbing...) £300 per day would be good value. I guess it depends on how much the sponsors want to win (buy?) the league, since there is not really a financial business case to be made. I doubt we will be having FFP rules applied any time soon.

The players in my teams play for expenses only so I'm not the right captain to ask. Manx, Chessable, Cheddleton etc would be the ones in the know.

Is this new or subject to exceptions? I recall that Adams played in a recent season!