Wood Green

[Mick Norris]

They are allegedly being flown over for the match from Norway.

Note that the pilot has also been registered!

John Travolta?

[Andrew Bak]

They are allegedly being flown over for the match from Norway.

Note that the pilot has also been registered!

John Travolta?

Surely Bruce Dickinson!?

[Greg Breed]

Possibly Luis Suarez - he's not likely to be doing much over the weekend - add some bite to the middle order.

haha

[Andrew Bak]

A lot of Wood Green's players are at Zug or Alekhine Memorial. Is it likely that they would want to play in the 4NCL so soon after the conclusion of these tough events?

[Mick Norris]

A lot of Wood Green's players are at Zug or Alekhine Memorial. Is it likely that they would want to play in the 4NCL so soon after the conclusion of these tough events?

Zug finishes on Tuesday

Alekhine on Wednesday

Some of us won't finish until Friday, or even Saturday morning

[Phil Makepeace]

It's not just Wood Green at it.

[Matthew Turner]

I have no idea why Wood Green has registered all these players, but wouldn't it be marvellous if they all turned up and played - lets hope so. I appreciate my team isn't playing against Wood Green next weekend, but my view would be exactly the same if they were. I'm sure the vast majority of chessplayers would feel the same. I think we should be really grateful to the managers and captains who have got the top, top players to compete in the 4NCL.

[Sean Hewitt]

I have no idea why Wood Green has registered all these players, but wouldn't it be marvellous if they all turned up and played - lets hope so. I appreciate my team isn't playing against Wood Green next weekend, but my view would be exactly the same if they were. I'm sure the vast majority of chessplayers would feel the same. I think we should be really grateful to the managers and captains who have got the top, top players to compete in the 4NCL.

I agree entirely. The irony is that, if this were a local league, the AGM would soon be awash with chess prevention motions to stop it happening again. One of the big advantages with the 4NCL is that that can't happen!

[Eric Gardiner]

2.2 A player who has not given explicit consent will be considered to be validly registered for the team including him/her on its registration list, but until he/she has played for the team he/she remains free to play for other teams subject to the requirements of sections 3 and 4 of these rules.

Does this mean that players' names can be included on a registration list without their consent? Could a Div 1 team or even a Div 3 team for example put down Magnus Carlsen's name as a new registration without his consent?

If these top GMs are really going to play, then one positive aspect is that it should lead to increased media coverage of the weekend We might all be asked to wear suits

[John Foley]

If Abramovich could be convinced to chuck some change at a Chelsea Chess Club then the cosy cartel could be challenged.

[Richard Bates]

Does the fact that Carlsen ISN'T registered suggest he is looking forward to experiencing the delights of Hinckley Island? Or he is just the only one who attaches importance to what his name is used for?

[Ian Thompson]

I find it very disspiriting. What level of egoism and personality disorder is required to resort to such nonsense? Where is the pleasure in a title won by such means?

I think the person/organisation providing the cash must get pleasure out of it, otherwise why would they do it? Why they enjoy it is a different question which I can't think of a good answer to.

And of the players displaced, what do they say?

Goodbye, I won't be playing for you next season, I should think.

[LawrenceCooper]

Does the fact that Carlsen ISN'T registered suggest he is looking forward to experiencing the delights of Hinckley Island? Or he is just the only one who attaches importance to what his name is used for?

He's probably the wildcard

[LawrenceCooper]

I find it very disspiriting. What level of egoism and personality disorder is required to resort to such nonsense? Where is the pleasure in a title won by such means?

I think the person/organisation providing the cash must get pleasure out of it, otherwise why would they do it? Why they enjoy it is a different question which I can't think of a good answer to.

And of the players displaced, what do they say?

Goodbye, I won't be playing for you next season, I should think.

Given that they are virtually all professionals and are unlikely to attract a better deal elsewhere I would be surprised if any of the regulars left. They certainly didn't when Wood Green fielded a team of seven women plus Shirov.

[Ian Thompson]

I find it very disspiriting. What level of egoism and personality disorder is required to resort to such nonsense? Where is the pleasure in a title won by such means?

I think the person/organisation providing the cash must get pleasure out of it, otherwise why would they do it? Why they enjoy it is a different question which I can't think of a good answer to.

And of the players displaced, what do they say?

Goodbye, I won't be playing for you next season, I should think.

Given that they are virtually all professionals and are unlikely to attract a better deal elsewhere I would be surprised if any of the regulars left. They certainly didn't when Wood Green fielded a team of seven women plus Shirov.

I was thinking of Guildford, where enthusiastic amateurs definitely have been displaced by paid players and no longer play for Guildford.