English Chess Forum

Jonathan Rogers wrote:The second division was markedly stronger this year already

Really? I played all 11 matches on board 3 and I didn't play anyone rated over 2200. The average rating of my opponents was 2111. That doesn't strike me as a particularly strong set of opponents.

Average ratings

2016/17:
Promotion pool average - 2157
Demotion pool average - 2082

2015/16:
PP avg - 2109
DP avg - 2106

This seasons demotion pool average brought down by the Bradford DCA outlier. Otherwise this seasons Div 2 was indeed stronger.

Nothing like some global stats to bust a sample of one

Nick Burrows wrote:Average ratings

2016/17:
Promotion pool average - 2157
Demotion pool average - 2082

2015/16:
PP avg - 2109
DP avg - 2106

This seasons demotion pool average brought down by the Bradford DCA outlier. Otherwise this seasons Div 2 was indeed stronger.

You could also argue that the 2016/17 promotion pool was increased by Alba this season; all things being equal both seasons are reasonably similar within a margin of error; but I cannot be bothered to true statistical analysis on this

At least one non-stat indicator might be that permanent 2c teams, Barb Youth and Guildford 3, were pitched into 2d this year. To my total shock, Barb Youth have been relegated - a complete loss. A strong Alba in no sense explains the rating difference.

Some strong teams in Div 2 next year will struggle to make 2c again as Manx LIberty, Wood Green/MM, and even Manc Manticores find their level. As Div 2 floods with E European titled players, club amateurs will be pushed aside. Hence, Div 2 gets stronger still

I'm why div 2 will be stronger or floods of E European titled players. Or are there strong division 1 teams coming down?

To take Ian's Point he is likely to meet higher opposition in division 3S next season. 6 boards no female/junior requirements - though they get into the teams on merit. Our foreign junior's visa will be finished & no suggestion he will be coming back to play next season.

Hopefully CSC can get back to 3 teams - 1 in division 3 south, 2 in division 4. All playing at same venue. Strong players coming up from division 4 south. 1 of our Key Losses was Keith Richardson & I hope the funeral etc went well today.

Nick Grey wrote:To take Ian's Point he is likely to meet higher opposition in division 3S next season.

I don't think so. A quick browse through this season's results suggests Div 3S is a bit weaker, although not as much as I thought before looking - I'd guess the average opposition would be somewhere between 2050 and 2100.

Nick Grey wrote:Our foreign junior's visa will be finished & no suggestion he will be coming back to play next season.

We were lucky to get him for the 6 months he is in the country, and he made up for the unfortunate absence of Richard Webb for all but the first match. Of course, if we'd had both of them playing, we might still be in Division 2, as we might not have lost 5 matches 3.5-4.5 and drawn two more.

Nick Grey wrote:1 of our Key Losses was Keith Richardson & I hope the funeral etc went well today.

It's tomorrow.

Nick Grey wrote:I'm why div 2 will be stronger or floods of E European titled players. Or are there strong division 1 teams coming down?

Its the teams coming up I think - PPawns look like an 'average' sort of Div2 strength team, but both MM1 and Wood Green MM1 can play off ~2200 average which is high end and definitely above the teams they're replacing.

The other team is Manx, which is the flood of Eastern Europeans. Goodness knows if/how much they'll really use it, but their registration list starts 2616, 2605, 2535, 2532, 2522, 2491, 2469, 2351, 2308 etc.....

The rumour coming out of Bundesliga (also last weekend), is that the Manx team will be very strong next year as he is more or less bringing his Trier squad into the 4NCL

Alan Walton wrote:The rumour coming out of Bundesliga (also last weekend), is that the Manx team will be very strong next year as he is more or less bringing his Trier squad into the 4NCL

More than just a rumour:

http://schachbundesliga.de/bundesliga/t ... britannien

Jonathan Rogers wrote:

Alan Walton wrote:The rumour coming out of Bundesliga (also last weekend), is that the Manx team will be very strong next year as he is more or less bringing his Trier squad into the 4NCL

More than just a rumour:

http://schachbundesliga.de/bundesliga/t ... britannien

I can see this becoming a crucial issue in Brexit negotiations...

Jonathan Rogers wrote:

Alan Walton wrote:The rumour coming out of Bundesliga (also last weekend), is that the Manx team will be very strong next year as he is more or less bringing his Trier squad into the 4NCL

More than just a rumour:

http://schachbundesliga.de/bundesliga/t ... britannien

They still need to find a junior or two though which led to an unlikely reply to my e-mail informing captains that I am dropping my two Division Four teams and therefore several juniors (just under half being girls) are now looking for teams

LawrenceCooper wrote:

Jonathan Rogers wrote:

Alan Walton wrote:The rumour coming out of Bundesliga (also last weekend), is that the Manx team will be very strong next year as he is more or less bringing his Trier squad into the 4NCL

More than just a rumour:

http://schachbundesliga.de/bundesliga/t ... britannien

They still need to find a junior or two though which led to an unlikely reply to my e-mail informing captains that I am dropping my two Division Four teams and therefore several juniors (just under half being girls) are now looking for teams

Or they will just pay for a strong female

Alan Walton wrote:

LawrenceCooper wrote:

Jonathan Rogers wrote:
More than just a rumour:

http://schachbundesliga.de/bundesliga/t ... britannien

They still need to find a junior or two though which led to an unlikely reply to my e-mail informing captains that I am dropping my two Division Four teams and therefore several juniors (just under half being girls) are now looking for teams

Or they will just pay for a strong female

That's what I thought but they said they are making it a priority to have a UK junior or two to play alongside their GMs and learn from them.

Richard Bates wrote:

Jonathan Rogers wrote:

Alan Walton wrote:The rumour coming out of Bundesliga (also last weekend), is that the Manx team will be very strong next year as he is more or less bringing his Trier squad into the 4NCL

More than just a rumour:

http://schachbundesliga.de/bundesliga/t ... britannien

I can see this becoming a crucial issue in Brexit negotiations...

If the intention is to pay the players in pounds rather than Euros, it might be claimed as a Brexit success!