Division Four South 2016-17

[LawrenceCooper]

As complex as it was looked a pretty usual kings indian game to me - white achieves an objectively winning position on the queenside, black flails around wildly trying to land a cheapo mate on the kingside before the material situation becomes untenable. Offering the f2 bishop as a sacrifice here seemed a decent idea, and led to a pretty ruinous attack while also sidestepping the worse of black threats so that is definitely some creative play to be lauded.

White's attack seemed about ten moves faster than usual though. I think even Mark Hebden's poker face would have showed some signs of concern when the third queen appeared

[Mick Norris]

Round 9 pairings (provisional)


41 Brown Jack 2 - - - Oxford 2
42 Barnet Knights 1 - - - MK Phoenix 2
43 West is Best 2 - - - The Full Ponty
44 Poisoned Pawns 2 - - - Wood Green MM 2
45 Throw in the Tal 1 - - - CSC Rhinos (2)
46 Anglian Avengers 3 - - - Cambridge University 3
47 Iceni 2 - - - Shropshire 2
48 D&D Utd - - - Throw in the Tal 2
49 Barnet Knights 2 - - - Oxford 3
50 Sussex Martlets 3 - - - Kent Kestrels
51 Sandhurst Cadets - - - The Pitstop
52 Barnet Knights 3 - - - CSC Hippos (3)
53 Barnet Knights 4 - - - Wood Green MM 3

[Nick Burrows]

Congratulations to Barnet Knights 1, who caught us (Oxford 2) in the final match to pip us to the title by 1 whole game point!

[Mike W. Richardt]

Do we actually know how many go up from Division 4?
Is it currently 2 teams only or is this likely to change?

[LawrenceCooper]

Do we actually know how many go up from Division 4?
Is it currently 2 teams only or is this likely to change?

I think it's anything between two and six depending on the split of north/south relegated teams from Divs 2 & 3.

[LawrenceCooper]

Do we actually know how many go up from Division 4?
Is it currently 2 teams only or is this likely to change?

I think it's anything between two and six depending on the split of north/south relegated teams from Divs 2 & 3.

http://www.4ncl.co.uk/1617_rules.htm#13

"The number of teams promoted from Division 4 South to Division 3 South will depend on the geographical distribution of teams demoted from Division 2 (see table below).........."

[Mike W. Richardt]

Thanks Lawrence!!!
West is Best 2 therefore have a very good chance in playing Division 3 next season!!!!

[Nick Burrows]

Yes, West is Best 2 promoted with £100 prize money. Think they had the "Road to Grandmater" guy Will Taylor on top board this weekend.

[Mike W. Richardt]

yes, we had.
After a hectic week before the final weekend we eventually had a enough players to get to two different venues.
Both teams were doing well this season - down to carefully selection players from the South West & Wales.

[Roger de Coverly]

"The number of teams promoted from Division 4 South to Division 3 South will depend on the geographical distribution of teams demoted from Division 2 (see table below).........."

There are probably around 20 squads of division 3 standard, which is arguably 6*2000 or better. This season's other promoted team, Poisoned Pawns, would have been playing in Division 4 had it not been for teams dropping out or moving north.

[LawrenceCooper]

"The number of teams promoted from Division 4 South to Division 3 South will depend on the geographical distribution of teams demoted from Division 2 (see table below).........."

There are probably around 20 squads of division 3 standard, which is arguably 6*2000 or better. This season's other promoted team, Poisoned Pawns, would have been playing in Division 4 had it not been for teams dropping out or moving north.

Agreed, it's proved a very difficult division for my team to get out of. Last season we only had one match in the first eight that had a wider winning margin than 3.5-2.5 and that was 4-2. This season the first five rounds were especially tough with three scores of 3-5.2.5 and two that ended 4-2. In practically all of those there was probably at least one game that swung to decide the match.

[Nick Grey]

Presumably West is Best promotion is subject to Warwickshire 2 agreeing to play in 3 South as well as the 4 teams confirming..

4NCL Results 2016-17
Below, details of winners, losers, and players gaining title norms from 2016-17 - with thanks to Dave Thomas.
 
 
Division 1
 
Champions
Guildford 1  (14 pts)
Runners-up
Cheddleton 1 (9 pts)
Relegated
North-East England, Kings Head, Celtic Tigers, Anglian Avengers 1
 
 
Title Norms
 
Daniel Fernandez
(Guildford) 3rd
GM norm
Ravi Haria
(Wood Green HK)
GM norm + 3rd IM norm
Jonathan Rogers
(Barbican)
IM norm
David Fitzsimons
(Wood Green HK)
IM norm
Richard Weaving
(Wood Green HK)
IM norm
Martin Taylor
(Barbican)
IM norm
Matthias Gantner
(White Rose)
IM norm
 
 
Division 2
 
Champions
Alba (14 pts)
Runners-up
The AD's (11 pts)
also Promoted
Spirit of Atticus A, Cambridge University 1
Relegated
Barbican Youth, Warwickshire Select 2, CSC Dragons, Bradford DCA Knights 1
                                     
 
Division 3 North
 
Champions
Manchester Manticores 1 (22 pts)
Runners-up
Manx Liberty (19 pts)
 
 
Division 3 South
 
Champions
Wood Green MM 1 (14 pts)
Runners-up
Poisoned Pawns (10 pts)
Relegated
Hackney, Sussex Martlets 2, Iceni 1, Surbiton
 
 
Division 4 South
 
Champions
Barnet Knights 1 (19 pts)
Runners-up
Oxford 2 (19 pts)
 
 
Final details of promotion from division 4 South will not be known until all the teams relegated from division 2 have declared their intentions for next season

[IM Jack Rudd]

Presumably West is Best promotion is subject to Warwickshire 2 agreeing to play in 3 South as well as the 4 teams confirming..

Actually, it's the other way round - it's subject to one of the four relegated teams agreeing not to play in 3 South. (Bradford's presence in the relegation zone probably means we're up.)

[Roger de Coverly]

Actually, it's the other way round - it's subject to one of the four relegated teams agreeing not to play in 3 South.

Warwickshire Select 2 might consider 3N an easier option in competition terms or even in travelling. When they won promotion from division 3S almost every match was in Telford.

[LawrenceCooper]

Actually, it's the other way round - it's subject to one of the four relegated teams agreeing not to play in 3 South.

Warwickshire Select 2 might consider 3N an easier option in competition terms or even in travelling. When they won promotion from division 3S almost every match was in Telford.

I think that's right. When they pipped us to promotion last season (despite scoring 11 points to our 16 ) they spoke of their relief at being at the central venue as opposed to Wokefield Park. Unless they have a turnover of players I would be very surprised to see them in Div 3S but wish them well wherever they end up.