English Chess Forum

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 16, 2017 5:08 pm

That's truly fascinating. I wonder what on earth the story can be?

Castleford Roses

Well that explains a good bit of it Does seem like the bulk of the team is trekking over from Slovakia/Bratislava. Given there's so many juniors you have to presume them to be under graded and so quite likely to get that promotion they're after.

That 4 in 4NCL really is looking a bit modest these days

Indeed; we have players from England, Scotland, Belgium, Denmark & Poland in the Manticores

Hard start for the Roses today, but plenty of rounds to go. Gonzaga + 1 for promotion I imagine.

Jorvik's drawn match drew rather too much inspiration from some of Englands efforts at the Europeans!

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:26 am

Indeed; we have players from England, Scotland, Belgium, Denmark & Poland in the Manticores

England, Ireland, Chile, Slovenia, Poland, Romania, Greece & Wales in Wood Green/MM. As an Arsenal fan I can see the irony to having a Chilean player who may only be available until January

After the first two rounds of Division Three (North) a quick look at the seedings/pairings when compared with the team composition & results.

The seedings were as followed (in order);

Group A : Warwickshire Select 2; Bradford DCA Knights "A"; Gonzaga; 3Cs 2; Cheddleton 2
Group B : Jorvik; Shropshire 1; Ashfield-Breadsall 1; Bradford DCA Knights "B"; Manchester Manticores 2;
Group C: Castleford Roses; Ashfield-Breadsall 2; Spirit of Atticus "B"; Enniscorthy; Holmes Chapel,
Group D; Manchester Manticores 3; Manchester Manticores 4; Shropshire 2; Bradford DCA Knights "C"; 3Cs 3.

The pairings of Group A v C; Group B v D; in Round One followed by Group A v B; Group C v D in the second round was so designed that after Round Two the teams in Group A should have scored 4pts; Groups B & C 2 pts with Group D bringing up the rear on 0 pts.

Lets now look at the strength of the teams who competed. Again I have arranged into Group of Five with an average FIDE rating

Group A: Gonzaga (2173); 3Cs 2 (2119); Shropshire 1 (2077); Bradford DCA Knights "A" (2057); Manchester Manticores 2 (2037)
Group B: Warwickshire Select 2 (2028); Ashfield-Breadsall 1 (1986); Castleford Roses (1976); Spirit of Atticus B (1966); Jorvik (1945)
Group C: Manchester Manticores 3 (1901); Holmes Chapel (1892); Cheddleton 2 (1872); Bradford DCA Knights ""B" 1871; Ashfield-Breadsall 2 (1863)
Group D: Manchester Manticores 4 (1796); Shropshire 2 (1777); Enniscorthy (1774); Bradford DCA Knights "C" (1773); 3Cs 3 (1731).

After two rounds Shropshire 1, 3Cs 2 and Gonzaga have maximum points and have been joined by Cheddleton 2 whilst Manticores 4; Shropshire 2; Bradford "C" and 3Cs 3 have yet to trouble the scorers. The remaining twelve teams are sandwiched in between with 10 on 2 points, Jorvik have 3 and Manticores 3 have 1.

Certainly looking at the seedings undue emphasis might have given to the two relegated sides Warwickshire Select 2 and Bradford "A". Both at the moment are languishing in mid table. The stand out team from last season is Gonzaga - they were extremely unlucky in 2016-17 to come up against an imperious Manchester Manticores 1 and a Manx Liberty team liberally laced with grandmasters and IMs. This season Gonzaga could well dominate this Division and earn the place that they clearly deserve in Division Two. As for challengers 3Cs 2 fielded a strong team this weekend whilst Bradford and Warwickshire have large enough squads to bounce back after their disappointing start. Cheddleton had a low rated player on Board 6 who lost both games and again they could impress; Shropshire also have a good squad. An interesting and competitive weekend awaits at Bolton in January.

That's about how strong Bradford will be I think. After their time in Div2 last year I suspect they want a year or two out to rebuild a bit anyway

Except for Gonzaga, I'm not even absolutely sure which teams truly want promotion. Quite a few seem naturally happier in the North. Shropshire I guess? Warwickshire 2 maybe.

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:44 pm

Quite a few seem naturally happier in the North. Shropshire I guess? Warwickshire 2 maybe.

When Divisions 1 & 2 are in Telford for most of a season, I would have thought Shropshire in particular would be looking for "home" matches. Similar considerations for Warwickshire.

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:21 am

MartinCarpenter wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 16, 2017 5:08 pm

That's truly fascinating. I wonder what on earth the story can be?

Castleford Roses

So Castleford is now a city? That one passed me by!

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:04 am

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:26 am

Indeed; we have players from England, Scotland, Belgium, Denmark & Poland in the Manticores

England, Ireland, Chile, Slovenia, Poland, Romania, Greece & Wales in Wood Green/MM. As an Arsenal fan I can see the irony to having a Chilean player who may only be available until January

nothing wrong with Chile!!!
he is looking to join the best club in the uk!!

Match report online now from Andy Mort, skipper of Spirit of Atticus B. Most Northern players will find it unexceptional, but I draw the attention of any Southern softies to the picture of Dave Phillips's evening meal. This is what you get 'oop North'. Not a thumb-sized medallion of fish for £24.95, but an entire trawl-net for a tenner. We like 3N

That's a really impressive bit of fish, even by Northern UK pub standards

Local derby to start the year

Weekend 2 pairings
Saturday

31 Gonzaga - - - Bradford DCA Knights B
32 3Cs 2 - - - Manchester Manticores 2
33 Cheddleton 2 - - - Ashfield-Breadsall 1
34 Warwickshire Select 2 - - - Shropshire 1
35 Bradford DCA Knights A - - - Jorvik
36 Manchester Manticores 4 - - - Enniscorthy
37 Manchester Manticores 3 - - - Ashfield-Breadsall 2
38 3Cs 3 - - - Castleford Roses
39 Bradford DCA Knights C - - - Spirit of Atticus B
40 Shropshire 2 - - - Holmes Chapel

Sunday

31 Castleford Roses - - - Gonzaga
32 Ashfield-Breadsall 2 - - - 3Cs 2
33 Spirit of Atticus B - - - Cheddleton 2
34 Holmes Chapel - - - Warwickshire Select 2
35 Enniscorthy - - - Bradford DCA Knights A
36 Jorvik - - - Manchester Manticores 4
37 Bradford DCA Knights B - - - Shropshire 2
38 Manchester Manticores 2 - - - Bradford DCA Knights C
39 Ashfield-Breadsall 1 - - - 3Cs 3
40 Shropshire 1 - - - Manchester Manticores 3

Weekend 3; no Enniscorthy

Triangular
50 Holmes Chapel - - - Ashfield-Breadsall 1
51 Ashfield-Breadsall 1 - - - Manchester Manticores 3
52 Manchester Manticores 3 - - - Holmes Chapel

Saturday
31 Gonzaga - - - Ashfield-Breadsall 2
32 3Cs 2 - - - Castleford Roses
33 Bradford DCA Knights A - - - Manchester Manticores 2
34 Shropshire 1 - - - Bradford DCA Knights B
35 Shropshire 2 - - - Cheddleton 2
36 3Cs 3 - - - Spirit of Atticus B
37 Bradford DCA Knights C - - - Jorvik
38 Manchester Manticores 4 - - - Warwickshire Select 2

Sunday
31 Cheddleton 2 - - - Gonzaga
32 Spirit of Atticus B - - - 3Cs 2
33 Warwickshire Select 2 - - - Bradford DCA Knights A
34 Jorvik - - - Shropshire 1
35 Manchester Manticores 2 - - - Shropshire 2
36 Castleford Roses - - - Bradford DCA Knights C
37 Bradford DCA Knights B - - - Manchester Manticores 4
38 Ashfield-Breadsall 2 - - - 3Cs 3

Rd 6 Triangular pairing given on website is wrong. We are trying to contact those who can put it right.

Pairings should be
501 Andrew Walker v Glen Truman
502 John Altham v Patrick Bennett
503 Jairo Samuel Lares v Alex Combie
504 Adam Tyton v Michael Naylor
505 John Turner v Stephen Potter
506 Anita Somton v Chris Doran
507 David Levens v Jon Lonsdale
508 Neil jones v Noel McLaughlin
509 Raymond Pearson v Richard Truman