4NCL title norms (1993 to present)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

A rather incomplete attempt to (at least start to) collate the details of all the norms achieved at the 4NCL over the years (or generate some interest in the overall numbers).

Surely someone at the 4NCL has kept track over the years of the numbers?

Based mainly on the news items and reports in the following locations:

https://4ncl.co.uk/reports.htm

https://www.4ncl.co.uk/pre2010/archives.htm

- Jonathan Rowson (SCO) - second GM norm (1997/98)
- Matthew Wadsworth - first IM norm (2015/16)
- Yang-Fan Zhou - second GM norm (2015/16)
- Daniel Fernandez - third GM norm (2016/17)
- Alberto Suarez - third IM norm (2013/14)
- David Fitzsimons (IRL) - first IM norm (2015/16)
- David Fitzsimons (IRL) - second IM norm (2016/17)
- David Fitzsimons (IRL) - third IM norm (2017/18)
- James Jackson - second IM norm (2015/16)
- Adam C Taylor - IM norm (2017/18)
- Matthew Wadsworth clinched the IM title in March (was this a norm or achieving the rating?) (2018/19)
- Matthew Wadsworth - first GM norm (2018/19)

There are many, many more than just these. But not all are neatly listed.

Though having said that, won't the norms all be listed in the official arbiter reports submitted to FIDE for each season? Are those available online?

[Feel silly now - but reading the reports is so much more exciting! ]

{This report by John Saunders from the final weekend in 2013-14 I particularly enjoyed.}

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Despite poking around on the FIDE website, it appears that norm-related materials, even if submitted as part of an overall report, do not get filed anywhere easy to find. Only associated with the player concerned.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Someone called Rudd got two IM norms in consecutive seasons a while back. (2006/07 and 2007/08.)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks, Jack. IM norms can be a bit harder to track down.

Your IM title was 2009, and I found the application under the 79th FIDE Congress in November 2008 (slightly confusing as your FIDE rating card says 2009 as the year of the title award, but the 79th Congress says the publication date was 16/09/2008). Your third IM norm was at the British Chess Championships in 2008. A bonanza year!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

To add a few more (astute observers will note these are mostly people who have not attained the title [or who are deceased], the details were initially from the FIDE list of uncashed norms and then from other sources):

- James Adair - first GM norm (2012-13)
- James Adair - second GM norm (2014-15)
- James Adair - third GM norm (2015-16)
- Charles Cobb - first GM norm (2002-03)
- Andrew Greet - first GM norm (2009-10)
- Jonathan Hawkins - (first?) GM norm (2010-11)
- Michael Hennigan - first GM norm (1998-99)
- Adam Hunt - first GM norm (2002-03)
- Richard Palliser - first GM norm (2010-11)
- Richard Pert - first GM norm (2005-06)
- Richard Pert - second GM norm (2024-25)
- Peter Roberson - first GM norm (2021-22)
- Peter Roberson - second GM norm (2022-23)
- Yang-Fang Zhou - second GM norm (2015-16)
- Adam Ashton - second IM norm (2013-14)
- Daniel Bisby - first IM norm (2012-13)
- Richard Britton - first IM norm (1993-1994)
- William Claridge-Hansen - second IM norm (2023-24)
- Anthony Corkett - first IM norm (2004-05)
- Borna Derakhshani - first IM norm (2021-22)
- Stephen Dishman - first IM norm (2002-03)
- Chris Dorrington - first IM norm (2010-11)
- Chris Duncan - first IM norm (1996-97)
- Tom Eckersley-Waites - first IM norm (2014-15)
- Samuel Franklin - first IM norm (2010-11)
- Samuel Franklin - third IM norm (2012-13)
- Brett Lund - first IM norm (1999-00)
- James Moreby - first IM norm (2022-23)
- John R. Richardson - fifth IM norm (2004-05)
- John R. Richardson - sixth IM norm (2023-24)
- Jonathan Rogers - first IM norm (2016-17)
- Isaac Sanders - first IM norm (2014-15)
- Ben Savage - first IM norm (2007-08)
- Peter Sowray - second IM norm (2009-10)
- Peter Sowray - third IM norm (2010-11)
- Martin R. Taylor - first IM norm (2016-17)
- Martin R. Taylor - second IM norm (2023-24)
- Nicholas Thomas - first IM norm (2005-06)
- Ian Thompson - first IM norm (2009-10)
- Michael Twyble - first IM norm (2006-07)
- Richard Weaving - first IM norm (2016-17)
- Richard Webb - first IM norm (1998-99 or 1999-00)

That is only ENG-registered players who have not attained those titles - those with similarly uncashed norms who transferred federations later (e.g. Andrew Greet transferred ENG to SCO) or who play under a different FIDE registration code will not be included in the above (but may have gained norms at the 4NCL). See also the strange case of rating-conditional title applications.[1]

James Adair nearly managed GM norms in 3 successive seasons, and might hold a record for having 3 norms from the 4NCL (UPDATE: David Fitzsimons of Ireland got IM norms in three successive 4NCL seasons to attain the IM title). Richard Pert's norms are famous for being 19 years apart. And while we are on the subject of norms at an advanced age (though not at the 4NCL), the late Michael Franklin achieved an IM norm at the age of 47 (by winning the Aaronson Masters in March 1978) as recounted by John Saunders on BritBase here - the letter from Michael Franklin is a great read.

Had not realised before that a norm was scored in the first 4NCL season, the IM norm by Richard Britton. Was that the first-ever 4NCL norm? And some names are coming up that I have not heard of before (or only distantly). Anthony Corkett is completely new to me. I had also forgotten that John Richardson has six IM norms, achieved between 1984 and 2024 (c.f. Richard Pert above).

EDIT: Staying with just GM and IM norms, that is over 40 already. And this is not even including the other norms by players that went on to become IMs and GMs (which are mostly not included yet). Might be as many as 100+ if you bring in WIM and WGM norms as well (probably should).

- Melanie Buckley - first WIM norm (1999-00)
- Zoe Varney - first WIM norm (2023-24)
- Zoe Varney - second WIM norm (2024-25)

On the topic of WIM norms, they may not have been 4NCL norms, but I do know that the late Jessie Gilbert had achieved 3 WIM norms but that the records relating to deceased players are at some point removed from the FIDE website[2], so it can be difficult to track down details. Does anyone know: (a) where best to find those records; (b) if any of them were norms at the 4NCL? (The Wikipedia article on her only states "In the space of only a few months in early 2006, Gilbert achieved three "norms" in major chess tournaments.").

[1] Rating-conditional titles - Peter Sowray's rating-conditional IM title application apparently includes IM norms achieved at the 4NCL in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons (to add to the confusion, Sowray's 2014 IM norm [his fourth] appears on the current 'public' list of ENG IM norms). See quote below.

Briefly, was I right that the conditional titles are not listed anywhere easy to find on the FIDE website? I'd still like to know if there is an updated list anywhere of which ENG players have rating-conditional titles.

I do have access to such a list. I think it is only by accident that it is behind a password, and shall ask if that can be changed. The only ENG name on it is Peter Sowray.

[2] Though the late David Welch is still listed as having two IO norms on the FIDE website. Some other deceased players (who achieved norms of various descriptions) are on this list, I added Adam Hunt's norm from the 4NCL season 2002-03 to the list above.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"{This report by John Saunders from the final weekend in 2013-14 I particularly enjoyed.}"

In John's great report, I was puzzled to see "in a game of four halves (I was never mathematically inclined)." as John used to work for Treasury...

I sympathise with the hotel problem. I once arrived as arbiter for a weekend congress and was told by Reception that I was due to arrive halfway through the tournament. Receptionist did sort it out quickly and apologetically. As Michael Flanders once said, "It seems a shame to disturb the privacy of some hotels". (or some such).

[Christopher Kreuzer]

One thing I have not yet found is an easy listing of end-of-season reports for the 4NCL Division 1 (sometimes more than one magazine or person did this).

Also, coverage sometimes split between Championship and Relegation pools of Division 1, so if norms achieved in the Relegation pool (not impossible) it may not have been mentioned. Again, would be in the full rating report but have not been able to locate these.

Also, I believe some norms have been achieved in Division 2 and these again might receive less coverage. Unsure if any norms achieved in lower divisions (seems unlikely).

Any memories, additions and corrections welcomed!

[Alan Walton]

I checked the results from the 2006/2007 season when I reemebered that both Ste Gordon and Stuart Haslinger got GM norms playing for 3Cs; easy to remember since we got relegated and dropped out of the league due to a predominant switch to southern venues at that time (Sunningdale and Wokefield)

Stephen got a 9 round norm with 6.5/9 against c2440 average with the following opponents (and titles) : Devereaux FM, Morrison FM, Conquest GM, Rendle IM, Cooper IM, Chernieav GM, R Pert IM, Chandler GM, Lalic GM

Stuart also got a 9 round norm 6.5/9 against c2440 average with the following opponents (and titles) : Kosten GM, Jessel FM, Dineley FM, Flear GM, A Hunt IM, Mestel GM, Turner GM, Williams IM, Berzinsh IM

Stephen also got a second GM norm in 2008/2009 but I think he was playing for Wood Green then

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks Alan. Had another thought. Can anyone confirm if FIDE title norms are possible outside Division One. Does the "national team competition" bit allow for lower divisions?

[NickFaulks]

Thanks Alan. Had another thought. Can anyone confirm if FIDE title norms are possible outside Division One. Does the "national team competition" bit allow for lower divisions?

I assume you mean the 1.4.3a exemption from the foreigner requirement. That has been controversial, but the answer is yes.

[Ian Thompson]

Can anyone confirm if FIDE title norms are possible outside Division One. Does the "national team competition" bit allow for lower divisions?

Norms are certainly possible where a player has played games in different divisions of the league and where a player has played for different teams in the season (i.e. a club's 1st, 2nd, etc. teams).

My records show my 10 round norm consisted of 5 games for Guildford 1 and 5 games for Guildford 2 which resulted in playing against Pride & Prejudice twice. It needed to be a National Team competition because I only played 2 non-ENG opponents.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Thanks Alan. Had another thought. Can anyone confirm if FIDE title norms are possible outside Division One. Does the "national team competition" bit allow for lower divisions?

My second norm was in Division Two. (That one required a lot of opponent-arranging, because going into round 9, I had 7/8, but was still an IM and an FM short.)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thank you both. I will try and keep this thread just to 4NCL norms. I had not considered that norms might involve playing across multiple divisions!

EDIT: For Ian: playing against the same team twice seems OK but it would have looked strange if you had ended up playing the same person twice! (Fun fact: one of Joe Gallagher's GM norms was in a strange Schveningen at Hastings in around 1990.)

[Jonathan Rogers]

Stefan Shikerov (2001-2)
Neil Berry (2005/6)
Graham Morrison (RIP) (2008/9 for NWE and 2009/10 for Barbican)
Ryan Griffiths (2012/13)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks Jonathan. I presume these are all IM norms?

I don't see Graham Morrison and Neil Berry (both ENG?) on the 2012 listing Loz worked on. Have found Neil Berry under SCO and I think Graham Morrison was SCO as well. Shikerov I presume was BUL (Bulgaria) then as now. Ryan Rhys Griffiths is IRL (Ireland).

From the SCO (Scotland) uncashed norms I found:

Iain Gourlay (2014/15) IM norm
Hamish Olsen (2023-24) IM norm

Alan Tate's uncashed IM norms are not showing...

The only other IRL one is Tom O'Gorman's GM norm from the 2024-25 season.

Did you know there is an Ireland team event called the IRL IM Norm League (it generated an IM norm for Conor O'Donnell in 2018)?

I will leave you to hazard a guess when the numbers are totted up (a few more weeks of work I think) which 4NCL team (accounting for name changes) has generated the most title norms over the years!