London Online Chess League Season 3 - Application Deadline 04/Jun (First Matches 09/Jun)

Details of upcoming UK events, please provide working links if possible.
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John Sargent
Posts: 122
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 12:18 pm

London Online Chess League Season 3 - Application Deadline 04/Jun (First Matches 09/Jun)

Post by John Sargent » Mon May 31, 2021 9:02 am

We are pleased to announce the London Online Chess League (LOCL) Season 3, as an online team tournament for UK chess clubs during the current period where over-the-board chess is not yet back to normal (but we are getting there!). Season 3 will last 11 weeks, starting on Wednesday 09/Jun/2021.

All UK-based chess clubs are welcome to enter - you do not need to be in London to participate - please note registration deadline is Friday 04/Jun/2021 (details below)

The League will have the following format:
  • League games every Wednesday night starting on 09/Jun/2021 at 7pm UK time
  • 4-board teams
  • 45min + 15sec/move time control
  • Teams will be split into 12-team divisions to play an 11-team all-play-all, although depending on numbers, one division may end up having more than 12 teams and play an 11-game Swiss
  • Entry fee per team: £25. Non-LCL member clubs are welcome to join, but will be asked to apply to join the London League (£20/year for the entire chess club regardless of how many teams the club enters in LOCL). Fees will be payable to the London League Treasurer.
  • Please note that for Season 3, teams will be allocated a division after all team submissions have been received. Captains will receive more information prior to the start of the League season.
The goal is to (as best we can) simulate an over-the-board League, with players in a single lobby and able to view other games, a single controller/arbiter present and players also playing under their real names rather than a nickname.

The League will be played on the Tornelo platform, and the use of a webcam / video calling will NOT be required (although the Zoom functionality will still be used so that people can talk to each other and the arbiter via the lobby call as necessary).

SOME USEFUL NOTES / FAQs (please read full rules doc at https://bit.ly/locls3-rules for full detail):
  • Players may only be registered for a single club (each club may have more than one team), unless granted explicit permission from the League organisers. A player may not be named on more than one team sheet in the competition (i.e. across all divisions) per match week.

    Example: If a player is registered for Westminster Chess Club, which fields teams in Westminster A (Queen Division) and Westminster B (Rook Division), the player can only be named on the team sheet (including as a reserve) for one of these teams per match week. This means if a player is a reserve player in the Queen Division team, they cannot appear on the team sheet for the Rook Division team. However, the player is welcome to represent Westminster A one week, then Westminster B the next week, if the captains deem it necessary.
  • Teams may have more than 4 players and have people rotate in/out throughout the season. Each week, team captains will be asked to name their squad including 4 players and a maximum of 2 reserves in advance of each playing week (i.e. by Monday evening 23.59), so that team sheets may be exchanged between captains in advance of the match.
  • No-shows will be classed as defaults, and players will be responsible for the stability of their individual internet connections. (If there is a problem affecting the tournament platform itself, this will be addressed separately)
Below is a complete list of documentation and registration forms for individuals and teams.
Last edited by John Sargent on Mon May 31, 2021 9:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

NickFaulks
Posts: 8453
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:28 pm

Re: London Online Chess League Season 3 - Application Deadline 04/Jun (First Matches 09/Jun)

Post by NickFaulks » Mon May 31, 2021 9:21 am

John Sargent wrote:
Mon May 31, 2021 9:02 am
during the current period where over-the-board chess is not yet back to normal (but we are getting there!).
Are we? So far as I can see, the question of whether normal chess will be allowed for the 2021/22 season is as uncertain as ever.

I hope, and in fact expect, that LCL's latest venture will be a success - even though my personal enthusiasm for online competitions was never great and has now expired.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a QR code stamped on a human face — forever.

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