4NCL round 7

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I see the results are up for round 7. Some interesting results there. I can't find updated division tables and promotion/demotion pools for divisions 1 and 2. Maybe that was slightly too much to expect, but thanks to those who got the results up so quickly.

http://www.4ncl.livechess.co.uk/div1_20 ... 1a-rd7.htm
http://www.4ncl.livechess.co.uk/div1_20 ... 1b-rd7.htm

http://www.4ncl.livechess.co.uk/div2_20 ... 2a-rd7.htm
http://www.4ncl.livechess.co.uk/div2_20 ... 2b-rd7.htm

http://www.4ncl.livechess.co.uk/div3_20 ... 3s-rd7.htm

Tables here (currently showing positions after round 6):

http://www.4ncl.co.uk/tbs_1112.htm

[Christopher Kreuzer]

As far as I can make out, Cambridge University 1's defeat of Wood Green Hilsmark 2 has dragged WGH2 into the demotion pool with them (also thanks to Jutes of Kent defeating Cheddleton 1 - Hawkins losing there won't do much good for any GM norm). This also means Cambridge University 1 go into the demotion pool with maximum points, having defeated all the teams coming into that pool with them.

In division 1, pool A, there is no change in the positions in the table. The ADs bring the most points (2.5/3) into the demotion pool. In the championship pool, WGH1 have maximum points (3/3) and Cheddleton and maybe some other teams have 2/3.

Looking at individual results, I see James Cobb got a GM scalp by beating Rowson! And several other titled players lost or drew to lower-titled or untitled players.

[Jonathan Rogers]

It seems that Wood Green 1 just scraped home against White Rose 4.5-3.5 today, the same winning margin that Guildford 2 (!) made against White Rose yesterday! So that is now four defeats by 4.5-3.5 in the last five matches for White Rose.

Barbican 4NCL 2 undoubtedly made the biggest impression of all the teams in the championship pool. We drew with Guildford 1 on Saturday - needless to say, the first time we have done that, and this perhaps puts Wood Green's success in the title race beyond all doubt - and we then drew with our first team in the "barbie derby" today, with Barbican 2 pressing for the win. (The second time this has happened).

This means that the scores in the championship pool are

Wood Green 8/8
Cheddleton 6/8
Guildford 5/8
Barbican 4NCL 1 5/8
White Rose 2/8
Jutes of Kent 2/8
Barbican 4NCL 2 2/8
e2e4.org 2/8

It is probably more a question of an interesting fight for second and third rather a title fight. Guildford has the more to do, being yet to face both Cheddleton and Barbican 4NCL 1 (the latter of whom already played).

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Around this time, the merits and demerits of the split pools followed by championship/demotion pool method get debated. Who are the winners and losers this time round, and would any other formats ever be considered (say, if the number of teams entering changed)?

[Peter Shaw]

Brown Jack are certainly a loser from this, having scored 5 points in Pool B of division 2 but all of those came against the top 4 so have carried 0 points to the relegation pool and having lost yesterday look like certainties to go down.

Had they beaten AMCA Dragons earlier in the season instead of losing 4.5-3.5, I think (the pool tables aren't on the website so I could be wrong) they would have qualified for the promotion pool at the expense of Sambuca Sharks, carrying forward maximum points so would be likely to go up!