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31st 4NCL OTB Congress

Friday 19 - Sunday 21 January 2024, The Old Swan, Harrogate

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Replay Games | Information | Prizewinners | Entries

 

Thank you to all the players, arbiters, helpers and the hotel for a great event.

 

GM Keith Arkell has provided this detailed annotated game report from the FIDE Open, thank you!


23-24 Main Rules

Available here together with a link to a Summary of Important Changes. Captains and Managers are asked to make themselves and their team colleagues familiar with them as soon as possible.


Online Season 8 Winners

Congratulations to the teams below for their achievements in the season 8 online event.

 

 

Main 4NCL

Junior 4NCL

Div 1

Wessex Some Stars A

Young Dragons Wales A

Div 2

Barnet Knights A

Chess Rising Stars 1

Div 3

Wessex Some Stars D

Rogue Rooks 

Div 4

Lenzie Basilisks

Bishop Blunders

Div 5

Wells Globetrotters 2

 

 

Pairings and Results (Main) | Replay Games (Main)

Pairings and Results (Junior) | Replay Games (Junior)

 

- with thanks to Andy Howie and Mike Truran.



Junior 4NCL Online - Season 8 (completed)


4th 4NCL Online Autumn Congress (completed)

Tuesday 5 September - Tuesday 28 November 2023

 

Open | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Information | Winners

 

Thank you for participating in this marathon and to the arbiters and organisers.


Hull 4NCL Congress 2023 (completed)

 

 

 

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 September 2023, Canham Turner Conference Centre

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1450 | Games | Info | Entries | Prizewinners

 

Thank you to all the players, arbiters & helpers for a great event.


Main 4NCL OTB Confirmed Entries 23-24

 


4NCL 2023-24 Arbiter Application

The 4NCL is inviting arbiters to apply to work at the 4NCL in the 2023-24 season. We are seeking all roles, from Chief Arbiter down to a floor arbiter at each weekend. The deadline to respond to this invitation is Tuesday, 29th August. Please view the role/job descriptions for details, prior to making an application.

 

 

Form now closed


Premier League Fantasy Football

 

You don't have to be a millionaire to own a Premier League football team. Instead why not join "Premier Chess"? Joining the league couldn't be easier. Simply use this link and you'll be added automatically after you've entered the game.

League Join code is: gmd2eo

 

The Premier League starts next Friday August 11th - so to be in from Week 1 you must enter by then!


4NCL Junior Team League (edition 2 completed)

The second edition of this event took place on Saturday 8 July 2023 at Fairfield Prep School, Leicestershire.

 

The information & entry information page is here or can be found in the top menu under '4NCLJTL'

 

Players' 11th birthday had to be on or after 1 September 2022.

Players ratings were not in excess of 1500 (rules 1.3 and 2.4).

 

Entries | Schedule

 

Results & Pairings:  Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Table

 


30th 4NCL OTB Congress (completed)

Friday 16 - Sunday 18 June 2023, Mercure Daventry Court Hotel

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Games | Information | Prizewinners | Entries

 

Thank you to all the players, arbiters & helpers for another great event.

 

Annotated game report from Round 4 by Nigel Davies.

 

Photos from the Congress - with many thanks to Brendan O'Gorman.


Main 4NCL OTB, 22-23 (completed)

  Division 1 Division 2 Division 3W Division 3E Division 4  

 

Wknd 1

Round 1

Round 1

Round 1

Round 1

Round 1

   

Round 2

Round 2

Round 2

Round 2

Round 2

Wknd 2

Round 3

Round 3

Round 3

Round 3

Round 3

Round 4

Round 4

Round 4

Round 4

Round 4

Wknd 3

Round 5

Round 5

Round 5

Round 5

Round 5

Round 6

Round 6

Round 6

Round 6

Round 6

Wknd 4

Round 7

Round 7

Round 7

Round 7

Round 7

Round 8

Round 8

Round 8

Round 8

Round 8

Wknd 5

Round 9

Round 9

Round 9

Round 9

Round 9

Round 10

Round 10

Round 10

Round 10

Round 10

Round 11

Round 11

Round 11

Round 11

Round 11

Table

Table

Table

Table

Table

 

Games Games Games Games Games
 

The registration list is published here

 

All Games in PGN | Captain Contacts | Venue details/locations | Rules 22-23 | Hotel Booking Service

 

Thank you to the arbiters, live broadcast team, inputters and helpers for their work the season.


Britain’s 4NCL league flourishes despite rising costs - Leonard Barden

 

 

17.5.23 - Britain’s national chess league, the 4NCL, continues to flourish despite rising costs. Its 12-team, eight-player top division, including a mandatory female board, is fiercely competitive and incidentally provides opportunities for rising talents to qualify for grandmaster and international master titles. Its second division is a clash of relegated teams and new promotion aspirants.

 

 

   

In divisions three and four the teams are reduced to six boards, and the average rating can vary widely, between around 2200 (master level) and 1600 (weak club standard). Some squads are ad hoc, created specifically for a league season.

 

 

The 4NCL’s format and business model is to play four weekends at a Midlands hotel with two rounds each time, and a final three-round decider over the May bank holiday. Pairings are seeded, so that the likely top teams only meet at the end of the season.

 

Covid disrupted the programme, and for a season games were only played online. Since then, the business model has become more difficult, as the few hotels with bedroom and arena space for hundreds of players have raised their prices. In anticipation of the coming 2023-24 season, the 4NCL canvassed clubs asking if they would accept a much higher entry fee, and received an overwhelmingly positive response. For many teams, the 4NCL is the highlight of their season.

 

Chess.com Manx Liberty won the 4NCL 2022-23 top division for a second year running. The Isle of Man team won all its 11 matches, with Chessable White Rose second, Cheddleton third, and Wood Green fourth. Round nine settled it, as Manx edged White Rose 4½-3½, a score made up of seven draws and a win for Alexey Shirov, the former world No.2, who has won all his 10 4NCL games spread over several seasons.

 

Manx explained the strange score: “The living legend known for his attacking style lived fully up to high expectations and presented an exciting victory with tactical fireworks. The fast 1-0 lead allowed the remaining Manx team members to play a disciplined match without the pressure to come up with more victories.” A new variant on parking the bus?

 

Fabiano Caruana, the reigning US champion, scored a narrow win in Bucharest with 5½/9, half a point ahead of a quartet of pursuers. China’s newly crowned and fatigued world champion Ding Liren trailed on 4/9, but it could have been worse, as he was in last place before a final round win.

 

Puzzle 2520 White mates in one move (no catch, but still hard to visualise)

 

Click here for solution.


4NCL British Rapidplay Championship 2023 - report by Keith Arkell

 

 

Read the full report here, with annotated games.


4NCL Online - Dundee City A

Congratulations to Dundee City A for becoming the first Scottish team to be crowned the 4NCL Online division one champions! Incredible achievement for Scotland, the City of Dundee and the two chess clubs in Dundee City (Castlehill CC & Dundee CC).


4NCL Season 2023-2024: Expressions of Interest

You can still find the link to the form here and further details about the proposals for next season.

Winners 22-23

Congratulations to Chess.com Manx Liberty on retaining their 4NCL Division 1 title | Final Table

 

     
 

4NCL Season 2023-2024: Expressions of Interest

 

As many of you will know, we’ve had some difficulty finding venues for next season, and as a consequence are likely to have to limit the number of teams we can accept. That said, we (and also our venue-finders Guaranteed Events, who need to commit to bedroom allocations when signing contracts with hotels and are on the hook financially for any shortfall in bedroom take-up) would like some comfort that we’re likely to fill the full quota of 64 teams.

 

The reason for asking the question is that of course in the normal scheme of things we would expect that at least 64 teams will enter out of the 2022-2023 season total of 83 teams. But we expect entry fees to have to increase (we’re hoping to keep them within the range of £475-500 for Divs 1 and 2 and £350-375 for Div 3), and we’re slightly nervous that that may put off some teams from entering – while noting that this still comes in at around £5.50 per game, so still in line with most weekend congresses.

 

We’ve accordingly set up an ‘Expression of Interest 23-24’ form, and I should be grateful if you would please complete it no later than Friday 5 May.

 

The reason for haste is twofold:

  1. the hotels will likely only hold the dates we have for at most another two weeks without signed contracts; and

  2. there’s always the risk that the hotels may receive other enquiries willing to pay more than we do.

We’re asking you to complete the form on a ‘no limitation on team numbers’ basis, on the assumption that if we get more than 64 expressions of interest on that basis then at least 64 will enter even if the numbers we can accept are limited. We understand that some combined squads may decide not to play at all rather than play on a reduced team numbers basis – but this survey was never going to be a precise science.

 

You can find the link to the form below. Many thanks in advance for your help.

 

 
     

 


British Rapidplay Championship (Event Completed)

Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th April 2023 | Venue: Mercure Bradford, Bankfield Hotel

 

 

Endorsed by the British Isles Coordinating Committee

Supported by the English Chess Federation

 

Pairings & Results: OPEN (One FIDE Rated Section) | Prizewinners | Replay Games | PGN

 

     
 

Thank you to the players, arbiters, organisers and helpers for a great event, and many congratulations to Ameet Ghasi (British Rapidplay Champion) and Kamila Hryshchenko (British Women’s Rapidplay Champion)!

 
     

 

Photos by Marina Mosnegutu: Arbiters | Playing Hall 1 | Playing Hall 2 | Playing Hall 3 | Mercure Bradford


3rd 4NCL OTB Easter Congress (Event Completed)

Friday 7 - Monday 10 April 2023, Mercure Daventry Court Hotel

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Games | Information & Arrangements | Prizewinners | Entries

 

Thank you to the players, arbiters & organisers for a great event.

 

Annotated game report from Round 4 by Nigel Davies


3rd 4NCL Online Spring Congress (Event Completed)

Tuesday 17 January - Tuesday 11 April, 2023 - seven rounds (fortnightly @ 19.30)

 

Open | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Entries | Information | Winners

 

All over! Thank you for participating in this marathon.


 

Harrogate Congress 2023: Click here to read the full game report, annotated by Keith Arkell.


Britain’s Four Nations league fosters potential grandmaster talents - Leonard Barden

 

 

17.2.23 - Generation Z young masters are in contention for GM performances this season, while the revamped chess.com Tour prize fund offers new incentives for the world top 200.

 

Britain’s Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) is a team competition, but it also plays a key role in providing opportunities for the best young talents aiming at the grandmaster title. The potential rewards of becoming a strong GM have just jumped, due to the new prize structure of the revamped online chess.com Champions Tour.

 

 

   

After last weekend’s fifth and sixth (of 11) rounds, there is already a huge gap between the top five teams and the rest. Wood Green, Chessable White Rose and Chess.com Manx Liberty all have a maximum 12/12, while The Sharks and Cheddleton have 11/12 after drawing with each other. The rest, led by Celtic Tigers on 5/12, are already concerned only with avoiding relegation. 4NCL pairings always put likely title deciders at the end of the season.

 

 

The 4NCL has long been a route to the GM title for the best young talents. Staged over five weekends at Midlands hotels, it provides strong opposition and the support of team mates. To become a grandmaster, a player requires three norm performances at 2600+, plus a personal rating of 2500+. England’s established GMs are ageing, so generation Z has an opportunity.

 

Read more and see solution...

 

Diagram: White mates in three moves, against any defence (by Fritz Giegold), White is queen, two bishops and two knights up while the Black king is trapped without a single legal move. The answer contains just two lines of play. Easy? You’ll do very well to crack it in half an hour. The obvious try 1 Qa8/c8 cxb3 2 Qh8 is a stalemate draw.

 


29th 4NCL OTB Congress

Friday 20 - Sunday 22 January 2023, The Old Swan, Harrogate

 

Thank you for taking part in this event.

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Games | Information & Arrangements | Prizewinners | Entries

 

Annotated game report from Round 3 by Nigel Davies

Annotated game report from Round 4 by Keith Arkell


Britain’s route to grandmaster for rising chess talents - Leonard Barden

 

 

17.1.23 - Britain’s Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) has become a favoured route to the grandmaster title for the game’s best young talents. Staged over five weekends at hotels in Daventry, Warwick and Milton Keynes, it offers opposition that is strong — but not overwhelmingly so — in an environment where team support can be crucial.

 

 
   

Every competitive player acquires a rating. A novice is below 1000, an average club standard player is 1 200-1600. This rises to 1800 for strong club level, 2000 for expert, 2200 for national master and 2400 for international master.

 

 

To become a grandmaster, a player needs three 2600-rated performances, plus a personal rating of 2500. England had around 30 GMs half a century ago, and survivors from that golden era now make up the No 1 nation in over-50 and over-65 tournaments. A new generation is needed, and a quartet of players, all born after 1999, are in serious contention.

 

Cambridge graduates Matthew Wadsworth, 22, and Harry Grieve, 21, fought out the British Championship at Torquay in a final-round epic last August. Grieve secured the title and his first GM norm then, while Wadsworth has a norm from the 2018-19 4NCL season, along with some near-misses. Both have begun the current 4NCL season well, with three wins and a draw each.

 

Read More...

 

Puzzle 2503 (Diagram): GM Nick Pert vs Andrew McClement, 4NCL 2022. White to move and win. Pert, the 2021 British champion, has a mighty d7 pawn, but the obvious 1 Rh8+ Ke7 2 Re1+ is stopped by 2...Re6. Instead, a subtle two-move sequence won for White. Can you find it?

 

Click here for solution.


Main 4NCL Online - S6 (finished)

Pairings & Results | Replay Games | All Games in PGN


Junior 4NCL Online - S6 (finished)

Pairings & Results | Replay Games | All Games in PGN


Carlsen edged out by Hikaru Nakamura in online speed final epic - Leonard Barden

 

 

23.12.22 - The world No.1 lost by a minimal margin, 14.5-13.5, to the former US champion and popular streamer before the pair headed for the World Rapid and Blitz in Kazakhstan starting this weekend.

 

The long standing and evenly matched online rivalry between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura took another twist on Sunday when the five-time US champion and popular streamer edged out Norway’s world No 1 14.5-13.5 in the $100,000 chess.com speed championship final.

 

 

   

The event, a four-hour mix of 5/1 and 3/1 blitz and 1/1 bullet, is a marathon test of fast reactions, creativity, and resourcefulness under extreme and constant time pressure, and this pair have monopolised it. In 2016 and 2017, Carlsen beat Nakamura in the final; since then, with Carlsen mostly not competing, Nakamura has won five years in a row.

 

 

Rapid chess in the UK received a major boost this week when the ECF and 4NCL announced that the 2023 British Rapid Championship will be staged in Bradford on 15-16 April. It will be an 11-round Fide-rated Open, with a £3000 prize fund.

 

This is an enhanced version of what used to be an annual event which has been in abeyance since 2019. Its generous conditions for top players are sure to attract a strong entry of grandmasters. It is also an opportunity for rising talents to showcase their skills, and for ambitious amateurs to take on, and perhaps surprise, highly rated opponents.

 

Diagram: Magnus Carlsen v Hikaru Nakamura, game seven, Chess.com speed final 2022. Black to move and win.

 

Read more and see solution...


3rd 4NCL Online Autumn Congress

 

Tuesday 6 September - Tuesday 29 November, 2022

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Information | Winners

 

 

 

bullet Thank you Tim and Andy for another smooth, if very long tournament!! I hope these continue as with young kids I can't get out to club nights so between these Congresses and 4NCL Online I get my weekday evening chess fix.

 

bullet Huge thanks to you and Andy for your organisation and management!

 

bullet I’d like to say thank you on behalf of ***. *** thoroughly enjoyed the online congress. (a parent's email).

 

bullet Many thanks yet again to you and your team for your time and efforts. Very much appreciated.

 

bullet Many thanks for organising and running the 4NCL online event, it all seemed to run very smoothly. As I can't easily attend OTB tournaments and longer format games this is a nice substitute.

 

bullet Thanks a lot for your time in organising this. Very much appreciated.

Hull 4NCL International OTB Congress

Friday 14 October - Sunday 16 October, Canham Turner Conference Centre

 

 

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Entries | Games | Prizewinners | Information

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

A full list of prizewinners is here.

 

 

 

 
  This congress was a Chessable ECF Grand Prix event

Hull 4NCL GM Norm Tournament

   

 

A nine round tournament, Wed 12 - Sunday 16 October at the Canham Turner Conference Centre.

 

Players, pairings and results | Games | Chess-results.com


Junior 4NCL Team Entry

 

Weekend 1: 24-25 September 2022, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa.

 

Information & Entry Guidelines | Competition Rules | Teams 22-23 | Schedule

 

 

Form Temporarily Closed

 

 

We regret that the first Junior 4NCL weekend on 24-25 September at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, has had to be cancelled after the hotel late in the day reneged on the agreed venue hire charges. We’re looking for new dates and venues – more to follow when we have it - Mike Truran.


Fantasy Football

 

For the 2022-23 Fantasy Premier League why don't you join "Premier Chess" - the number one League for chess players? Joining the league couldn't be easier. Simply go here and you'll be added automatically after you've entered the game. League Code: j6bm9j

 

Reminder - the League starts on Friday 5 Aug. Managers must use their real names - NO pseudonyms.


Online Seasons 6 & 7

Dates for the next two online seasons are here. Some updated rules will be published soon as well, along with pairings - with thanks to Alex Holowczak and Dave Thomas.


Games Report - 28th Congress, Leamington Spa, 8-10 July 2022

GM Danny Gormally, competitor at the recently held 4NCL 28th Congress at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, has published this detailed & honest annotated report of five games, played in the FIDE Open. Thank you Danny.


28th 4NCL OTB Congress

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 July 2022, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa.

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Games | Information & Arrangements | Entries | Prizewinners

  This congress was a Chessable ECF Grand Prix event

Game Report - 28th Congress, Leamington Spa, 8-10 July 2022

GM Nigel Davies, competitor at the recently held 4NCL 28th Congress at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, has published this detailed annotated report of one of his games, played in round 1 of the FIDE Open. Thank you Nigel.


4NCL Congress Leamington Spa

Many thanks to the 4NCL organisers for a really great 28th OTB congress weekend at the Woodland Grange Hotel. One of the best venues I have played in and first-class, quietly efficient organisation of the chess itself - from a competitor


Main 4NCL, Pairings & Results 21-22


Management Board Report

The 4NCL Management Board’s report on the Roger Emerson/Alexander Cherniaev incident at the 30 April – 2 May 2022 4NCL weekend can be found here.


The Warwickshire Junior Team League

4NCL and Warwickshire Chess Association are collaborating on a joint event called The Warwickshire Junior Team League. See links below for further details.

 

Saturday 23 April 2022 at Kenilworth School, Kenilworth CV8 2DA.

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Information & Arrangements | Rules 21-22

 

Division 1

Division 2

Friendlies

   

Round 1

Round 1

Round 1

   

Round 2

Round 2

Round 2

Round 3

Round 3

Round 3

Round 4

Round 4

Round 4

Round 5

Round 5

Round 5

Round 6

Round 6

Round 6

Round 7

Round 7

Round 7

Table

Table

 

The registration list is published here.

   

Junior 4NCL Weekend 3 of 3

The third and final weekend took place 9 & 10 April at the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Information & Arrangements

 

Division 1

 

Division 2

Saturday

Saturday

10:00

Round 1

10:00

Round 1

13:30

Round 2

12:30

Round 2

17:00

Round 3

15:00

Round 3

 

 

17:30

Round 4

20:00

End

19:30

End

Sunday

Sunday

10:00

Round 4

10:00

Round 5

13:30

Round 5

12:30

Round 6

 

 

15:00

Round 7

16:30

End

17:00

End

Final Table

 

Final Table

 
 

Reserve Games

Saturday

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

 

Sunday

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

 

 
 
The registration list is published here.
 
Entry guidelines 21-22 | Competition Rules 21-22 | Teams 21-22 | Schedule

2nd 4NCL Online Spring Congress

Tuesday 1 February - Tuesday 26 April 2022

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Information | Winners


2nd 4NCL OTB Easter Congress

Friday 15 - Monday 18 April 2022, Mercure Daventry Court Hotel

 

Thank you to the players, arbiters & organisers for a great event.

 


15th 4NCL Online Congress

Friday 22 - Sunday 24 April 2022 (This event was run as a single section).

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | Games | Entries | Information | Winners


Game Report - 2nd 4NCL Easter Congress, 15-18 April 2022

GM Keith Arkell, competitor at the recently held 2nd 4NCL Easter Congress at Mercure Daventry Court Hotel, has annotated two games played in round 5 of the FIDE Open. Thank you Keith.


Game Report - 2nd 4NCL Easter Congress, 15-18 April 2022

GM Danny Gormally, competitor at the recently held 2nd 4NCL Easter Congress at Mercure Daventry, has published this detailed and instructive annotated report of three games he played in rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the FIDE Open. Thank you Danny.


Season 21-22 Update

  1. We’re amending rule 12.2 so that round 2 on the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend (1 May) starts at 1pm, not 12 noon. We were hoping to run a blitz event on the Sunday evening, but on reflection have decided that it’s on the ‘too difficult’ list. Maybe next season…

  2. Regarding Div 3 South May bank holiday weekend venue arrangements. We had been told that Div 3 South would be at Kents Hill Milton Keynes; we’ve now learned that the booking was actually made at Holiday Inn Maidenhead/Windsor - and Holiday Inn Maidenhead/Windsor are apparently closing until January 2023, as I understand it because they’ve agreed a government contract to accommodate asylum-seekers. Anyway, Guaranteed Events are now urgently looking for a new venue, which may or may not be on the same weekend. More to follow as soon as I have it.

- Mike Truran, 2nd April 2022


J4NCL Online Thank You

This e-mail is long overdue…

 

I want to say a big thank you on behalf of my players and parents for another fantastic Junior 4NCL Online season. I never realised until a couple of years ago when I set up a chess club just how much work is involved in organising and running chess events. Every time I have e-mailed for help it’s always been given without issue; as a team you have always been available to assist.

 

Three-quarters of my players only took the game up during the past few years; we actually only formed to play in this event! Many of them are teenagers who without this opportunity wouldn’t play chess competitively. Your event has given the players a focal point to play matches and is one of the success stories from the lockdown period.

 

Thank you again for all you have done to make the event such a success and such fun for everyone over the past few years.

 

- From a J4NCL Team Captain


Thank You

Hello  Mike, I just wanted to send a quick thank you to you and the organising team after the recent 2nd 4NCL Easter OTB congress. This was my first chess over the board competition in England, and my first anywhere for 19 years, and I was absolutely knocked out by how professional the whole thing was in every regard.

 

A great venue, the live presentation (including published games - which must take so much manual processing) all with friendly and helpful people, etc.

 

I'm really impressed and thankful. Please pass my sentiments to all involved.

 

- From a competitor


Division 3 South

We’ve managed to secure Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes again for the rescheduled Division 3 South weekend - not entirely ideal in some respects, but at this late stage it seems that we don’t have a big range of venues to select from. The good news is that it’s on 25-26 June, the same weekend as the rearranged Div 1&2 weekend.

 

Could I please ask the Division 3 South captains to let me know whether:

  1. You would prefer two rounds over the two days at the usual 4NCL time limits, or whether you would prefer three rounds at 4NCL congress time controls (all moves in 90 minutes plus 30 second increment per move from move 1)?

If the latter:

  1. whether you would like two games on the Saturday and one on the Sunday, or the other way round?

  2. whether you would like all three rounds played at 4NCL congress time limits, or whether you would like the two-round day played at 4NCL congress time controls and the one-round day played at the usual league time control?

Kind regards

Mike Truran


David Robertson RIP by John Carleton

 

I first met Dave in 1964 when the chess teams for two schools located in the Birmingham area, Bishop Vesey GS [my school] and King Edward’s GS Camp Hill [Dave’s school] played each other. A couple of the Camp Hill players came across as very confident [well, “cocky” was the way I thought of it].

 

These two were strong players, and Dave was one of them. In 1965 I had brought about some improvement in my game and edged my way into the Warwickshire U18 team which won the national championships.

 

Continue reading...

 


14th 4NCL Online Congress

Friday 18 - Sunday 20 February 2022.

Thank you for taking part in this event

U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Information | Winners


13th 4NCL Online Congress

Friday 14 - Sunday 16 January 2022.

Thank you for taking part in this event

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Information | Winners


4NCL Final Weekend

Divisions 1 & 2 rounds 10 and 11 are confirmed for 25-26 June at Daventry Court. We’re hoping to hear soon about whether we can find venues for Divisions 3 South and Central. As Division 3 North only has eight teams we won’t be arranging a June weekend for that. More to follow when we have it!

 

- Mike Truran


Seconds stumble - but thirds thrive

22.2.22 - Many thanks again to Peter Kitchen (Celtic Tigers) for another great pictorial report about their exploits during weekend 2 at the Holiday Inn Maidenhead/Windsor.


Harrogate Congress, Jan 2022

Here's a great article by WFM Sarah Longson about her weekend at the recent 4NCL Harrogate Congress.


27th 4NCL OTB Congress

Friday 21 - Sunday 23 Jan 2022, The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate.

Thank you for taking part in this event

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Games | Information | Entries | Winners


Guildford’s 25 Years in the 4NCL: Part III

Roger Emerson and Nigel Povah conclude their coverage of Guildford’s 4NCL adventures, which saw their team go an astonishing 85 matches without defeat

 

 

Following Wood Green’s retreat from the forefront of the 4NCL, Guildford’s strongest challenger looked likely to be Cheddleton, headed by David Howell and Jonathan Hawkins. Indeed, our meeting in February 2015 proved to be a tense affair, which ended as a narrow victory, 4½-3½. However, it could have been a catastrophic defeat as we had substantially worse positions on several boards.

 

Read More...


Guildford’s 25 Years in the 4NCL: Part II

Roger Emerson and Nigel Povah explain how Guildford continued to raise the bar

 

 

Taking over management from Nigel in November 2011, Roger brought in a number of new players, including grandmaster Romain Edouard (about whom more later), and several overseas titled players now living in or with close ties to England, including GM David Smerdon, IM Gediminas Sarakauskas, his wife Zivile and her sister IM Dagne Ciuksyte, who is now a mainstay of the England Women’s team.

 

Read More...


Guildford’s 25 Years in the 4NCL: Part I

Nigel Povah and Roger Emerson chronicle the rise of their 4NCL powerhouse team

 

 

In this series of articles we will cover the history of Guildford teams in Division One of the 4NCL over the past 25 years, from small beginnings to the powerful squad of the late teens of the 21st century. In many ways this growth has mirrored the expansion of the 4NCL itself into a large, successful and well managed organisation.

 

Read More...


Celtic Tigers 2 make a perfect start

26.11.21 - Many thanks to Peter Kitchen (Celtic Tigers) for his comprehensive report about their exploits during weekend 1 at Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes.


4NCL Weekend 2

We have, with great reluctance and after much debate, decided not to proceed with weekend 2 of the 4NCL on 15-16 January.

 

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Adventures in a new jungle (1st team)

20.12.21 - Many thanks to Chris Skulte (Celtic Tigers) for this detailed and upbeat report about the 1st team's exploits during weekend 1 at Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes.


2nd 4NCL Online Autumn Congress

Tuesday 31 August - Tuesday 23 November, 2021

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | Entries | Games | Information | Winners


12th 4NCL Online Congress

Friday 10 - Sunday 12 December.

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | Entries | Games | Information | Winners


4NCL Women's League 2021-22

We regret to announce that the 4NCL Women's League weekend due to be held on 11-12 December has been cancelled for two (maybe related) reasons:

 

a. the increasingly uncertain position regarding Covid;

b. the relatively small number of entries so far.

 

We'll try to organise another weekend in the first quarter of 2022.


 

     
 

4NCL Weekend 2

 

We have, with great reluctance and after much debate, decided not to proceed with weekend 2 of the 4NCL on 15-16 January. Reasons for the decision include the following:

  1. The difficulty that many teams may have in raising full teams given many players’ likely, and entirely understandable, reluctance to play given prevailing conditions and restrictions;

  2. Uncertainty as to future Omicron trends;

  3. Uncertainty as to HM Government’s future intentions as to whether further, more stringent, regulations/guidelines will be put in place;

  4. The opportunity to postpone/cancel the weekend at all venues without financial penalty (if we delay further, that opportunity will almost certainly reduce/disappear);

  5. The risk of severe financial penalties if a significant number of teams and/or players decide not to play (and/or do not stay overnight), resulting in the bedroom allocations at the various venues not being taken up in full.

We’re currently investigating whether we can postpone the January weekend to a weekend/weekends in June. If we can do that, bedroom bookings already made will be transferred to that weekend (but can of course be cancelled in line with the usual T&Cs). If we can’t do that, bedroom bookings already made will be automatically cancelled.

 

We also have an option to postpone/cancel weekend 3 on 12-13 February. We won’t be making a decision on that until the New Year, by which time things may (or may not) have clarified somewhat.

 

If there is a (small) silver lining to a (rather dark) cloud, three of the four divisions being played as Swisses means that we should hopefully still be able to complete the season so long as we can get at least three weekends completed (although norm opportunities may be unavoidably affected).

 

With very best wishes for Xmas and the New Year from all at the 4NCL, and here’s hoping for better times ahead.

 

Kind regards,

Mike Truran

 
     

Carlsen plans fast start in Dubai while Firouzja captures his records - Leonard Barden

 

27.11.21 - The world champion aims to exploit Ian Nepomniachtchi’s lack of experience in world title matches, while the French 18-year-old has just broken two of Carlsen’s own landmarks.

 

 
 

   

Magnus Carlsen says he plans a fast start in the opening three rounds of his 14-game, $2m world title match against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Play starts at 12.30pm GMT throughout the match, which can be followed live and free online, with expert and computer commentaries on every move.

 

Nepomniachtchi will have the favourable white pieces in the first game, whose colours were determined by popping balloons.

 

Carlsen will push for an early lead. “As a reigning champion you have a good chance to strike at the start,” he said. “That’s definitely something I am going to try.”

 

 

Previous cases of first-time challengers who froze include Tigran Petrosian’s disastrous game one in 1963 against Mikhail Botvinnik and Bobby Fischer’s poisoned pawn capture against Boris Spassky in 1972.

 

In the 2018 match Fabiano Caruana was shaky in the marathon first game and should have lost at move 38. Carlsen himself, in his second game against Vishy Anand in 2013, planned the Caro-Kann 1 e4 c6 but nervously knocked over his c7 pawn. However, there are also examples such as in 1927 and 2000 where the challenger scored early and went on to win the match.

 

Diagram: Alexey Shirov v Leinier Domínguez, Wijk 2010. White to move and win. In the game as played, Shirov agreed a draw due to time pressure, so the puzzle challenge is to do better.

 

Read more and see solution...


Online chess booms while over the board play recovers from the pandemic - Leonard Barden

 

 
   

2.11.21 - Last weekend’s Scarborough congress attracted a bumper entry of 300, as tournament regulars greeted the resumption of a popular fixture.

 

 

   

Competitive chess in the north-east is recovering well from the pandemic. The British championship and a GM tournament were staged in Hull. and an invitational in North Tyneside.

 

The 4NCL national league, played online last season, returns over the board shortly with 80 teams against 94 before Covid-19. There will be new champions, for Guildford’s record breakers have retired after 83 matches and eight years without defeat.

 

 

County teams plus local clubs and leagues, which have an older demographic, have been generally less resilient, although a few have successfully tapped in to the online chess boom inspired by Netflix’s Queen’s Gambit.

 

Battersea, Camberley, Kingston, Richmond and Surbiton, all in a suburban belt, have booming memberships.

 

Puzzle 2443: Roland Scott v Joseph Blake, Edinburgh 1920. White (to play) is queen for bishop up, but can you find his only winning move? A century ago, Scott solved the puzzle and won the British championship.

 

Solution.

 

 

 

 

     
 

4NCL 2021-22 Season & COVID

We expect to publish Covid guidelines for the new season a couple of weeks before the first weekend of the new season given the present uncertainty about whether HMG guidance/rules in place at the moment will remain as they are or become more stringent.

 

There will be no problem with teams getting entry fee refunds after the 31 October entry deadline if the approach the 4NCL adopts is not to their liking, and bedroom bookings can as usual be cancelled without charge up to five working days before the first weekend.

 
     

Hull 4NCL International Congress

Friday 22 October - Sunday 24 October, Canham Turner Conference Centre

 

 

 

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Replay Games | Entries | Information | Winners

 

Thank you to the players, arbiters & organisers for a great event.

 

Here's an excellent set of photos from the event - with thanks to Oli Scarff.


Hull 4NCL GM Norm Event

A nine round event Wed 20 - Sunday 24 October at the Canham Turner Conference Centre, Hull.

 

 

 

 

Full details, players, pairings and results | Replay Games | PGN

 

Thank you to the players, arbiters & organisers for a great event.

 


Entry Guidelines

These are now posted (in PDF format) together with fees due and important dates for the new season.


Main Rules

Now available here (in PDF format). As usual there are amends from the 2019-20 season and Captains and Managers are asked to make themselves and their team colleagues aware of them as soon as possible.

 

Online Season 4 Logins

All new captains in both main and junior online events should now have received an e-mail containing season 4 login credentials. If you have not received it please check your spam filters or folders, and if still not located contact  straightaway.

 

Accounts for all existing captains who have re-entered their teams are also now enabled. Please also see the Fair Play Regulations notice above.


Junior 4NCL Weekend 1 of 3

The first 21-22 weekend took place Sat 25 & Sun 26 Sept at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa

 

Results and more here.


11th 4NCL Online Congress

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 October.

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Entries | Information | Winners


Junior 4NCL Weekend 1

See this wonderful event report from CHlivelylemon at the J4ncl Weekend 1.


10th 4NCL Online Congress

Friday 13 - Sunday 15 August 2021

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | U1100 | Games | Entries | Information | Winners


26th 4NCL OTB Congress

Friday 10 - Sunday 12 Sept, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa.

 

Thank you to all the players, arbiters and helpers for a great event.

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | Games | Information & Arrangements | Entries | Winners

 

See an excellent gallery of photos from the weekend - with many thanks to Brendan O'Gorman.


25th 4NCL FIDE Rated Congress

Friday 9 - Sunday 11 July 2021, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa.

 

Thank you to all the players, arbiters and commentary team for a great event.

 

Open | FIDE Major | FIDE Minor | Games | Entries | Information | Winners

 

Jack Rudd and Nigel Davies have annotated some games from this event. Thank you both!


Main 4NCL Arbiter Interest

The main 4NCL is seeking to recruit arbiters for the 2021-22 Season. To be considered as an arbiter you must be registered with FIDE as a licensed NA, FA or IA. If you are registered with FIDE as ENG, SCO or WLS but do not have a licence then the appropriate federation can arrange for you to get one.

 

Further details and form link here (Please note applications now closed).


Fantasy Football

 

For the 2021-22 Fantasy Premier League why not join "Premier Chess" - the number one League for chess players? Joining the league couldn't be easier. Simply go here and you'll be added automatically after you've entered the game.

League Code: vdm1rl


9th 4NCL Online Congress

Friday 18 - Sunday 20 June

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | U1100 | Games | Entries | Information | Winners


8th 4NCL Online Congress

Friday 21 - Sunday 23 May

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | U1100 | Games | Entries | Information | Winners


4NCL Online Spring Congress

Tuesday 2 February - Tuesday 27 April

 

Thank you for taking part in this event

 

Open | U2000 | U1700 | U1400 | Games | Entries | Information | Winners


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