English Chess Forum

The complete entry list is at https://4ncl.co.uk/data/2627/final_divisions_2627_season.htm New division 4 teams 23 AlphaChess Marauders new 24 AlphaChess Plunderers new 25 CSC ChessPlus Kingston 4 new 26 Desert Penguins Next Gen new 27 Fianchetto Fellowship new 28 Hammersmith new 29 Iceni 3 new 30 K...

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 23, 2026 3:43 pm

Yes, just played through the game, not quite sure what happened

(Jovanka's game)
It was move 40 and the lichess clock display shows little time remaining, so possibly a loss on time.

In Sweden, many tournaments used the so-called Nordic Swiss system, which was especially frustrating for players in the middle of the field. You would play a much stronger opponent, then a much weaker one, and then a much stronger one again. Isn't that a characteristic of any Swiss pairing system w...

If you want a single tie-breaker that's unlikely to need follow-ups, sum of opponents' ratings usually does the trick. I was going to suggest performance rating, but for players on the same score, that's a simpler alternative. For most tournaments that's going to favour the players who start well a...

When only one player can lift a trophy, qualify for a championship, or claim a medal, an objective, pre-established mathematical tie-break provides an immediate, indisputable resolution that requires no extra rounds. In my view that's the only time you need them. What is the objection to sharing th...

How is "Head-to-head result → Buchholz Cut-1 → Buchholz (full) → Sonneborn-Berger → Most wins / Most games played with Black" easily comprehensible to the competitors and public? I think it's wrong to have tie breaks when you don't need them. Just share the prizes and report equal first etc. If the...

Do we have a source for this story According to wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Botvinnik Botvinnik did not play in the Soviet team that won the 1952 Chess Olympiad in Helsinki: the players voted for the line-up and placed Botvinnik on second board, with Keres on top board; Botvinni...

Wow! I might have got confused between 1952 and 1962... There were rumours that Bronstein was ordered to throw the 1951 match, so selectors maybe didn't think Botwinnik was good enough, or if in 1962, they were sick of him only turning up to defend (or regain) his title, and not playing anything el...

I cannot think of an example where those in contention for an Open team have opted for the Women's team instead, but maybe there are examples. The player herself may make the decision, of course! An example is Team Polgar for Hungary in 1990. Judit was 2540 and Susan 2510. Both were higher rated th...

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2026 5:13 pm

(Do Ireland and/or Northern Ireland have a local chess grading system? I went looking but it is not obvious.)

https://ratings.icu.ie/icu_ratings

The Irish Chess Union (ICU) includes Northern Ireland.

According to https://www.chessscotland.com/news/proposed-organisation-change-to-scio, Chess Scotland are proposing to drop their present unincorporated status and become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, commonly known as a SCIO. Perhaps the Scottish legal position is different but wh...

Neil Graham wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2026 5:25 am

I've just seen a piece about Paul Keevil - has that been mentioned before?

I don't believe so. A Google search brings up the detail as several news sites cover it.

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2026 12:19 pm

MVL & Vitiugov have drawn.

I think the rule about no draws before move 30 is applicable. MVL finished with more time than he started.

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 21, 2026 11:43 am

Their matches yesterday were played at a different venue and started an hour earlier because of "Yom Kippur"

A rule tweak which would avoid the donation of points to the paired opposition would be to use the concept of the half point bye, or even the no point bye.

John Moore wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 19, 2026 6:09 pm

England v Australia in the Womens.

Australia have former Kent and England player Heather Richards in their squad.