English Chess Forum

4NCL Online

24.3.20 - We're hoping to set up a new 4NCL online chess league very soon (the next couple of weeks latest) - named, funnily enough, 4NCL Online.



4NCL Online will be based not only on existing 4NCL teams who are interested in participating, but also any new teams that wish to apply to join the league including existing OTB clubs across the four nations.

The format will be a (probably) regionally based group stage, after which the top teams from each group will qualify for a final stage.

Matches will be between teams of four players using (probably) a 45 mins/15 sec time control.

Matches will take place on weekday evenings at around (probably) fortnightly intervals.

The exact format will depend on numbers of teams entering.

There's no entry fee, and (if funds permit) we'll arrange some trophies for winning teams.

If you're interested in entering a team/teams, could you please let Mike Truran know as soon as you can so that we can get an idea of likely interest?



Any thoughts on formats or other arrangements would be very welcome.

The 4NCL welcomes entries to its new online national league 4NCL Online.

4NCL Online is open to all any teams who are interested in participating, and not just existing 4NCL teams.
1. 4NCL Online will be played on a divisional basis, with teams allocated to divisions based on strength and with promotion and relegation between the various divisions.
2. Matches will be between teams of four players using a 45 mins/15 sec time control.
3. Matches will take place each week at 7.30pm on Tuesday evenings.
4. There is no entry fee.

The rules for the competition can be found here: http://www.4ncl.co.uk/data/4NCL_online_rules.pdf

The entry form can be found here: http://www.4ncl.co.uk/fide/4nclonline.htm

Entry will be open until midnight on Friday 3 April. 4NCL Online will run on Tuesday nights, starting on Tuesday 7 April.

Once you have entered, you will receive a user guide together with your username and password for the 4NCL software. You will then be able to:
1. Register your players for your squad, which will need to be done by midnight on Saturday 4 April.
2. Input your team lists for Round 1, which will need to be done by Monday 6 April at 7:30pm in accordance with the rules linked above. In advance of this, the 4NCL intends to publish the format and the team pairings on Sunday 5 April. The 4NCL will publish the board pairings at 6:30pm on Tuesday 7 April.

4NCL Online will be played on Lichess. Instructions for creating your account and initiating games of chess against the right opponent on Lichess can be found here: http://www.4ncl.co.uk/data/Guide_to_Pla ... ichess.pdf

If you have any other questions, please contact Alex Holowczak on [email protected].

Jonathan Rogers wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:19 pm

I am impressed by the numbers so far, I must say; and to state the obvious, we are all very grateful to Alex for undertaking this extra role of organising the event.

Roger Lancaster wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 6:19 pm

I suspect the previous guesses may be too low - I'd expect a number of clubs still to be working out whether to enter, say, two teams or three and to leave that decision until the slower members of their clubs signify availability or otherwise.

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 02, 2020 11:05 pm

83 - amazing!