English Chess Forum

Round 1 Pairings

1 Crowthorne A V SchachAttack
2 CSC 1 V Surbiton
3 Sussex Martlets 3 V Wessex Some Stars A
4 Iceni V Watford A
5 CSC 3 V MK Phoenix 1
6 Sussex Martlets 2 V MK Phoenix 2
7 Wessex Some Stars C V Celtic Tigers 2
8 Cambridge University 2 V Barnet Knights C
9 Hackney Returns V Poisoned Pawns
10 Poole V Celtic Tigers 3
11 Crowthorne B V CSC 2
12 Weesex Some Stars B V Cambridge University Y
13 Watford B V Barnet Knights B
14 Iceni 2 V Barnet Knights D
15 Cambridge University 3 V War and Piece A
16 War and Piece A V Iceni 3
17 Iceni 3 V Cambridge University 3

Hmmm, Crowthorne who were the strongest team in 3S previously, are seeded 18th due to not registering all their players yet. Leading to them playing the team seeded 1st in round 1.

In 2019-20, division 3S comprised 16 teams and division 4 34. So that's 50 in total.

In 2021-22, division 3S is stated to comprise 33 teams, although only 32 are named and CSC 3 are not included in the first round pairings, making 31. Division 3C is 15. That's 46 in total. With the transfer of two Shropshire teams to division 3C that's a net loss of 6.

Teams not taking part (11)

All Anands on Deck
Banbury Bulldogs
CSC 3
Fermented Sharks
Fischer's Catch
Oxford 5
Poisoned Pawns - Next Generation
Surbiton 2
The Pitstop
Warwickshire Select 3
Wessex D

New or renamed teams (5)

Cambridge University Y
Hackney
Poole
SchachAttack
War and Piece B

Any feedback on the venue, accommodation & evening meals as I'll have two teams there next weekend?

The playing venue is good. The hotel is a bit out of the way and may be awkward to get to by public transport.

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 20, 2021 10:32 pm

Any feedback on the venue, accommodation & evening meals as I'll have two teams there next weekend?

A couple of timings on the Sunday might be considered evil. Breakfast stops serving at 9 am and checkout is 10 am.

Rooms are on the small size, fine for one, but perhaps a bit cramped for two sharing.

The evening meal was a buffet, perhaps marginally expensive at £ 22 a head, but there isn't anywhere within walking distance.

Division 3 was accommodated with plenty of space between boards.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 20, 2021 11:17 pm

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 20, 2021 10:32 pm

Any feedback on the venue, accommodation & evening meals as I'll have two teams there next weekend?

A couple of timings on the Sunday might be considered evil. Breakfast stops serving at 9 am and checkout is 10 am.

So a number of somewhat artificial rules are being put in place for the purposes of “Covid security” during the games, at the same time as ensuring breakfast is overcrowded (assuming people make the effort at that time) and hundreds of players will be forced to mingle together in communal areas for an hour prior to the game?

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 20, 2021 11:17 pm

A couple of timings on the Sunday might be considered evil. Breakfast stops serving at 9 am and checkout is 10 am.

I'm assuming that neither of those will actually happen, but shall shortly find out.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 21, 2021 8:09 am

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 20, 2021 11:17 pm

A couple of timings on the Sunday might be considered evil. Breakfast stops serving at 9 am and checkout is 10 am.

I'm assuming that neither of those will actually happen, but shall shortly find out.

Did either happen?

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:47 am

Did either happen?

Breakfast was extended to 10am. I was asked to leave my room at 10am, decided not to cause nuisance to the staff ( who were very polite ) and went to the playing hall. This worked fine.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:17 am

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:47 am

Did either happen?

Breakfast was extended to 10am. I was asked to leave my room at 10am, decided not to cause nuisance to the staff ( who were very polite ) and went to the playing hall. This worked fine.

Many thanks for the info. Maybe I'll tell my team 9 in the hope that that will ensure they are there by 10

As reported in Division Three Central, late entries are now being accepted as in the e-mail below:-

Just to let you know that we’re happy to receive entries from any teams wanting to join 4NCL Division 3 South and Division 3 Central for weekend 2 and subsequent weekends. We’re reducing the entry fee from £60 to £50 for new teams, and are also giving new teams the option of starting on 0 match points (if they want to meet weaker opposition during the second weekend), 2 match points (if they feel their playing strength merits meeting stronger opposition) or 1 match point if they don’t express a preference.

What has happened to the game scores of Division 3 South?
The scores of Division 3 Central and Division 3 North were published some days ago
The games of Division 3 South seem to have disappeared into the dustbin of history.

Ken Norman wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:59 am

What has happened to the game scores of Division 3 South?
The scores of Division 3 Central and Division 3 North were published some days ago
The games of Division 3 South seem to have disappeared into the dustbin of history.

There were a lot more games in Division Three South so I'm not surprised that it's taking longer to have them available. If there wasn't an inputter at the venue then they may be sent to someone else which can delay it further.

Ken Norman wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:59 am

What has happened to the game scores of Division 3 South?
The scores of Division 3 Central and Division 3 North were published some days ago
The games of Division 3 South seem to have disappeared into the dustbin of history.

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:47 am

There were a lot more games in Division Three South so I'm not surprised that it's taking longer to have them available. If there wasn't an inputter at the venue then they may be sent to someone else which can delay it further.

The 4NCL no longer has specialist inputters. All games have to be input by arbiters with the necessary skills (which rules me out).

My colleagues at Division 3 South worked hard at this during the weekend, but still took quite a lot of games away with them.

They won't appreciate Ken's "dustbin of history" comment.