National Club

[Roger de Coverly]

It seems the ECF are reviving or attempting to revive this.

It's going to be in Hull at the University on the weekend of Friday 20th October to Sunday 22nd October.
https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-nat ... hips-2023/

Three sections Open, Average rating under 2000, Average rating under 1700. Five rounds, one Friday evening, then two Saturday and two Sunday. Squads of up to 6, 4 to play each round.

It says that all games will be FIDE rated, but that cannot be correct in the Open as the move rate is stated to be 90 minutes with 10 second increments.

In a break with tradition, 4NCL squads will be allowed to enter,

There's relatively cheap accommodation available at the University.

There's a clash with Guernsey, but other clashes with popular events seem to have been avoided.

[Dan Lambourne]

Time limit has been changed to 90/30 and it appears it has expanded from clubs in leagues associated with the ECF to also include clubs that participate in a league in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

As Redditch are current (2018) holders of the Intermediate plate, we will be entering a team, but I didn't get as much interest as when it was in the Midlands, mostly due to distance but partly due to the FIDE rating requirement.

Unfortunately it also clashes with a Birmingham Rapidplay.

If you are wanting a single room there are plenty around the university but if you want a double you have to look further afield, but not that far.

[Roger de Coverly]

it appears it has expanded from clubs in leagues associated with the ECF to also include clubs that participate in a league in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

In the days when it took the form of a national knockout and had a sizeable entry, it included Welsh and Scottish teams. I'm not sure if it ever included Irish teams, although the similar format Sunday Times/Times School Champioships included Northern Ireland.

[John Upham]

Is the title of this competition correct?

Would "National Team(s)" be more accurate?

Is that because the teams entering do not have to have originated from an ECF registered club?

[Roger de Coverly]

an ECF registered club?

There is no specific ECF registration for clubs.

Opening it up to 4NCL squads is likely to expand the market for participation as it opens it up to groups of players both used to playing together in a team and travelling away for weekends with overnight stays.

"National Club" is a legacy name, so they may as well use it.

[Dan Lambourne]

National Club is also on the trophies, so it means they can be reused, assuming they get them all back.

[John Upham]

There is no specific ECF registration for clubs.

I meant an ECF club which has an ECF rating code on the rating system and, in 99% of cases meets regularly in a physical venue.

Bourne Ends rating code is 2048.

[Mick Norris]

If you are wanting a single room there are plenty around the university but if you want a double you have to look further afield, but not that far.

Unlike the 4NCL Congress, the University itself will be in full swing, presumably, so I assume there's no onsite accommodation?

[Dan Lambourne]

There is some onsite accommodation that can be organised via Stephen Greep, as they do have guest accommodation for visitors to events, but possibly not as much as when it is out of season.

There is cheaper accommodation at least for Single occupancy at Endsleigh Park nearby.

[Nick Burrows]

It says that all games will be FIDE rated, but that cannot be correct in the Open as the move rate is stated to be 90 minutes with 10 second increments.

This has now been ammended to 90 + 30s, and so will be Fide rated.

[David Gilbert]

Nine teams so far - three in each section. Any more? Hull can look at its best in the Autumn can’t it?

[Mick Norris]

It looked great last weekend in the sunshine

[David Gilbert]

A big entry from Hull teams on Monday - four in total. Numbers are up to a promising 13 now. Come and play chess and see the famous phone boxes! We are chess players afterall.

[David Gilbert]

Nineteen teams now. That figure includes three from the London League, which is a pretty good turn out, isn’t it? The split goes five teams in each of the Open and the Average 2000 groups, while there’s nine in the Average 1700 section. Let’s hope for a few more if only to even out the odds and avoid the possibility of forced byes or the dreaded triangular matches. Someone might want to check whether any of the entries are actually 4NCL squads.

[IM Jack Rudd]

The geographical distribution of the teams in the top section is pretty nice - London, Coventry, Oldham, Hull; I have no idea where the Heffalump Hunters are from. What you want to see from a national championship, that.