English Chess Forum

In the u160, Notts had a walkover to go top of this table. I'll report the result of the u160 GMC-Staffs encounter on the MCCU website on Wed 29 Feb as I'll be away from my computer software for a few days.

It is interesting to read what is happening in county chess in the Midlands.
A 'walkover' if pre-arranged is a civilised way of admitting defeat. On the other hand, vagaries of modern life can result in a different kind of defeat. A match in the SCCU U-160 was recently cancelled on the day due to problems with the booked venue. That left the captains scrambling to try to inform all the players on the morning.

When we find out why Warks pulled out, we can comment

Obviously it is disappointing for G Man and Staffs who actually had to play Warks already this season, given that Warks are a strong team

I think it means that even if G Man beat Staffs 16-0 tomorrow, a 8-8 draw against Notts would give them the title not us, but on the flip side even a draw tomorrow would send us through to the National stages and leave a match v Notts next month for the Midlands title

I am told G Man beat Staffs by 12-4 today

Here`s Ray Dolans report of that U160 match GMan v Staffs... http://www.staffordshirechess.org.uk/intercu160.html
Now there`s a tale that many a team captain could tell...(late withdrawals)....such are the joys of county chess. But great that Staffs did at least rally together to put out a team under very difficult circumstances.

Pity that Warks were unable to play there U160 match v Notts. In previous years this has been a key title contenders battle in this section.
I see that the Warks Congress comes up this w/e so hopefully that event will be well supported.

David Pardoe wrote:I see that the Warks Congress comes up this w/e so hopefully that event will be well supported.

97 entries and counting! An identical number to this time last year.

Results of yesterdays u140 matches are now on the web site

Surely Worcs have already won the U140, given they beat Leics in their match?

Mick Norris wrote:Surely Worcs have already won the U140, given they beat Leics in their match?

Indeed they have, as you and Sean Hewitt have gently reminded me again of the MCCU tire-break rules.

From the SCCU website -
Open results: Essex 9.5 - 6.5 Surrey
"Surrey have already taken the title so this was something of a hollow victory." (Essex capt.)
Should a team which has finished 1st with a match to spare field its strongest side?

John McKenna wrote:From the SCCU website -
Open results: Essex 9.5 - 6.5 Surrey
"Surrey have already taken the title so this was something of a hollow victory." (Essex capt.)
Should a team which has finished 1st with a match to spare field its strongest side?

This is being discussed at http://www.sccu.ndo.co.uk/let.htm

Mick Norris wrote:When we find out why Warks pulled out, we can comment

Obviously it is disappointing for G Man and Staffs who actually had to play Warks already this season, given that Warks are a strong team

I think it means that even if G Man beat Staffs 16-0 tomorrow, a 8-8 draw against Notts would give them the title not us, but on the flip side even a draw tomorrow would send us through to the National stages and leave a match v Notts next month for the Midlands title

Mick Norris wrote:Surely Worcs have already won the U140, given they beat Leics in their match?

Warwicks defaulted against Notts U-160 as they could only raise 12 boards; in particular a number of players didn't want to play two weeks in a row as Warwicks were again facing Notts in a vital U140 match last Saturday. The winner of the latter match qualified for the national stages. Warwicks won by 9-7 thus going through at Nottinghamshire's expense. Had Notts won they could still have won the Midlands title by beating Worcestershire. As it is the final match between Worcs and Notts is one of those meaningless encounters, referred to elsewhere, where nothing is at stake. Notts lost against both Leics and Warwicks in the Under 140 by 9-7; both results could have been reversed if certain key games had finished differently - but that's chess.

Pity really, given a 50% score from the 12 able to play would have been significant

Very unlikely to matter, though you never know

Midlands Minor Counties' Title
Leicestershire just beat Derbys yesterday to take the title because of their earlier win against Lincs. Lincolnshire convincingly beat Worcs in the remaining union stage match. Visit http://www.mccu.org.uk/cm11-12/minor/minor.htm for links to detailed scores and Graham Booley's a blow-by-blow report of the epic Derbys-Leics struggle.

Details of all the matches held 17 March, u140 Notts-Worcs , and Staffs-Shrops and the u120 Warks-Lincs matches, are now posted to the MCCU web site:
http://www.mccu.org.uk/
Edited 15:40 Sunday