Four Nations Chess League 2008/09
The 2008/09 season was the 16th season of the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL).
The first team of Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher , created by the merger of two clubs, was A&DC champion before the defending champion Guildford , had to relegate Bristol, the North West Eagles , Richmond and the Sambuca Sharks .
For the reported team squads, see the Four Nations Chess League 2008/09 team squad .
Dates and venues
The competitions took place on October 4th and 5th, December 6th and 7th 2008, January 17th and 18th, March 21st and 22nd and May 2nd, 3rd and 4th 2009. The first two as well as the The fifth and sixth rounds were held in Sunningdale , the last three in Daventry , the remainder in Hinckley .
mode
With the increase from 12 to 16 teams, a change in the mode of competition was also connected. The teams were divided into two preliminary rounds ( Section A and Section B ) with 8 teams each and, depending on their performance in the preliminary round, into one of two final rounds. The first four of each preliminary round played for the title in the championship pool , the last four of each preliminary round against relegation in the demotion pool . Four teams had to be relegated. Teams that met in the preliminary round did not play against each other again in the final round; instead, the result of the direct comparison in the preliminary round was also valid for the final round.
Preliminary round
Grouping
The 16 teams were divided into the two preliminary rounds as follows:
| Section A | Section B |
|---|---|
| Guildford A&DC II (2) | Guildford A&DC I (1) |
| Barbican Chess Club I (3) | Betsson.com (4) |
| Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I (6) | The Gambit ADs (5) |
| Richmond (8) | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II (7) |
| Cambridge University (9) | Barbican Chess Club II (10) |
| Sambuca Sharks (12) | North West Eagles (11) |
| White Rose Chess (A1) | Bristol (A2) |
| South Wales Dragons (A4) | Pride and Prejudice (A3) |
Note : The previous year's position is given in brackets. If it is preceded by an "A", it is the previous year's position of a climber in Division 2. The Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher was created through the merger of the Hilsmark Kingfisher (last year in 6th place) with Wood Green (7th place last year). The Sambuca Sharks started last year under the name Slough Sharks .
Section A
Qualifying for the championship pool was a straightforward affair; the Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher first team , Guildford A&DC second team , White Rose Chess and Barbican Chess Club first team lost only one team point against the South Wales Dragons , Cambridge University, Richmond and the Sambuca Sharks combined. The best starting position for the championship pool was achieved by Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher's first team, who started the finals with 6-0 points, while the other qualifiers took 2: 4 points into the finals. In the Demotion Pool, Cambridge and the South Wales Dragons each took 5: 1 points, Richmond 2: 4 points and the Sambuca Sharks 0: 6 points.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Crew | 7th | 7th | 0 | 0 | 14: 0 | 41.5: 14.5 |
| 2. | Guildford A&DC II crew | 7th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10: 4 | 35.0: 21.0 |
| 3. | White Rose Chess (N) | 7th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10: 4 | 30.5: 25.5 |
| 4th | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | 7th | 4th | 1 | 2 | 9: 5 | 37.0: 19.0 |
| 5. | South Wales Dragons (N) | 7th | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6: 8 | 23.5: 32.5 |
| 6th | Cambridge University Chess Club | 7th | 2 | 1 | 4th | 5: 9 | 20.0: 36.0 |
| 7th | Richmond | 7th | 1 | 0 | 6th | 2:12 | 21.0: 35.0 |
| 8th. | Sambuca Sharks | 7th | 0 | 0 | 7th | 0:14 | 15.5: 40.5 |
decisions
| Championship Pool participants: Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Team, Guildford A&DC II. Team, White Rose Chess , Barbican Chess Club I. Team | |
| Demotion Pool Participants: South Wales Dragons , Cambridge University Chess Club , Richmond, Sambuca Sharks | |
| (N) | Promoted last season |
|---|
Crosstab
| Results | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4th | 5. | 6th | 7th | 8th. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Crew | 4½ | 7th | 4½ | 8th | 6½ | 4½ | 6½ | |
| 2. | Guildford A&DC II crew | 3½ | 2½ | 5 | 5½ | 7½ | 4½ | 6½ | |
| 3. | White Rose Chess | 1 | 5½ | 2 | 4½ | 6½ | 6th | 5 | |
| 4th | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | 3½ | 3 | 6th | 4th | 5½ | 7½ | 7½ | |
| 5. | South Wales Dragons | 0 | 2½ | 3½ | 4th | 4th | 4½ | 5 | |
| 6th | Cambridge University Chess Club | 1½ | ½ | 1½ | 2½ | 4th | 5 | 5 | |
| 7th | Richmond | 3½ | 3½ | 2 | ½ | 3½ | 3 | 5 | |
| 8th. | Sambuca Sharks | 1½ | 1½ | 3 | ½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Section B
In the second preliminary round, the Guildford A&DC first team was in a class of their own; she won all competitions and only gave 8.5 board points in the seven competitions. The qualification for the Championship Pool also reached the second team of the Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher , The Gambit ADs and Pride and Prejudice , while Betsson.com , the second team of the Barbican Chess Club , Bristol and the North West Eagles in the Demotion Pool against relegation had to play. The best starting position for the Championship Pool was achieved by Guildford's first team, who started 6-0 points in the finals, while The Gambit ADs took 3: 3 points into the finals, Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher's second team 2: 4 points and Pride and Prejudice 1: 5 points. In the demotion pool Betsson.com took 5: 1 points, Barbicans second team 3: 3 points, Bristol and the North West Eagles 2: 4 points each.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Guildford A&DC I. Team (M) | 7th | 7th | 0 | 0 | 14: 0 | 47.5: 8.5 |
| 2. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 7th | 4th | 2 | 1 | 10: 4 | 28.0: 28.0 |
| 3. | The Gambit ADs | 7th | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8: 6 | 28.5: 27.5 |
| 4th | Pride and Prejudice (N) | 7th | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7: 7 | 29.5: 26.5 |
| 5. | Betsson.com | 7th | 2 | 1 | 4th | 5: 9 | 25.5: 30.5 |
| 6th | Barbican Chess Club II team | 7th | 2 | 1 | 4th | 5: 9 | 25.0: 31.0 |
| 7th | Bristol (N) | 7th | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4:10 | 21.0: 35.0 |
| 8th. | North West Eagles | 7th | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3:11 | 19.0: 37.0 |
decisions
| Championship Pool Participants: Guildford A&DC I. Team, Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Team, The Gambit ADs , Pride and Prejudice | |
| Demotion Pool Participants: Betsson.com , Barbican Chess Club II. Team, Bristol, North West Eagles | |
| (M) | Last season champions |
|---|---|
| (N) | Promoted last season |
Crosstab
| Results | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4th | 5. | 6th | 7th | 8th. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Guildford A&DC I. Crew | 8th | 6th | 5½ | 7th | 7th | 6½ | 7½ | |
| 2. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 0 | 4th | 4th | 4½ | 4½ | 5½ | 5½ | |
| 3. | The Gambit ADs | 2 | 4th | 4½ | 5½ | 3 | 5½ | 4th | |
| 4th | Pride and Prejudice | 2½ | 4th | 3½ | 5 | 6th | 3½ | 5 | |
| 5. | Betsson.com | 1 | 3½ | 2½ | 3 | 4th | 5½ | 6th | |
| 6th | Barbican Chess Club II team | 1 | 3½ | 5 | 2 | 4th | 3½ | 6th | |
| 7th | Bristol | 1½ | 2½ | 2½ | 4½ | 2½ | 4½ | 3 | |
| 8th. | North West Eagles | ½ | 2½ | 4th | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
Finals
Championship pool
The first teams of Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher and Guildford A&DC were the only teams to start with 6-0 points in the finals, and it was to be expected that only a direct comparison in the last round would bring the decision. Guildford had collected more board points and thus the better starting position, but awarded them by a defeat against their own second team. With two wins, Guildford kept the chance of successfully defending the title, but did not get over 4: 4 against Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher and had to give them the title.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Crew | 7th | 6th | 1 | 0 | 13: 1 | 37.5: 18.5 |
| 2. | Guildford A&DC I. Team (M) | 7th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11: 3 | 39.5: 16.5 |
| 3. | Guildford A&DC II crew | 7th | 4th | 1 | 2 | 9: 5 | 29.5: 26.5 |
| 4th | White Rose Chess (N) | 7th | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7: 7 | 24.5: 31.5 |
| 5. | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | 7th | 2 | 1 | 4th | 5: 9 | 26.0: 30.0 |
| 6th | Pride and Prejudice (N) | 7th | 1 | 2 | 4th | 4:10 | 24.5: 31.5 |
| 7th | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 7th | 0 | 4th | 3 | 4:10 | 20.0: 36.0 |
| 8th. | The Gambit ADs | 7th | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3:11 | 22.5: 33.5 |
decisions
| British Champion: Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Team | |
| (M) | Last season champions |
|---|---|
| (N) | Promoted last season |
Crosstab
| Results | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4th | 5. | 6th | 7th | 8th. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Crew | 4th | (4½) | (7) | (4½) | 5 | 7th | 5½ | |
| 2. | Guildford A&DC I. Crew | 4th | 3 | 6th | 7th | (5½) | (8th) | (6) | |
| 3. | Guildford A&DC II crew | (3½) | 5 | (2½) | (5) | 5 | 4th | 4½ | |
| 4th | White Rose Chess | (1) | 2 | (5½) | (2) | 4th | 5 | 5 | |
| 5. | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | (3½) | 1 | (3) | (6) | 3½ | 4th | 5 | |
| 6th | Pride and Prejudice | 3 | (2½) | 3 | 4th | 4½ | (4) | (3½) | |
| 7th | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 1 | (0) | 4th | 3 | 4th | (4) | (4) | |
| 8th. | The Gambit ADs | 2½ | (2) | 3½ | 3 | 3 | (4½) | (4) | |
Note : Results in brackets are taken from the preliminary round.
Demotion pool
In the demotion pool, two clubs had to accept a deduction of three team points due to defeats without a fight. While Richmond was relegated regardless of the point deduction (and this penalty only had the curious effect that with Richmond and the Sambuca Sharks two teams finished the Demotion Pool without a team point), the North West Eagles were the negative points to doom. Without this, they would not only have left the relegated Bristol behind, but also referred the South Wales Dragons to a relegation zone.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | Betsson.com | 7th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 12: 2 | 35.5: 20.5 |
| 10. | Cambridge University Chess Club | 7th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 12: 2 | 35.0: 21.0 |
| 11. | Barbican Chess Club II team | 7th | 4th | 1 | 2 | 9: 5 | 34.5: 21.5 |
| 12. | South Wales Dragons (N) | 7th | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7: 7 | 25.0: 31.0 |
| 13. | Bristol (N) | 7th | 3 | 0 | 4th | 6: 8 | 25.0: 31.0 |
| 14th | North West Eagles | 7th | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4:10 | 27.0: 29.0 |
| 15th | Richmond | 7th | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0:14 | 23.5: 32.5 |
| 16. | Sambuca Sharks | 7th | 0 | 0 | 7th | 0:14 | 18.5: 37.5 |
decisions
| Relegated to Division 2: Bristol, North West Eagles , Richmond, Sambuca Sharks | |
| (N) | Promoted last season |
|---|
Crosstab
| Results | 9. | 10. | 11. | 12. | 13. | 14th | 15th | 16. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | Betsson.com | 4th | (4) | 4½ | (5½) | (6) | 6th | 5½ | |
| 10. | Cambridge University Chess Club | 4th | 4½ | (4) | 6th | 6½ | (5) | (5) | |
| 11. | Barbican Chess Club II team | (4) | 3½ | 5 | (3½) | (6) | 5½ | 7th | |
| 12. | South Wales Dragons | 3½ | (4) | 3 | 4½ | ½ | (4½) | (5) | |
| 13. | Bristol | (2½) | 2 | (4½) | 3½ | (3) | 4½ | 5 | |
| 14th | North West Eagles | (2) | 1½ | (2) | 7½ | (5) | 4th | 5 | |
| 15th | Richmond | 2 | (3) | 2½ | (3½) | 3½ | 4th | (5) | |
| 16. | Sambuca Sharks | 2½ | (3) | 1 | (3) | 3 | 3 | (3) | |
Note : Results in brackets are taken from the preliminary round.
The championship team
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher |
 |
Stephen Gordon , Lawrence Trent , Andrew Greet , Ketewan Arachamia-Grant , Craig Hanley , Andrew David Martin , Bernd Rechel , Neil McDonald , Dávid Bérczes , Krisztián Szabó , Bogdan Lalić , Csaba Bérczes , Bjørn Tiller , Ismael Karim , Jovanka Houska , Malcolm Pein , Matthew Broomfield, Graham Lee, Tom Farrand, Alexander Baburin , Pia Cramling . |
Web links
- Season overview at the 4NCL
- Overview at olimpbase.org (English)