Four Nations Chess League 2009/10
The 2009/10 season was the 17th season of the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL).
The first team of Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher was able to successfully defend its title from the previous year, relegated the South Wales Dragons , the second team from Guildford A&DC , Poisened Pawns and Jutes of Kent .
For the reported team squad, see the Four Nations Chess League 2009/10 team squad .
Dates and venues
The competitions took place on October 24 and 25, 2009, January 16 and 17, February 20 and 21, March 27 and 28, and May 1, 2 and 3, 2010. The first two and the the last three rounds were held in Sunningdale , the seventh and eighth rounds in Daventry , and the remainder in Hinckley .
Preliminary round
Grouping
The 16 teams were divided into the two preliminary rounds as follows:
| Section A | Section B |
|---|---|
| Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I (1) | Guildford A&DC I (2) |
| Guildford A&DC II (3) | White Rose Chess (4) |
| Pride and Prejudice (6) | Barbican Chess Club I (5) |
| The ADs (8) | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II (7) |
| Cambridge University (10) | Betsson.com (9) |
| Barbican Chess Club II (11) | South Wales Dragons (12) |
| Oxford (A1) | Pandora's Box Grantham (A2) |
| Jutes of Kent (A4) | Poisened Pawns (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 ADs started last year under the name The Gambit ADs .
Section A
The qualification for the championship pool was fiercely contested. It is true that the first team of Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher and Pride and Prejudice , which only tied in a direct comparison, were in a class of their own, and Cambridge University was also certain as a participant in the championship pool before the last round. The ADs only secured their last starting place in the championship pool in the last round, so that the second teams of the Barbican Chess Club and Guildford A&DC as well as last year's climbers Oxford and Jutes of Kent had to play in the demotion pool. The best starting positions for the championship pool went to Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher's first team and Pride and Prejudice with 5: 1 points each, while Cambridge University and The ADs took 1: 5 points into the finals. In the demotion pool, the second team from the Barbican Chess Club and Oxford each took 4: 2 points, the second team from Guildford A&DC 3: 3 points and Jutes of Kent 1: 5 points.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Team (M) | 7th | 6th | 1 | 0 | 13: 1 | 43.0: 13.0 |
| 2. | Pride and Prejudice | 7th | 6th | 1 | 0 | 13: 1 | 41.5: 14.5 |
| 3. | Cambridge University Chess Club | 7th | 4th | 1 | 2 | 9: 5 | 27.5: 28.5 |
| 4th | The ADs | 7th | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6: 8 | 26.5: 29.5 |
| 5. | Barbican Chess Club II team | 7th | 2 | 1 | 4th | 5: 9 | 28.0: 28.0 |
| 6th | Guildford A&DC II crew | 7th | 2 | 1 | 4th | 5: 9 | 18.5: 37.5 |
| 7th | Oxford (N) | 7th | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4:10 | 20.0: 36.0 |
| 8th. | Jutes of Kent (N) | 7th | 0 | 1 | 6th | 1:13 | 19.0: 37.0 |
decisions
| Championship pool participants: Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Team, Pride and Prejudice , Cambridge University Chess Club , The ADs | |
| Demotion Pool Participants: Barbican Chess Club II Team, Guildford A&DC II Team, Oxford, Jutes of Kent | |
| (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 | 7½ | 5½ | 5½ | 7½ | 6th | 7th | |
| 2. | Pride and Prejudice | 4th | 6½ | 6th | 5½ | 7½ | 7th | 5 | |
| 3. | Cambridge University Chess Club | ½ | 1½ | 4th | 4½ | 6th | 5½ | 5½ | |
| 4th | The ADs | 2½ | 2 | 4th | 4th | 3½ | 6th | 4½ | |
| 5. | Barbican Chess Club II team | 2½ | 2½ | 3½ | 4th | 6th | 3½ | 6th | |
| 6th | Guildford A&DC II crew | ½ | ½ | 2 | 4½ | 2 | 5 | 4th | |
| 7th | Oxford | 2 | 1 | 2½ | 2 | 4½ | 3 | 5 | |
| 8th. | Jutes of Kent | 1 | 3 | 2½ | 3½ | 2 | 4th | 3 | |
Section B
In the second preliminary round, qualifying for the championship pool was a clear matter. The first teams of Guildford A&DC and the Barbican Chess Club as well as White Rose Chess and the second team of the Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher won all competitions against Betsson.com , the South Wales Dragons and last year's climbers Pandora's Box Grantham and Poisened Pawns . The best starting positions for the championship pool went to Barbican's first team and White Rose, who started the finals with 4: 2 points each, while Guildford's first team and Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher's second team each took 2: 4 points into the finals. In the demotion pool Betsson.com took 6: 0 points, Pandora's Box 4: 2 points, the South Wales Dragons 2: 4 points and Poisened Pawns 0: 6 points.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | 7th | 6th | 0 | 1 | 12: 2 | 38.0: 18.0 |
| 2. | White Rose Chess | 7th | 6th | 0 | 1 | 12: 2 | 30.0: 26.0 |
| 3. | Guildford A&DC I. Crew | 7th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10: 4 | 37.5: 18.5 |
| 4th | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 7th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10: 4 | 35.0: 21.0 |
| 5. | Betsson.com | 7th | 3 | 0 | 4th | 6: 8 | 29.0: 27.0 |
| 6th | Pandora's Box Grantham (N) | 7th | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4:10 | 22.0: 34.0 |
| 7th | South Wales Dragons | 7th | 1 | 0 | 6th | 2:12 | 22.0: 34.0 |
| 8th. | Poisened Pawns (N) | 7th | 0 | 0 | 7th | 0:14 | 10.0: 46.0 |
decisions
| Championship Pool Participants: Barbican Chess Club I. Team, White Rose Chess , Guildford A&DC I. Team, Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Team | |
| Demotion Pool Participants: Betsson.com , Pandora's Box Grantham , South Wales Dragons , Poisened Pawns | |
| (N) | Promoted last season |
|---|
Crosstab
| Results | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4th | 5. | 6th | 7th | 8th. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | 3 | 5½ | 5½ | 6th | 5½ | 5 | 7½ | |
| 2. | White Rose Chess | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4½ | 5 | 4½ | 5 | |
| 3. | Guildford A&DC I. Crew | 2½ | 3 | 6th | 5 | 7½ | 6th | 7½ | |
| 4th | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 2½ | 7th | 2 | 5½ | 5 | 5 | 8th | |
| 5. | Betsson.com | 2 | 3½ | 3 | 2½ | 6th | 6th | 6th | |
| 6th | Pandora's Box Grantham | 2½ | 3 | ½ | 3 | 2 | 5½ | 5½ | |
| 7th | South Wales Dragons | 3 | 3½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 6th | |
| 8th. | Poisened Pawns | ½ | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2½ | 2 | |
Note : In the match between Guildford A&DC and Poisened Pawns, half a point was deducted from the Poisened Pawns for being lost without a fight.
Finals
Championship pool
The results of the preliminary round suggested a four-way battle between defending champion Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher , Pride and Prejudice , the Barbican Chess Club and White Rose Chess . In fact, the four candidates won the first two rounds, and so the direct comparisons in the last two rounds had to decide. Here Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher achieved two clear wins and thus defended his title.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Team (M) | 7th | 6th | 1 | 0 | 13: 1 | 41.0: 15.0 |
| 2. | Pride and Prejudice | 7th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11: 3 | 36.5: 19.5 |
| 3. | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | 7th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10: 4 | 32.0: 24.0 |
| 4th | White Rose Chess | 7th | 4th | 0 | 3 | 8: 6 | 23.0: 33.0 |
| 5. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 7th | 3 | 0 | 4th | 6: 8 | 28.5: 27.5 |
| 6th | Guildford A&DC I. Crew | 7th | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4:10 | 24.5: 31.5 |
| 7th | Cambridge University Chess Club | 7th | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3:11 | 19.0: 37.0 |
| 8th. | The ADs | 7th | 0 | 1 | 6th | 1:13 | 19.5: 36.5 |
decisions
| British Champion: Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Team | |
| (M) | Last season champions |
|---|
Crosstab
| Results | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4th | 5. | 6th | 7th | 8th. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher I. Crew | (4) | 6th | 6th | 5½ | 6½ | (7½) | (5½) | |
| 2. | Pride and Prejudice | (4) | 2 | 7th | 5½ | 5½ | (6½) | (6) | |
| 3. | Barbican Chess Club I. Team | 2 | 6th | (3) | (5½) | (5½) | 5½ | 4½ | |
| 4th | White Rose Chess | 2 | 1 | (5) | (1) | (5) | 4½ | 4½ | |
| 5. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher II. Crew | 2½ | 2½ | (2½) | (7) | (2) | 6th | 6th | |
| 6th | Guildford A&DC I. Crew | 1½ | 2½ | (2½) | (3) | (6) | 3 | 6th | |
| 7th | Cambridge University Chess Club | (½) | (1½) | 2½ | 3½ | 2 | 5 | (4) | |
| 8th. | The ADs | (2½) | (2) | 3½ | 3½ | 2 | 2 | (4) | |
Note : Results in brackets are taken from the preliminary round.
Demotion pool
In the demotion pool, the second team from Guildford A&DC , the Poisened Pawns and the Jutes of Kent had three relegated teams before the last round, the last relegation place was made by the tied teams Oxford, Pandora's Box Grantham and South Wales Dragons among themselves. Oxford defeated the South Wales Dragons, so a draw with Guildford's second team was enough for Pandora's Box to keep them up.
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp | G | U | V | MP | Board P. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | Betsson.com | 7th | 7th | 0 | 0 | 14: 0 | 39.0: 17.0 |
| 10. | Barbican Chess Club II team | 7th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10: 4 | 38.0: 18.0 |
| 11. | Oxford (N) | 7th | 4th | 0 | 3 | 8: 6 | 29.0: 27.0 |
| 12. | Pandora's Box Grantham (N) | 7th | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7: 7 | 26.5: 29.5 |
| 13. | South Wales Dragons | 7th | 3 | 0 | 4th | 6: 8 | 27.0: 29.0 |
| 14th | Guildford A&DC II crew | 7th | 1 | 2 | 4th | 4:10 | 21.0: 35.0 |
| 15th | Poisened Pawns (N) | 7th | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4:10 | 20.5: 35.5 |
| 16. | Jutes of Kent (N) | 7th | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3:11 | 23.0: 33.0 |
decisions
| Relegated to Division 2: South Wales Dragons , Guildford A&DC II. Team, Poisened Pawns , Jutes of Kent | |
| (N) | Promoted last season |
|---|
Crosstab
| Results | 9. | 10. | 11. | 12. | 13. | 14th | 15th | 16. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | Betsson.com | 4½ | 4½ | (6) | (6) | 6½ | (6) | 5½ | |
| 10. | Barbican Chess Club II team | 3½ | (3½) | 5½ | 6th | (6) | 7½ | (6) | |
| 11. | Oxford | 3½ | (4½) | 3½ | 5 | (3) | 4½ | (5) | |
| 12. | Pandora's Box Grantham | (2) | 2½ | 4½ | (5½) | 4th | (5½) | 2½ | |
| 13. | South Wales Dragons | (2) | 2 | 3 | (2½) | 6½ | (6) | 5 | |
| 14th | Guildford A&DC II crew | 1½ | (2) | (5) | 4th | 1½ | 3 | (4) | |
| 15th | Poisened Pawns | (2) | ½ | 3½ | (2½) | (2) | 5 | 5 | |
| 16. | Jutes of Kent | 2½ | (2) | (3) | 5½ | 3 | (4) | 3 | |
Note : Results in brackets are taken from the preliminary round.
The championship team
| 1. | Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher |
 |
Étienne Bacrot , Luke McShane , Jon Ludvig Hammer , Alexander Baburin , Nicholas Pert , Jonathan Speelman , Stephen Gordon , Pia Cramling , Dávid Bérczes , Richard Pert , Lawrence Trent , Ketewan Arachamia-Grant , Mohamed Tissir , Juan Manuel Bellón López , Andrew Greet , Craig Hanley , Neil McDonald , Bernd Rechel , Andrew David Martin , Bjørn Tiller , Matthew Broomfield, Ellen Hagesæther . |
Web links
- Season overview at the 4NCL (English)
- Overview at olimpbase.org (English)