4NCL (Nations Chess League): Round 1 report!
4NCL (Nations Chess League)
Tues 12th Sept 23 – 7:30pm
Season 8 – Round 1
Time-Controls – 45 minutes + 15 seconds increments
Dundee City teams are a joint venture between Castlehill Chess Club Dundee and Dundee Chess Club.
We are off and up and running in season 8 of the 4NCL! Dundee City have 8 teams this season, spread throughout all 5 divisions! Disappointedly, two of our teams did not get a match in round one, with Dundee City H, in division 5 getting a bye and Dundee City E, in division four winning by default as Calstock Killers did not reach base!
Of the six teams playing we had 4 winners; Dundee City A and Dundee City B in division one, Dundee City C in division two, and Dundee City G in division 5. Unfortunately, Dundee City D (div 3) and Dundee City F (div 4) both lost.
RESULTS
Div 1 – Group A
Dundee City A (2303) 4 – 0 (1832) Oxford 2
A comfortable start for Dundee City A in the defence of their title. Rishi Vijayakumar, J12 played his first match in the “A” team on board 4 and showed not only his fighting qualities, but his deep understanding of the game to bag his win!
Div 1 – Group B
Dundee City B (2087) 2½ – 1½ (2062) Oxford 1
A close fought match for Dundee City B, who just sneaked past the winning line. What a line up too, with David Findlay in the team after Rishi pushed him down a team, Scottish champion 2023, Ed Spencer also in the team, Mr dependable, Stephen Hogg, topped off on bottom board by Ross Bremner!
Div 2 – Group B
Barnet Knights A (1917) 1 – 3 (1889) Dundee City C
Dundee City C team, once again preformed like giants against class opponents, Barnet Knights A! Graham Mooney and Theo Vasilliadis both won, while Andre Babin & Alastair Dawson both drew their matches!
Div 3 – Group A
Dundee City D (1836) 1 – 3 (1823) Hebden Bridge 2
Dundee City D had everything thrown at them by Hebden Bridge 2, and put up a good fight, but in the end, it was a bridge too far! Two good draws on boards one & two by Dariusz Kosznik and Richard Kynoch, but no joy on the other two boards!
Div 4 – Group B
Dundee City E W – L Calstock Killers
Well all ready and primed for battle, but Calstock Killers, were more Calstock no-shows! Disappointing for our players who had given up their time, but a win is a win!
Div 4 – Group A
Hebden Bridge 3 (1515) 3 – 1 (1562) Dundee City F
It seems Hebden Bridge are going to be a thorn in our side as their number “3” team, emulated their number “2” team with a 3-1 win! Some tough and close matches, but always just behind. A nice win for Conor Kelly on board 4 saved the granny!
Div 5 (Swiss)
Dundee City G (1427) 4 – 0 (929) Colchester JFF B
While nothing in chess is ever what it seems by the score line, this turned out to be a nice start for Dundee City G, winning all 4 matches! On board 4 was Ana Belen Otero Seijas, playing her first match in the 4NCL on her phone, on the bus, and it was her opponent who mouse/hand slipped!
Dundee City H a bye
Not much you can do with an odd number of teams and someone had to get the bye!
Round 2 on Tuesday 26th September 23, 7:30pm
For all the results and standings, click the link below.