4NCL ONLINE – ROUND 6 REPORT
SEASON 2024-25
4NCL (Nations Chess League)
Tues 19th Nov 24 – 7:30pm
Season 10 – Round 6
Time-Controls – 45 minutes + 15 seconds increments
Well not the best week for Dundee City teams with only two wins, one draw and 3 losses!
Div 1 – Group A
Shropshire & Friends 1 (2144) 3 – 1 (2272) Dundee City A
It was a disappointing loss for Dundee City A, but against a good side who had Star player, GM Keith Arkell on board one! Congratulations and well played Shropshire & Friends! This loss, puts Dundee City A in 4th place, and two points behind the two top sides. While anything is possible, since all the top sides, including Dundee City A are playing teams from the bottom half in the last round, it looks like this year’s campaign and defence of the title are over, but you just never know! IM Richard Polaczek had a fantastic game against GM Keith Arkell, with both players managing a 98% performance level! That`s 80% better than my best effort!
Div 1 – Group B
Oxford 1 (2017) 1½ – 2½ (1970) Dundee City B
You just can`t put Dundee City B down as they secure another fine win, this time against Oxford 1! This puts them on 9 points along with 2 other teams. They sit in 2nd place on board points, but there are still 4 teams who can secure the two top spots for the play-offs!
The good news is, it`s still in Dundee City B`s own hands when they play our old rivals, Jurassic Coast in the last round! They are evenly matched so it will be a close call. The other good news is the two top teams face off against each other! Stephen Hogg and Graham Mooney both got the wins, while Ed Spencer on board one secured the draw and the match!
Round 7 – Squeaky bum time!
Div 2 – Group A
Dundee City C (1722) 1 – 3 (1654) Shropshire & Friends 2
It just was one of those nights and Shropshire & Friends 2 were deserved winners against Dundee City C team. This result means our “C” team cannot make the play-off`s and just adds salt to the wounds, after finishing campaign’s 8 & 9 off with promotion to division one, but being denied promotion both times by the organisers, sighting an unwritten rule about how many teams a squad can have in a division. What is the point of a promotion and relegation system if you qualify under it, but get knocked back! BTW, no incentive at all, but I am not bitter!
Div 2 – Group B
Dundee City D (1594) 2 – 2 (1471) Stroud
A tremendous draw against Stroud means Dundee stay above the relegation zone by just one point. This means it is still in their own hands as they play Ashfield Anonymous B in round 7. This team is also on the same points as Dundee City D! With the two bottom sides playing each other, a win would secure safety, a draw would need either the two bottom sides also drawing, or if a win by Hebden Bridge 2, we can still reach safety if it was only a 2½ win? Any other result would mean we would be relegated. But as I say, it`s in our own hands and that is all you can ask for!
A team effort once again and well played Stuart Duff, Alisdair McLeod, Sir Philip Cohen & Matthew Hunter!
Div 3 – Group B
Barnet Knights B (1307) 0 – 4 (1548) Dundee City E
Well, Barnet’s Knights B made it a lot easier for Dundee City E, by defaulting their two bottom boards, after two no-shows! Conor Kelly (B1) and Euan Murray (B2) finished them off with two nice wins. With this result, our “E” team is safe from relegation and the last match against Guildford 2, is just to enjoy!
Div 4 – Group B
Dundee City F (1251) ½ – 3½ (1579) Crowthorne
Out graded and out gunned, it was a forlorn battle! Unfortunately this loss means Dundee City F team finish bottom of the group and get relegated unless there are less teams entered for season 11! The main thing to remember is, our “F” team is the training ground for the future and the experience gained by our players will be invaluable going forward!
One more round to go before the play-off`s! Can our “B” team, do it? Will our “A” team get a miracle? Join us on Tues 3rd Dec 24, 7:30pm for the final instalment!
For all the results and standings, click the link below.
COME ON DUNDEE CITY!