4NCL Online League – Season 11 – Wessex Squad Round 4 Report
With Round 4 played on Tuesday, March 4th, we have now moved into the second half of the season, with Wessex teams engaged in multiple play-off and promotion battles—and just one relegation fight!
Following our incredible Round 2 and Round 3 results, Round 4 saw us achieve another strong performance with five match wins, two draws, and just one loss.
Overall team performance:
- Match results: 5 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss
- Individual results: 16 wins, 6 draws, 10 losses
- Logistics: No issues—everyone played with the correct colours and time controls. Well done, all!
Division 1
Wessex A faced a lower graded Lenzie Basilisks team although they had a real threat on board 1 where they fielded a 2266 with the white pieces – Gavin drew quickly with him which left the rest of the team to win fairly comfortably with wins from David & Peter and a draw from Jaimie although all of these finished an hour or so after Gavin so I had a long wait for the match win !
Wessex A remain top of their Div 1 section with 7 points from 8 – we have yet to face the 2nd & 3rd teams which I suspect will be “double pointers” to determine the play-off places, although given the 3rd placed team is 3 points below us we might be able to qualify with a couple of draws.
Wessex B faced the strongest team in Div 1 (by far) who fielded a 2219 average grade (!) with an IM on board 1.
Richard was quickly overwhelmed in the opening before Christian, Raj and John all dug in for long battles which all went past 21:00 – Christian & Raj lost tight battles and John scored a great result with a draw against a 2127 with the black pieces in a typically complex JW position.
We are currently in 7th place and facing relegation however we have played the top 3 teams so some results against #5 & #6 teams in the last 3 rounds will see us hang on to our Div 1 place !
Division 2
Wessex C faced a useful looking Salopians & Friends 2 but cruised to a comfortable victory with wins from Anuhas, Jamie & Hugh (3 of our talented junior /young adult Wessex contingent) and a draw from Roger, one of our Wessex veterans, who, like myself, has been playing chess longer than the combined age of the other 3 !
With 4 points from 8, Wessex C are now in 4th place so fairly safe from relegation with a possible (although long) shot at promotion if we get the right results in the last 3 rounds.
Division 3
Wessex D took on the English Deaf Association team and out-graded them on boards 2-4.
Bill Adaway took one for the team on board 1 by playing his 4th game of the season as the “lower graded player” – I can only hope he gets a few weaker opponents in the last 3 rounds. Wins from Jamie, Tim & Phil saw us win comfortably 3-1. Jamie was pleased to get his revenge against his opponent who beat him previously whilst Phil (finally!) played a lower graded player after a run of 3 very strong opponents and got to win his first game of the season.
With 6 points from 8 Wessex D are currently in 3rd place and in the 3-way battle for one of the two play-off places, with a double-pointer against Morpeth in 2nd place to come.
Wessex E faced a close match grade-wise although rose to the occasion and won comfortably with wins from Simon, Damon & Robert.
With 7 points from 8, Wessex E are currently in equal 1st place with a great chance of reaching the Division 3 play-offs.
Division 4
Our F team had a great battle against a higher graded Wells Hartbreakers 2 before the match ended up as a 2-2 draw after wins from Tom & Stephen.
With 7 points from 8 we are in 2nd place and (still) yet to play the 1st & 3rd placed teams so some great battles to come.
Division 5
Wessex G faced a tough match on paper and did well to hold the #1 team in Div 5 to a 2-2 draw after a win from Manuel and draws from Phil & Steven. Wessex G are now in 5th place, just outside the play-offs and I suspect we have more tough matches to come !
n.b. Liams opponent played very bizarrely from a winning position, deliberately under-promoting pawns to bishops / knights to prolong the game – I will be making (yet another!) official complaint – onine chess seems to bring out the worst in some of our opponents and indeed captains – luckily the vast majority, like us, are very sporting.
Wessex H had a tight match on paper although wins from Michal & Nathaniel (both black v higher graded opponents) & Karen saw us take the match 3-1.
Wessex H are now at the dizzy heights of #6 in Div 5, just below Wessex G
- Could we have the first online Wessex v Wessex match ever ?
Overall Summary
Another fantastic evening for Wessex!
- Match wins: Wessex A, C, D, E, H
- Draws: Wessex F, G
- Loss: Wessex B
Stats Corner:
- Top performers: Phil Stevens and Tim Jones lead the “Golden Pawn” race with 3.5/4.
- Most active players: 17 players have played all four rounds.
- Total participation: 45 different players have competed this season.
- Biggest upset: Michal Orszulak won against a player rated 135 points higher.
Keith Gregory – 4NCL Wessex captain, March 5th 2025
