A new competition, five weekends and one unmistakably Hammer team.
The Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) is the pinnacle of team chess in the British Isles. Teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland compete over five weekends from October to May, at venues across the Midlands.
The top division is packed with professional and world-class players, while the lower divisions are largely made up of amateurs. Some sides exist purely for the competition; others are genuine local clubs. Like us.
Our friends at the Celtic Tigers have fielded several Hammersmith players in previous seasons. This year, however, Hammersmith Chess Club will compete under its own name for the first time in its history. We begin in Division Four with a six-player team – but do not be misled by the number. Even in the lowest division, the top boards may be rated above 2000.
What happens over a 4NCL weekend?
First, the chess. Each weekend brings two long-play games: 40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The Saturday game begins at 2pm; the Sunday game at 11am.
Then, the fun. We are one of the relatively few genuine clubs taking part, and the Hammer spirit matters. Win or lose, we will usually head into town for dinner – with a chessboard appearing somewhere between the pizzas and drinks as we go through the day’s games together.
Adam Cranston is captaining the team and will be doing a fair amount of organising, so offers of help are always welcome. Players arrange their own travel and accommodation, although we may coordinate car-sharing and special hotel rates are sometimes available if booked early.
Interested?
We already have a provisional list of players and their availability, but now we need to complete the squad. Whether you can play all five weekends or just one, whether you are an adult or a junior, and whatever your rating, you will be very welcome.
The first 4NCL weekend is 10-11 October in Bedford, less than an hour by train from King’s Cross. If you would like to join the adventure, please contact Adam as soon as possible by email or WhatsApp. A dedicated WhatsApp group has been set up for the team.