Welcome note 2010/11

MCA News

Dear Chessmates,

I would like to welcome you to a new chess season.This year we have made a number of changes which we believe have popular support. You will have noticed that the fixtures for the 2010-2011 season appeared on the MCA website on August 1. This is a record and a very welcome one.It was done using Martin's MatchDay programme and a minimum amount of human intervention to ensure that each club's fixture needs were met.

An innovation this season is the introduction of a 500 league. This is for teams of 4 players whose total grade is less than 500. We are introducing this league without any limits on individual grades at this time but we will be seeking each club's views on this at the end of the season. Clubs who have ungraded players must discuss them with the controller (Dave Whitby) who may allow an estimated grade to be used.

We have made two rule changes for this coming season. One is to make the time control of all moves on 1.5 hours the 'norm'. However if both teams agree they may still operate under the old time rules.
The other change is to tighten up/simplify the rule regarding players playing for higher teams in their club. Any player who is unlisted or listed for a lower team may only play three times for a higher team if he is higher graded than any of the listed players in the higher team whether the listed player plays or not and regardless of what board he plays on. After a fourth such game he becomes tied to the higher team.
Clubs need to think through the effects of this rule. They will find that they will retain maximum flexibility if they 'name' the highest graded players for each team and do not leave higher graded players to play or be listed for lower teams. Finally I would like to finish by wishing all players an enjoyable season and 'may the best team win'.

D Pearcey  President MCA