Div 6 Bodley Cup 2014 - 2015

Sparks

The fixture dates for the 2014-15 Bodley Cup have been published up on the LCU website. An early start this year, with the first game in just under two weeks on September 22, so that the final round will happen (on Sunday, 19/4/15) with the other divisions (presumably in the Teachers Club?).

And round one should be the one with the most bragging rights on the line, since it's when the three clubs who are entering two teams into the Bodley this year (Benildus, Curragh and Rathmines) face their A teams off against their B teams. Ain't no going home to get away from the memory of a blunder in that match!

L1m1tless

The future starts here.

http://www.leinsterchess.com/lcu1415/div6/table.htm

My Predictions

1st St.Benildus A
2nd Curragh
3rd Blanchardstown

Sparks

All the fixtures were changed when Wicklow and Curragh B dropped out. First match for us (St.Benildus B again) is next wednesday against Benildus A, which is bound to be a parish match if ever I saw one Eleven rounds, finishing up on the same day with the other leagues in the same final playoff, this is going to be fun

cdeb

1 - Enniscorthy at a canter
2 - Rathmines
3 - St Benildus; a few players have moved up the divisions; last year was our chance, though the LCU promoting Drogheda instead of us (by virtue of more points scored - in a weaker group) and saying that six weeks wasn't long enough to arrange a play off has rather pissed us off, and we'll be using that to spur the team on!

cdeb

Another change to this division btw - Portmarnock are gone, and Naomh Barróg have been promoted in their place.

cdeb

Also just spotted Cowboy Dreams' sneaky Curragh promotion prediction! Must be something afoot in Kildare alright; new players filtering down through the teams?

Not sure how that squares with withdrawing the Bodley B team though?

Sparks

Was the Curragh B team dropped entirely, or was something more along the lines of two teams with no subs being merged up to one stronger team with subs and more strength in depth?

L1m1tless

We lost 4 players but gained some new ones but not enough for 2 division 6 teams unfortunately. new players are in division 2.

Chessrookie

Have to think that Enniscorthy should have a strong division 7 squad if they can combine the 4 transfers from the Curragh with their other emerging players.
It's very promising to see a new club prospering in the south East, particularly at the time when a big club like Kilkenny have had to pull a team from the leagues this year.

Chessrookie

What's in the water in the Curragh this year!. I have just noticed that Cowboy dreams is predicting a clean sweep of the Heidenfeld, O Hanlon and Bodley for their three teams.
Either he has very rose coloured glasses, or there are some exceptionally strong players playing for the Curragh this year. LoL

L1m1tless

We've been all practicing the Sokolsky Opening, Nobody will see it coming! :P

Sparks

Here we go...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP3MFBzMH2o

L1m1tless

I'm rooting for Benildus in that match! Go team!

cdeb

Playing seven boards tonight. We're going to win 7-0 just to make damn sure we get promoted this season.

L1m1tless

you better! *shakes fist* My prediction depends on you guys don't let me down!

2bts

Benildus B 0 : 5 Benildus A

Sparks

Sparks wrote: »

Here we go...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP3MFBzMH2o

And there we went...

mikhail

2bts wrote: »

Benildus B 0 : 5 Benildus A

The As were technically the home team, but that's the score. Tighter than the scoreline would suggest though.

Sparks

Team report on Round 1 up on the St.Benildus website now.

L1m1tless

Curragh 4.5 Inchicore .5

Enniscorthy Chess

Elm Mount 1 - 4 Enniscorthy.
Any other scores?

Sparks

Was looking at the player panels out of interest and came up with this:



I think those initial predictions on who'll be the top three might need a tweak

I'm thinking:
1. Malahide
2. Enniscorthy (very strong individuals on that team, but one or two players not being able to make a game and they're in trouble)
3. Benildus A (Yeah, they're not the highest rated, but they're scrappy )

Kinda thinking Benildus B might finish around where it's seeded, maybe a place higher.

L1m1tless

Nice bit of stats there, make for an interesting read. I'm still gonna stick with my predictions.

No point in changing them now or Ill probably be changing them every week!

Sparks

The downside, like I said, is that the ratings aren't that stable in the Bodley, but if the only data you have is noisy data...

L1m1tless

Yeah it might be more accurate for the higher divisions. You could be playing a 700 in the Bodley with a 1600 strength.

Sparks

As someone commented during one match last year when rather annoyed by that, "860? My arse!"

For fits and giggles by the way, here's that graph from last year (for both A and B groups):



You can see how Gonzaga had great strength in depth, while Wicklow had higher board one strength but not a lot of wiggle room for game availability problems (which is why they didn't place in the end - the thicker lines on the graph are the top three in each group). I'm betting the same thing happens this year with Malahide and Enniscorthy.

Ciaran

Sparks wrote: »

You can see how Gonzaga had great strength in depth, while Wicklow had higher board one strength but not a lot of wiggle room for game availability problems (which is why they didn't place in the end - the thicker lines on the graph are the top three in each group). I'm betting the same thing happens this year with Malahide and Enniscorthy.

Enniscorthy have a lot of young players so they may well have pretty strong subs. They're strong favourites to win the division IMO.

cdeb

With or without the 1900 on board 1

Sparks

Ciaran wrote: »

Enniscorthy have a lot of young players so they may well have pretty strong subs. They're strong favourites to win the division IMO.

Yeah, but if you predict the favorite to win, nobody goes "wow" when you're right

cdeb

Yeah, but if you back anyone else, people are liable to go "What the hell were you thinking?" when the favourites come cantering home.

Sparks

Pffft, Bodley.

Besides, I seem to remember last year people saying Wicklow was going to romp home with it and only Gonzaga had any hope of coming close... :P

Ciaran

Sparks wrote: »

Pffft, Bodley.

Besides, I seem to remember last year people saying Wicklow was going to romp home with it and only Gonzaga had any hope of coming close... :P

That would definitely have left people looking silly given that they were in different sections.

Sparks

Ciaran wrote: »

That would definitely have left people looking silly given that they were in different sections.

Well, at the time they thought group A's winner would play off against group B's winner...

Chessrookie

Some interesting squad declarations for this years Bodley.
Malahide look much stronger than last year and have added a few Ennis veterans to the squad.
Enniscorthys squad has a years seasoning and look ready for promotion, although I will be surprised if Chesscoach plays very often (they are strong enough without him).
St Benildus young players will improve as the months go by, although I think last year was the real opportunity as some of their players had breakthrough seasons and have moved up through the divisions.
The other outside bet for promotion, based on the initial squads could well be the curragh. They look to have plenty of experience this year.


It will be interesting to follow which underrated Bodley players will make big jumps this year? Perhaps somebody such as Alex Goss from Elm Mount or Adam Murphy from Naomh Barrog.
Interesting also to see that both the new and previous ICU junior coaches will be playing in the Bodley this year, so they both should get a good view of the upcoming new talent.

cdeb

Curragh's experience could well stand against them ironically. If they're experienced players, that tends to mean they're not really improving. I don't think that'd stand them in really good stead in the Bodley of all divisions. They had an experienced squad last season too, but made no real impact.

Hadn't spotted the bit about icu Junior officers past and present playing!

Interesting too that at least one of Malahide's Bodley was subbing for the Heidenfeld last week, despite a mammoth Heidenfeld squad being declared. I wonder how they'll be affected by subs?

cdeb

St Benildus B 3½-1½ Bray

The missing round 1 result is Malahide 4½-½ Bray

Sparks

Last night's game was fun, although I mostly won by blind luck rather than merit...

mikhail

Sparks wrote: »

Last night's game was fun, although I mostly won by blind luck rather than merit...

The chessbase online database has five games after ...Na6. They seem to be of lower quality, but they might give you a few ideas.

cdeb

Rathmines A 1-4 St Benildus A

Sparks

Sparks wrote: »

Last night's game was fun, although I mostly won by blind luck rather than merit...

*heh* Minor transcription error in that post...

Past_Pawn_99

Blanchardstown 4 - 1 Rathmines B

Enniscorthy Chess

Anyone know how Malahide v Elm Mount ended up

cdeb

3½-1½ to Malahide per the leagues website

L1m1tless

Curragh 2.5 Naomh Barróg 2.5

Enniscorthy Chess

Enniscorthy 4-1 inchicore

cdeb

Bit of a slip up for the Curragh there. I'm not convinced they'll have the legs for the whole season. I think it's looking like two from St Benildus A, Malahide and Enniscorthy.

Long way to go through!

[B]Pos	Team	        MP	GW	GD	GL	Pts[/B]
1	St Benildus A	2	8	2	0	9    
2	Enniscorthy	2	7	2	1	8    
3	Malahide	2	7	2	1	8    
4	Curragh	        2	6	2	2	7    
5	Naomh Barróg	2	5	2	3	6    
6	Blanchardstown	2	5	1	4	5 1/2
7	Rathmines A	2	3	3	4	4 1/2
8	St Benildus B	2	3	1	6	3 1/2
9	Elm Mount	2	1	3	6	2 1/2
10	Rathmines B	2	2	1	7	2 1/2
11	Bray/Greystones	2	1	2	7	2    
12	Inchicore	2	1	1	8	1 1/2

cdeb

Bray/Greystones 0-5 St Benildus A

Sparks

Report now up on the Benildus website.

L1m1tless

Looking good for part of my prediction!

Enniscorthy Chess

Naomh Barrog 0 - 5 Enniscorthy

cdeb

Rathmines B 1½-3½ Curragh

Malahide and Curragh starting to lag behind the top two. Long way to go yet though.