Armstrong Cup 2018-19

Thanks for the link; I kept trying the old LCU site which still seems to be down, maybe permanently?

I see no dates are listed for matches yet, which is a bit strange, but maybe the idea is to let clubs negotiate a bit on that?
I hope that the later date of Easter in 2019 may enable the event to be completed earlier, maybe even in March.

I still don't understand why LCU some years ago switched to having only five rounds before Christmas, with no December matches. Was that at the request of clubs?

I agree there should be more transparency about how the draw is done. That is something that needs to be clarified and debated before the 2019/20 season.

For round 1 presumably it was a forced pairing for the Gonzaga teams to meet, but yes it's the second time in succession that Trinity plays Dun Laoghaire first, followed by Gonzaga and Dublin in the last round. So it certainly doesn't look like a random draw.

Your point about the last round is invalid I think. It is a good thing all matches are played together as it eliminates any danger of collusion, and in theory makes it possible to have proper arbiting. It's also an end-of-season chance for everyone to meet up.

What is not so good is that last April there were no increments in the final round, and that all the southside clubs were dragged out to the airport again. After my game I waited about 45 minutes outside AALSA for a bus, because they were all full leaving the terminals, until somebody with a car rescued me.

Most of all, though, I just hope for the event to run smoothly with no arbitrary and perverse interpretation of badly-worded rules.

EnPassant wrote: »

Presumably the reason pairings are reversed each year is so that, for example, Dublin teams travel to Kilkenny in alternate years.

Yes but why in the same rounds almost every time?

EnPassant wrote: »

Given that so many Armstrong teams now play on Saturdays, maybe the LCU should look at running the Armstrong similarly to the Munster leagues, with 2 matches played at a central venue on 5 Saturdays throughout the season with the last round being played as at present. It would free up lots of time on the calendar for events such as the Branagan Cup, etc.

Definitely NOT in favour of playing two FIDE-rated games in a day if it can be avoided. Weekends with rounds on Saturdays and Sundays as in the 4NCL and many continental leagues would be much preferable for older players, but finding the venues could be a problem.
Another issue may be that there are more tournaments these days.

I think Trinity may be playing their home matches on Saturday this season (in both Armstrong and Ennis) but that is up to the new committee. Uncertainty over such details may be what is delaying putting dates on the fixture list.

sodacat11 wrote: »

... Mind you, that ALSAA venue is completely crap as far as chess venues go.-, way too cramped and the lighting is awful.

True, though that place we played one year in Inchicore was far more crowded, and the Bray hotel another time was a disaster. The Armstrong matches were played in the front bar with all the fun of the fair blaring in from the seafront.

I preferred Teachers Club but maybe there are objections to that venue too.

We need a millionaire benefactor, say a chess player winning the Lotto, to buy a suitable premises for a National Chess Centre. (Fat chance alas)

Four matches this Saturday after which the overdogs and underdogs may be easier to spot.

Which club are you playing for this year, sodacat, or are you the hurler on the ditch?

cdeb wrote: »

Trinity could do well if they can get their act together as a club. But that's been a big "if" in recent years. It doesn't matter who's in their squad if their players go to the wrong venue, or if they scratch as often as last season.

Trinity is under new management this season. See first round (partial) score above...

Rathminor wrote: »

Prediction,

1st Gonzaga A - even without Conor, they shouldn’t need the overseas players to retain the title
2nd Dublin University
3rd Kilkenny

If David & Alvaro play, I would revise Elm Mount up into second

Relegation:

Blanchardstown - although they have started very well in round 1
Dun Laoghaire - would need to have Tom play a lot if they are to avoid the drop

Gonzaga A team does indeed still look impressive and will be hard to prepare for if they mix up their board order between 2 and 6. We play them next.

I would expect David Fitzsimons is going to play most of Elm Mount's matches but Alvaro Valdes Escobar will not be returning. He told me at the Rapid that he had finished his course of study. After acting as captain of the Chilean women's team in the olympiad, he is planning a holiday, then playing some chess in Spain before going home.

Kilkenny look strong on paper but how often will their big guns play?

Dublin are easy to underestimate because if strong foreigners arrive in town, they tend to gravitate there because they find the club's website.

Cdeb seemed to imply Balbriggan have lost Bart but he is on their declared team. Is he away temporarily?

cdeb wrote: »

I had heard he was moving home. I suppose we'll see shortly.

Interesting to note Alvaro is on the Wood Green squad in the European Club Cup (Elm Mount were invited at short notice, but declined). It looks like he may be paired against St Benildus in the first round on Friday week.

Interesting. He did mention the Club Cup to me, so it's possible his visa allows him to return here for a while before and after that, but he seemed pretty definite he was leaving Ireland when he spoke to me mid-September. I guess he wouldn't want to be lugging all his belongings around Europe while playing tournaments.

sodacat11 wrote: »

OUCH

I may have to change my relegation predition........Dun Laoghaire and Balbriggan to go down (although Blanchardstown aren't safe either).

Well, you said you would [change it] - Mourinho is not our manager. Although he may be looking for a new job soon, he can look elsewhere.

rathminor... wrote:

Dun Laoghaire - would need to have Tom play a lot if they are to avoid the drop.

Agreed; either him or they need to recruit another 1900-2000 player who can turn out regularly. D.L. have only declared eight players so far, including Tom, and against us they played Peter Jackson who is declared on their Heidenfeld team. So if they intend to muddle through with a sub in every match it puts a lot of pressure on Tony Fox, who was one of their two players to draw.

As to the division picture as a whole, Gonzaga A v Gonzaga B needs to be played soon to be fair to the other teams, and to ensure that rounds 1 and 2 can be sent to FIDE for rating on time before the end of October.

cdeb wrote: »

All Armstrong results now updated except for the postponed Gonzaga A v B

One wonders how Pawel Bratko (2212) has played on board 6, behind four players 150 points lower rated?

I don't think he has any real rating. Our captain said that 2212 was just a provisional based on one game as a sub last season and so it has no statistical validity and should not have been published.

On the FIDE list he is only 1705 blitz. That was only from one or two Irish tournaments, I think.

The division controller agreed to accept his registration at 1900 so that is the end of the matter I think. He did win his first game but we shall see how he fares against stronger opponents later.