Notts League Mid-Season Review
Article by Phil Morgan
Near the midway point, League tables are taking shape. In Division 1 normal service has been resumed with Grantham 1 re-establishing themselves as the dominnant force. Newark 1 lead the pursuers. Champions. Mansfield, have not been able to sustain their competitive level of last season.
In Division 2 the story has been the emergence out of the doldrums of University chess. University 1 head the division , and look well-equipped to stay there, in a division in which there is little between most teams.. West Bridgford 1 , 19 games winless, broke this run against University and have followed up with a second win. Any result is possible in Division 2 games.
Division 3 also appears very open. Radcliff and Bingham 1, after a poor start, had an eye -catching win against Central 1 on 4.12.18. Central’s strong top boards of K Harvey and A Griffiths were beaten by C Dunworth, making his club debut and N London.
In Diovision 4 Beeston’s untroubled ascent of the Notts League continues , spearheaded by J Hadi and R Truman. In Division 5 University teams are showing up well, emphasising that the club has some depth to their playing pool. The re-emergence of University chess has to be good for Nottinghamshire chess.
Players will be enjoying the festive break, much needed in my case, after contriving to lose 5 games in December.. My New Year’s wish is to be meaner and less charitable. Happy New Year!