NSPCL Test League Season 1: Official Information
The Not-So PRO Chess League season may be over, but beginning this September, the action will be heating up once again as the Not-So PRO Chess League presents the NSPCL Test League. The league will include several nuanced formats, which may be used in future NSPCL seasons. Up to 16 NSPCL teams will head to battle in a series of PRO Chess League-style matches, knockout battles, and live chess tournaments.
The Not-So PRO Chess League Test Season 1 will feature 4 divisions (Note: this may change based on the amount of teams that register), each with 4 teams. The teams will face each other throughout 8 weeks, each described below.
Week 1:
Team A vs. Team B PCL Style Match
In a PCL style match, there are 4 players per team. Teams pick their lineup ahead of time. The average rating must be below 1700 and the match is 4 rounds at a 7+2 time control. See the PRO Chess League Site for more details.
Live Tournament
In live tournaments, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 1, Board 2s play in Week 3, etc. The tournament is at a 7+2 time control and 3 rounds long.
Team C vs. Team D PCL Style Match
In a PCL style match, there are 4 players per team. Teams pick their lineup ahead of time. The average rating must be below 1700 and the match is 4 rounds at a 7+2 time control. See the PRO Chess League Site for more details.
Week 2:
Team A vs. Team C PCL Style Match
In a PCL style match, there are 4 players per team. Teams pick their lineup ahead of time. The average rating must be below 1700 and the match is 4 rounds at a 7+2 time control. See the PRO Chess League Site for more details.
Knockout Battles
In knockout battles, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 2, Board 2s play in Week 4, etc. The players are seeded by registered rating. The top seed plays the bottom seed and the second seed plays the third seed in a 2 game 7+2 match. If tied, there will be a 2 game 3+2 match, and if still tied, sudden death 3+2.
Team B vs. Team D PCL Style Match
In a PCL style match, there are 4 players per team. Teams pick their lineup ahead of time. The average rating must be below 1700 and the match is 4 rounds at a 7+2 time control. See the PRO Chess League Site for more details.
Week 3:
Team A vs. Team D PCL Style Match
In a PCL style match, there are 4 players per team. Teams pick their lineup ahead of time. The average rating must be below 1700 and the match is 4 rounds at a 7+2 time control. See the PRO Chess League Site for more details.
Live Tournament
In live tournaments, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 1, Board 2s play in Week 3, etc. The tournament is at a 7+2 time control and 3 rounds long.
Team B vs. Team C PCL Style Match
In a PCL style match, there are 4 players per team. Teams pick their lineup ahead of time. The average rating must be below 1700 and the match is 4 rounds at a 7+2 time control. See the PRO Chess League Site for more details.
Week 4:
Live Tournament
In live tournaments, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 1, Board 2s play in Week 3, etc. The tournament is at a 7+2 time control and 3 rounds long.
Knockout Battles
In knockout battles, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 2, Board 2s play in Week 4, etc. The players are seeded by registered rating. The top seed plays the bottom seed and the second seed plays the third seed in a 2 game 7+2 match. If tied, there will be a 2 game 3+2 match, and if still tied, sudden death 3+2.
Knockout Battles
In knockout battles, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 2, Board 2s play in Week 4, etc. The players are seeded by registered rating. The top seed plays the bottom seed and the second seed plays the third seed in a 2 game 7+2 match. If tied, there will be a 2 game 3+2 match, and if still tied, sudden death 3+2.
Week 5:
Knockout Battles
In knockout battles, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 2, Board 2s play in Week 4, etc. The players are seeded by registered rating. The top seed plays the bottom seed and the second seed plays the third seed in a 2 game 7+2 match. If tied, there will be a 2 game 3+2 match, and if still tied, sudden death 3+2.
Live Tournament
In live tournaments, there is 1 player participating each week (4 in total). Teams pick their lineup of 4 players ahead of time and average rating of those four players must be below 1700. Board 1s play in Week 1, Board 2s play in Week 3, etc. The tournament is at a 7+2 time control and 3 rounds long.
Weeks 6-8
After the group stage, the top two teams from each division will advance to the playoffs, which will be only PCL Style Matches in a knockout format.
(Note: Feel free to ask questions in the comments. I will be updating this post with an FAQ soon.)
