Europa Cup 2020 Planning

UK and Ireland's top division has finished (https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/2019-division-1-forum). The top 3 are:

1. Leinster
2. Yorkshire Terriers
3. Somerset Wyvern

What's the Campionato's status?

I think we need still some weeks to see clearer. I think the first 3 teams will be Emilia-Romagna, FVG + Udine and a third one. I will keep you informed

Results of Slovakia league - Slovenská liga 2020:

1. Nitriansky kraj

2. Košický kraj

3. Prešovský kraj

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JcxnLCtqkK78PbkgXIxmfgCEOQDCXjlx_qiojgOVvyQ/edit#gid=828679382

Thanks Markof. I’m trying to contact France to see if they’re interested. We should be able to set up something soon.  

Qualified teams

Italy

1: Udine e FVG - declined 

2: Emilia-Romagna - confirmed - @DirkFlasche

3: Toscana - confirmed - @Asbrega

4: Trentino-Südtirol (qualified as Trentino Alto-Adige) - confirmed - @Bumiputra

UK/Ireland

1: Leinster - confirmed - @MENTAC and @john261

2: Yorkshire Terriers - confirmed - @Tricky_Dicky

3: Somerset Wyvern - confirmed - @Greengooner

4: Sussex - confirmed - @horsechessnut

Slovakia

1: Nitriansky kraj - confirmed - @Atko

2: Košický kraj - declined - @SlovakAustralia

3: Prešovský kraj - confirmed - @Markof

4: Žilinský kraj - confirmed - @igorpavlus

France

1: Bretagne Échecs (qualified as Pont L'Abbé) - confirmed - @pitbulljunior, @2scorpion2, @WhiteDragoon

2: Euregio Lille (qualified as Lille) - confirmed - @MalpBlu and @Gozetti

3: La-Roche-Sur-Yon 2 - declined - @ceyhunm

4: La-Roche-Sur-Yon 1 - declined - @oscar1f

Hi Alex, I confirm the participation of Emilia-Romagna @DirkFlasche , Toscana @Asbrega and Trentino AA @Bumiputra - we still need reply from Friuli VG

That's great. I'll update the other countries' teams as (hopefully) they get back to me.

Hello, only to say that the active team for Trentino Alto Adige is the following:

https://www.chess.com/club/team-trentino-sudtirol 

Okay, if that's the successor team I'll change the link.

10 out of 16 teams confirmed. No response yet from France.

Great job, Alex!

Dear Alex, our 1st place FVG doesn't participate, so we will be three teams, I am sorry

Ah well, their loss. I’ll wait a little longer to see if we get a ‘yes’ from any of the other teams, but I think we should be ready to start pretty soon.  

Rules

I have set up a shared document here with a suggested set of rules (I'm sure we won't need them, but it's just in case any dispute comes up). These are all up for discussion, so if you want to change any of the rules, now is the time to say.

I have suggested 3 or 4 as a minimum number of players for each match. Any higher could exclude smaller teams, such as any French teams if they choose to take part. Is this too low? What do you think?

Format

We will probably have between 10 and 12 teams in the Cup. I suggest that we start with a group stage where each team gets to play 3 or 4 other teams. The best teams from each group would then advance to either a final group stage or a knockout stage with semi-finals and a final.

I'll wait until we know how many teams will play before suggesting an exact format, but I do like the idea of starting with a group stage so that teams get a chance to play a team from each other country. I also like the idea of having a head-to-head final match to decide the champions. Again, if you have thoughts on this, say now.

Start date

There are still a few teams undecided, but if we get a response fairly soon we should be able to start at the beginning of March.

Košice have also declined, citing the fact that they are playing in the World Cities League. Lille have confirmed, and Pont L’Abbe are still deciding, so we’ll have either 11 or 12 teams. 

in any case much more then last edition, great job! do you want me to ask our 5th placed team in substitution of FVG?

I think we ought to just make it that just the top 4 from each country qualify, or we could be here for ages trying to get more teams. 

OK; WISE DECISION

Hello, Gozetti and me will manage the team of Lille for this European Cup.

Looks like we’ll have 12 teams. At the moment I’m suggesting that we do 3 groups of 4, with the group winners progressing to a final 3. 

Alternative is that we do 2 groups of 6, with the top 2 from each group advancing to a final 4. If you prefer this way, let me know. 

Pont L’Abbé will be represented by Bretagne Échecs, the region that Pont L’Abbé is in. This also means that every club should be able to field at least 5 players, so I suggest we make that the minimum number of players. 

I prefer 2 groups of 6, with the top 2 from each group advancing to a final 4.