Latest Info. from One World League

Chess.com has downsized conditions for daily chess to an extremely low level, which I wouldn't have imagined six months ago. Obviously we're far away from simply starting another season based on the achieved results in 2023.

As I've announced a few months ago, that ONE WORLD League will not start new tournaments, I did this perhaps prematurely. In the meantime it looks to be better to me to continue with an „adapted” format to (a) gain some more time and to (b) offer some usual looking activities to (c) see our clubs staying active, while still waiting for Chess.com to create something from all the shambles they've produced so far.

To come as close as possible to the three goals above I like to propose: In the seven rating ranges of the ONE WORLD League we could have top groups with ten clubs (placements based on results in 2023) and* a nine round Swiss system tournament each. *(added on October 30)

 These tournaments would be set up on a very low level: 6+ players (OPEN and 960 OPEN) respectively 3+ players (960 U1400, U1800, U1600, U1400 and U1200). This would allow a maximum number of clubs to continue their participation without forcing any admin to recruitment activities, which apparently could backfire at any moment.

There would be two options for these Swiss system tournaments: They can be played

A as usual in previous seasons … with 3 days/move and standard pairings or

B with 1 day/move and accelerated pairings to create closer matches already in early rounds. (withdrawn after feedback during the first day)

We would use all other parameters as in 2023, e.g. 1st Sundays for Chess960, 2nd Sundays for OPEN, 3rd Sundays for U1800/U1400 and 4th Sundays for U1600/U1200 from January to September.

Most likely we still would see a relatively high number of big and close matches between clubs, which usually would play in our first or second divisions … and this despite all odds. And we still can start our regular season, if Chess.com makes this finally possible, later during 2024.

If clubs still want to play in all rating ranges on much more boards (e.g. 40+ OPEN/20+ for others … or 30+/15+ or 20+/10+), they could be put in separate Club Championship groups … while deliberately accepting a higher risk of difficulties.

Please share your point of view and let us know, where your club(s) would like to participate:

960 OPEN • 960 U1400 • OPEN • U1800 • U1600 • U1400 • U1200

CLUB Championship (40+/20+) or (30+/15+) or (20+/10+) if available

We will be continuing with the One World League for 2024. Here's a list of clubs in our division. The only difference is that we will need to make sure we have 16 players instead of 10. Which hasn't been a problem in the past. As soon as the results from 2023 come out I will post them for you. Thanks to all of you for participating.