PCL Thematic Openings S1

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Avatar of Ximoon

Registration is closed for Phoenix Chess League Thematic Openings Season #1.


Description:

Phoenix Chess League Thematic openings Season #1 is a 3 day per move tournament. Clubs will play in groups of 8, in a round robin format. If 8 clubs or less registered in this event, all clubs will be playing in the same group; if 9 are more clubs had registered in this event, we will divide all clubs in 2 or more divisions, by their strengths (Division a, Division b etc.). For more detailed information, check Match Parameters below.


Rules:

For the first season, the competition will be divided in two sections: open rating/5+players and U1400/3+ players. All matches will be played by 'Rounds', with pairings between each club. At each round a different pre-set position extracted from the Opening Book positions will be used. All rounds will start on Saturdays, from 27th July for U1400 and 3rd of August for Open, and will continue for 6 weeks each (Check the calendar below for each round's starting date). Either club in an match can send the challenge, latest 12 days before the starting date. Matches need to be accepted latest 9 days before the starting date. If none of both clubs sent the challenge in time, match will be counted as lost to BOTH clubs; if a club did not accept the challenge 3 days after its opponent had send the challenge, match will be counted as lost to the club, who did not accept the challenge. To ensure a correct assessment of challenges creation and matches acceptation in time, challenges and matches must be reported in this topic before the end of the challenging and acceptation periods.


Requirements of joining: 

Please provide a reference match, that has at least 3 (for U1400) or 5 (open) players joining.


Calendar U1400: (DD/MM)

Round 1: 27/07
Round 2: 10/08
Round 3: 24/08
Round 4: 07/09
Round 5: 21/09
Round 6: 05/10
Round 7: 19/10

Calendar Open: (DD/MM)

Round 1: 03/08
Round 2: 17/08
Round 3: 31/08
Round 4: 14/09
Round 5: 28/09
Round 6: 12/10
Round 7: 26/10


Openings as planned:

U1400:

Open:


Registrations will close on 11th July; pairings will be announced on 12th July. We will update results frequently, and once all matches are adjudicated, we will announce the results and the winners. The results of Phoenix Chess League Thematic Openings Season #1 will determine the placements for Phoenix Chess League Thematic Openings Season #2. Good luck to all teams!

Avatar of Ximoon

Match Name: PCL Thematic Openings S1 [U1400|Open] G☐ R☐: [Team A] vs. [Team B] - [opening name] (blank checkboxes are to be filled in by round number, and group number if any.)

Quick Description: Choice of the club who is sending the challenge.

Game Type: Custom FEN or Book Opening: check pairings

Days per Move: 3

Start Date: Check the Calendar above, or will be mentioned in pairings.

Start Time: Equivalent to 08:00 UTC, to be set up in your own time zone

Rating Range: Leave blank for minimum rating, leave maximum rating blank for open category and set to 1400 for U1400

Players Per Club: Minimum: 3 for U1400, 5 for open, Maximum: leave blank.

Concurrent Games per Player: 2

Rated: Yes

Autostart: yes or no (irrelevant)

Minimum Games: 5

Avatar of Ximoon

Registered teams:

Avatar of Ximoon

U1400:

  1. R1: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-r1
  2. R2: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-u1400-r2
  3. R3: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-u1400-r3-and-pcl-fast-vote-chess-s1-r1
  4. R4: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-u1400-r4-and-pcl-fast-vote-chess-s1-r2
  5. R5: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-u1400-r5-and-pcl-fast-vote-chess-s1-r3
  6. R6: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-u1400-r6-and-pcl-fast-vote-chess-s1-r4
  7. R7: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-u1400-r7

Open:

  1. R1: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-r1
  2. R2: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-open-r2-and-pcl-slow-chess-s1-r2
  3. R3 - https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-open-r3-and-pcl-slow-chess-s1-r3
  4. R4 : https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-open-r4-and-pcl-slow-chess-s1-r4
  5. R5: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-open-r5-and-pcl-slow-chess-s1-r5
  6. R6: https://www.chess.com/announcements/view/pairings-for-pcl-thematic-openings-s1-open-r6-and-pcl-slow-chess-s1-r6
  7. R7 -
Avatar of Ximoon
Thematic Openings S1 Open Group A P2K FDG TAUS CTE EoA BRO FTK ACM Pts TB Rk
Promote to King   1 1 1 1 1 0 1 6 16 1
France-Deutschland Group 0   0 0 1 0 0 0 1   8
Team Australia 0 1   0 0 1 1 1 4 13 3
Chess Team Europe 0 1 1   0 0 0 1 3   5
The Empire of Assassins 0 0 1 1   0 0 0 2   6
Beautiful Romania 0 1 0 1 1   0 1 4 8 3
FanatikClub 1 1 0 1 1 1   1 6 18 1
Asian Chess Masters 0 1 0 0 1 0 0   2   6
Thematic Openings S1 Open Group B FRA GrA TGW HdA UCoAC ANF EAP OBC Pts TB Rk
France   1 1 1 1 1 1 0 6   1
Greek Arena 0   1 1 1 0,5 0 1 4,5   3
The Ge-Winner 0 0   0 0 1 1 1 3   5
Hermandad de ajedrez 0 0 1   1 1 0 1 4   4
Universal Club Of All Countries 0 0 1 0   0 0 1 2   6
Adriana Nikolova FANCLUB 0 0,5 0 0 1   0 0 1,5   8
Exercitatio Artem Parat 0 1 0 1 1 1   1 5   2
Opening Book Club 1 0 0 0 0 1 0   2   6
Thematic Openings S1 Open Group C TNLC AMFC FOC BPC BEC TIA SIdS ENT Pts TB Rk
The Nature Lovers Club   0 0 1 1 1 1 0 4   4
Anna Muzychuk Fan Club 1   1 0 1 1 1 0 5 13,5 2
Fortaleza Chess 1 0   1 1 1 1 0 5 11 2
Bad Players Club 0 1 0   0,5 1 0 0 2,5   5
Bag End Club 0 0 0 0,5   1 1 0 2,5   5
The Italian Game 0 0 0 0 0   0 0 0   8
Scuola Italiana di Scacchi 0 0 0 1 0 1   0 2   7
Europe National Team 1 1 1 1 1 1 1   7   1
Thematic Openings S1 U1400 Group A P2K CTE FRA FDG TAUS BRO ACM EoA Pts TB Rk
Promote to King   0 0 1 1 0 1 1 4   4
Chess Team Europe 1 x 1 1 1 0 1 1 6 16 1
France 1 0   1 1 1 1 1 6 16 1
France-Deutschland Group 0 0 0   0 0 1 1 2   6
Team Australia 0 0 0 1   0 1 1 3   5
Beautiful Romania 1 1 0 1 1   1 1 6 16 1
Asian Chess Masters 0 0 0 0 0 0   1 1   7
The Empire of Assassins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0   8
Thematic Openings S1 U1400 Group B TNLC MIMA OBC URP TGW UCoAC MCFC BPC Pts TB Rk
The Nature Lovers Club   1 1 1 0 1 1 1 6 16 1
Mighty Masters 0   0 0,5 0 1 0 0 1,5   7
Opening Book Club 0 1   0,5 0 0 1 0 2,5   6
Union of the Rising Phoenix 0 0,5 0,5   1 0 1 0 3   5
The Ge-Winner 1 1 1 0   1 1 1 6 19 1
Universal Club Of All Countries 0 0 1 1 0   1 1 4 10,5 3
Magnus Carlsen's fan club 0 1 0 0 0 0   0 1   8
Bad Players Club 0 1 1 1 0 0 1   4 8 3
Thematic Openings S1 U1400 Group C OLDT EAP GrA HdA BEC YB PP SIdS Pts TB Rk
Old Timers   0 0 1 1 1 1 1 5 11 2
Exercitatio Artem Parat 1   1 1 1 1 1 1 7   1
Greek Arena 1 0   0 1 1 1 1 5 11 2
Hermandad de ajedrez 0 0 1   1 1 1 1 5 11 2
Bag End Club 0 0 0 0   0 1 0 1   7
Young Beauties 0 0 0 0 1   1 1 3   5
Prehistoric Players 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 0   8
Scuola Italiana di Scacchi 0 0 0 0 1 0 1   2   6
Updated 08/04/2025                      

-

Legend:  
1/0/0,5 Final result
1/0 Trend

Final results and awards:

Avatar of Obifunk-Kenobi

Please register the Chess Team Europe in both divisions.

www.chess.com/club/chess-team-europe

admin: @Obifunk-Kenobi

match link open: www.chess.com/club/matches/france-deutschland-group/1633467

match link U1400: www.chess.com/club/matches/chess-team-europe/1568171

Avatar of Obifunk-Kenobi

Please register Exercitatio Artem Parat in both divisions.

www.chess.com/club/exercitatio-artem-parat

admin: @Obifunk-Kenobi

 

match link open: www.chess.com/club/matches/exercitatio-artem-parat/1633469

match link U1400: www.chess.com/club/matches/exercitatio-artem-parat/1593279

 

Avatar of Ximoon

Promote to King will participate in both divisions.

Some reference matches:

https://www.chess.com/club/matches/promote-to-king/1603239

https://www.chess.com/club/matches/promote-to-king/1617913 (U1400)

Avatar of Aryachankayreturns

Hi. Please register the following teams in open & U1400:-

Asian Chess Masters https://www.chess.com/club/asian-chess-masters

Open link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/anna-muzychuk-fan-club/1602343

U1400 link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/asia-national-team/1625565

Contact admin @Aryachankayreturns and @phantomisback

Universal Club Of All Countries https://www.chess.com/club/universal-club-of-all-countries

Open link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/universal-club-of-all-countries/1596163

U1400 link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/world-football-addicts/1624701

Contact admin @Aryachankayreturns

Avatar of ACM_ArthurKhachaturyan

Team Artsakh.

https://www.chess.com/club/team-artsakh

the OPEN one

Avatar of Ximoon
Arthur_Khachaturyan wrote:

Team Artsakh.

https://www.chess.com/club/team-artsakh

the OPEN one

Done, I also listed you as contact admin here: https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/clubs-and-admins-2

Avatar of Giampiero111

Hi, please register "Scuola Italiana di Scacchi" in both sections:

https://www.chess.com/club/scuola-italiana-di-scacchi

U1500:

https://www.chess.com/club/matches/promote-to-king/1621729

Open:

https://www.chess.com/club/matches/5-for-fighting-1/1588709

Thank You.

Avatar of Ximoon

Opening Book Club is registering in both sections

https://www.chess.com/club/matches/opening-book-club/1626191

Avatar of Ximoon
Aryachankayreturns wrote:

Hi. Please register the following teams in open & U1400:-

Asian Chess Masters https://www.chess.com/club/asian-chess-masters

Open link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/anna-muzychuk-fan-club/1602343

U1400 link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/asia-national-team/1625565

Contact admin @Aryachankayreturns and @phantomisback

Universal Club Of All Countries https://www.chess.com/club/universal-club-of-all-countries

Open link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/universal-club-of-all-countries/1596163

U1400 link https://www.chess.com/club/matches/world-football-addicts/1624701

Contact admin @Aryachankayreturns

Done, I also listed you as contact admin here: https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/clubs-and-admins-2

Avatar of CzarPc

Hello! We will register Fortaleza Chess in the OPEN division.

Match link:

https://www.chess.com/club/matches/mriia-an-225-cossack/1637893/games

Club Link:

https://www.chess.com/club/fortaleza-chess

Avatar of knetfan

Please register Magnus Carlsen's fan club for the Under 1400 Section only.

Club Link: https://www.chess.com/club/magnus-carlsens-fan-club-3

Reference Match Link: https://www.chess.com/club/matches/magnus-carlsens-fan-club-3/1625073

Supervising Admin: @knetfan

Avatar of knetfan

Please register the Anna Muzychuk Fan Club for the OPEN Section only.

Club Link: https://www.chess.com/club/anna-muzychuk-fan-club

Reference Match Link: https://www.chess.com/club/matches/anna-muzychuk-fan-club/1637643

Supervising Admin: @knetfan

Avatar of Tournamentix

France-Deutschland Group is surely interested.

Before registering I've three questions: In the last few years I've thought several times about opening tournaments. There were two main reasons for which I finally never came up with a concrete proposition:

  1. As far as I can see opening tournaments generally look to be more about training than about competition, which would make similar ratings and a similar number of boards for both clubs very useful for a good tournament: Unfortunately the opposite risks to become reality.
  2. Choice of openings looks to be pre-decisive for tournament's results. It's difficult to make a choice which does not increase the (always existing) advantage for the club, which can play on a higher average number of boards. If openings are common, these clubs can compete only with those members, who feel particular comfortable with the chosen opening. If openings are rare or unsound the number of forfeited matches risk to explode.

How have you chosen openings for season 1? Why have you decided to hide them to participating clubs? What makes your openings particularly neutral and as less pre-decisive as possible for results of participating clubs?

Avatar of Kookaburrra

I was also wondering which openings. It is difficult to sign up when you don’t know which ones have been chosen.

As an admin I will cop a lot of flak if they are weird and I have created matches for them.

Avatar of Ximoon

That's a fair question and I intended to get feedback from you all whether you preferred to know the openings before hands.

As I wrote, it's planned to take openings from the book as defined by chess.com. The idea was to have openings of reasonable balance and not extremely exotic ones.

If you prefer to have them know before the first round starts, I'll provide a list for both sections at the latest by first week of July.

That being said, it doesn't seem to bother too much the other admins who have signed up their teams.