Most chess players are aware that new readjusted grades will be introduced from next August. When the ECF issued last August’s update provisional grades, calculated on the revised basis, were also published for each player on the database. These – together with this years results – will provide the basis for next year’s grade update. The revision was thought to be necessary to allow for grade ‘stretching’ which has apparently built up over the years. The full explanation is best read on the ECF website.
What do these revisions mean for Cowley and it’s players? The following table includes those currently graded players who have played league chess for Cowley this season. Comparable changes have also been applied to the Rapidplay grades which are not covered here.
The Club’s average grade will go up by 30 points (from 109 to 139) but there are considerable differences within this which favour the lower graded and junior players and those in the lower teams. By comparison, the national average for all published grades will increase from 110 to 135 (25 points) and our higher than average gain may reflect the high number of juniors playing in our teams.
Thus we find that Chantelle Foster has gained 60 grading points in the revision (twice the Club average!) followed closely by two of the lowest graded juniors. At the other end of the scale Club captain Jon De’Souza Eva gains just 8 points followed closely by the other top 1st Team players. Changes in the middle order could see the third team captain playing his team in roughly the reverse order if he were to apply the new grades!
Overall, the impact of the revisions is to condense gradings in the club. Currently the range of grades (ignoring the lowest) is 151, on the new basis it falls to 105. The change is particularly marked at the lower end of the scale where on the new basis only 5 players are graded below 130, currently there are 20 at this level including all the 2nd team regulars.
However, Cowley is not alone and for most of us chess games against the same old opponents will continue much as before! And don’t forget that, as always, it is your results this year which will determine your actual grade next time. Finally, spare a thought for all the tournament organisers who, presumably, will have to revise their competition bands for future years.
Bill Stanley