There are good wins. There are grinding wins. There are lucky wins. Perhaps this was all three.

Another hard-fought match, but another win to keep up the third team's 100% record in 4NCL Division 3 Bishops. Only going to get tougher from here for WR3...we'll be underdogs in February! Now on to the Division 1 matches for WR1/WR2 Jan 13th/14th.

Pairings up soon for this weekend’s 4NCL fixtures. The Chessable White Rose first team faces Oxford, whilst the second team has a tough task against a strong Sharks side.

Pairings up. For WR1, Daniel Alsina Leal and John Emms come into the team, whilst WR2 strengthen with Adam Ashton, Paul Townsend and Lisa Kisteneva. The Sharks 4NCL 🇺🇦 team look daunting, though missing Kamila. Tough match ahead!

Despite various transport issues, logistics all resolved just in time and we’re underway in Division 1 of the 4NCL. Best of luck to Oxford and Sharks 4NCL 🇺🇦 for, hopefully, some hard-fought games ahead.

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Ne5!? is a very safe White approach against the Caro Kann, aiming for a minuscule edge with zero risk. John Emms has responded 4…Nc6. All games live: lichess.org/broadcast/4ncl…

Sam Chow’s 24…Qe2 (theory runs deep these days) looks like it might be a prepared novelty? Into the endgame after just 20 minutes against Harry Grieve. White captured on c3. lichess.org/broadcast/4ncl…

Harry Li holds a draw with Black for Chessable White Rose 2 against IM Tom Rendle. Two draws in the WR1-Oxford match, still nothing decisive so far but we're heading towards the time control.

Some tough matchups today in the 4NCL. Important matches for both teams.

Superb comprehensive win for Sam Chow on top board for the second team against the talented Scottish junior Frederick Waldhausen Gordon, putting WR2 1-0 up against Alba. lichess.org/broadcast/4ncl…

We may not have had the best of weekends at the last 4NCL team event, but at least the top two names on this list - Peter Wells and Paul Townsend - have something in common…

The Sheffield International Open and Masters will take place April 10-14. All welcome in the Open. Space for 1-2 final players for the Masters: average FIDE c.2335+ for a 6/9 norm event or c.2160+ for a 6.5/9 norm event. Contact for norm seekers: sheffieldchessinternational.uk

Wouldn’t be a final 4NCL weekend without some huge matchups, and it doesn’t come much bigger than a clash between two of England’s finest: Chessable White Rose’s Gawain Jones @gmgawain against Wood Green’s Michael Adams Michael Adams. Playing right now: lichess.org/broadcast/4ncl…

Great individual news for Sam Chow, who (we believe) has just secured an IM norm with his draw against Rasmus Svane.

Many Congratulations 🎈🎈for norms during the 4NCL season: (Name, Fed, Norm): Hamish Olson, SCO, IM; Zoe Varney Zoe Varney , ENG, WIM; Samuel Chow, AUS, IM; William Claridge-Hansen, ENG, IM; John Richardson, ENG, IM; Martin Taylor, ENG, IM

We’re excited for the course release - and what a superb performance by Gawain Maroroa Jones this weekend! To score 3/3 when the opposition faced includes Shirov and Adams is no mean feat.

Our new course 64 Chess Concepts You Should Really Know has just been published by Chessable! Presented by Jonathan Rowson and written by Richard Palliser and Jonathan Arnott, currently a bargain price: just £19.99 (£59.98 inc video). Suitable up to 1800 chessable.com/64-chess-conce…

The British Championships featured four 2600+ players at the top end. Chessable White Rose’s Gawain Jones Gawain Maroroa Jones emerged victorious, beating David Howell in playoffs after both finished on 7/9. Honourable mentions to 6th= Peter Wells, Yichen Han and Richard Palliser on 6/9.