19-06-2015, 06:04 PM
Keeping our stronger players competing is something that any new format must achieve, but it mustn't be the only aim. Another important stat is that 14 clubs entered teams into both the Richardson and Spens Cups. This compares to 16 clubs in the Richardson Cup alone when I started playing chess about 30 years ago. We must halt the decline in team numbers and in fact reverse it. Preserving the current format so we can continue to see the Lesser Spotted Strong Player in their natural habitat isn't going to achieve this.