Great article! I thought I knew a lot about ECF and FIDE rating systems but I learned some new things!
One thing that I’d be interested to know, that wasn’t covered and I haven’t been able to find out elsewhere, is what the letters (e, u, o & c) mean next to the online ratings of players in the online 4NCL and J4NCL.
I don't know the answer to your question about the 4NCL as I don't play in that competition or manage a team in it. This isn't a notation I have seen elsewhere, so I think you are asking a 4NCL question, not strictly a ratings question.
I believe the 4NCL allows FIDE or national ratings to be used, so maybe "e" means an ECF rating, blank means FIDE... Not sure what the others might mean.
I suggest you pick some examples of each 4NCL rating notation and look in the various rating databases for that player to see which of their historical ratings match it, and see if you can infer a pattern from that... Either that or just contact the 4NCL and ask them!
If I'm an Indian travelling to England and planning to play in Tournaments in and around London, should I register with AICF (All India Chess Federation) and obtain an FIN beforehand? Will I be allowed to play in ECF tournaments in that case?
Yes, it probably makes sense for you to get an Indian FIDE registration, if you don't have one already, before playing any FIDE-rated tournaments in England.
For non-FIDE rated events you may need to join the ECF or pay a surcharge on your entry fee. I suggest you look at the requirements of the specific events you want to enter and then decide what makes sense for your circumstances.
Great article! I thought I knew a lot about ECF and FIDE rating systems but I learned some new things!
One thing that I’d be interested to know, that wasn’t covered and I haven’t been able to find out elsewhere, is what the letters (e, u, o & c) mean next to the online ratings of players in the online 4NCL and J4NCL.
Glad you found the article useful!
I don't know the answer to your question about the 4NCL as I don't play in that competition or manage a team in it. This isn't a notation I have seen elsewhere, so I think you are asking a 4NCL question, not strictly a ratings question.
I believe the 4NCL allows FIDE or national ratings to be used, so maybe "e" means an ECF rating, blank means FIDE... Not sure what the others might mean.
I suggest you pick some examples of each 4NCL rating notation and look in the various rating databases for that player to see which of their historical ratings match it, and see if you can infer a pattern from that... Either that or just contact the 4NCL and ask them!
Thanks for taking the time to reply, Andrew. They’re all ECF online ratings so I think it’s probably best to contact the 4NCL for a definitive answer.
If I'm an Indian travelling to England and planning to play in Tournaments in and around London, should I register with AICF (All India Chess Federation) and obtain an FIN beforehand? Will I be allowed to play in ECF tournaments in that case?
Yes, it probably makes sense for you to get an Indian FIDE registration, if you don't have one already, before playing any FIDE-rated tournaments in England.
For non-FIDE rated events you may need to join the ECF or pay a surcharge on your entry fee. I suggest you look at the requirements of the specific events you want to enter and then decide what makes sense for your circumstances.