It's no real surprise that Viernheim, Deizisau and Baden Baden would be at the top of the table after 4 of 15 rounds. But there is one team that no one would have expected to be in these regions of the table before the season: Kirchweyhe.
The team from near Bremen currently has 4 wins from 4 rounds and is looking forward to spending the winter in second place.
Shortly before the start of the Chess Bundesliga, it looked as if Kirchweyhe would not be allowed to play at all. The new admission requirements stipulate that youth and public relations work must be carried out. Neither of these is done in Kirchweyhe. As a result, there was a threat of forced relegation. Kirchweyhe took legal action against this and won. The team remains in the Bundesliga and with it a team that, with the exception of Tobias Kügel, formerly of Delmenhorst now of Kirchweyhe, consists of a group of legionnaires. This is not unusual in the Chess Bundesliga and therefore cannot be criticized in individual cases.
However, the grandmasters in Kirchweyhe's service belong neither to the first nor the second tier of world chess. Only one GM is over 2600, and five more are over 2500. What would otherwise be considered a possible relegation is currently shaking up the league! Next year, on January 13th and 14th, Hamburger SK and Kiel will be waiting for Kirchweyhe. Both teams are currently at the bottom of the table and will probably play with a full team in order to push back into the safe midfield against Werder Bremen and Kirchweyhe.
By the way, next season there will be a new superpower in the German Chess League. Provided that the Düsseldorf SK manages to get promoted, the Düsseldorf team will shake things up. The arrival of Fabiano Caruana from the OSG was announced in the summer, and Ding Liren is another star signing.
The team from near Bremen currently has 4 wins from 4 rounds and is looking forward to spending the winter in second place.
Shortly before the start of the Chess Bundesliga, it looked as if Kirchweyhe would not be allowed to play at all. The new admission requirements stipulate that youth and public relations work must be carried out. Neither of these is done in Kirchweyhe. As a result, there was a threat of forced relegation. Kirchweyhe took legal action against this and won. The team remains in the Bundesliga and with it a team that, with the exception of Tobias Kügel, formerly of Delmenhorst now of Kirchweyhe, consists of a group of legionnaires. This is not unusual in the Chess Bundesliga and therefore cannot be criticized in individual cases.
However, the grandmasters in Kirchweyhe's service belong neither to the first nor the second tier of world chess. Only one GM is over 2600, and five more are over 2500. What would otherwise be considered a possible relegation is currently shaking up the league! Next year, on January 13th and 14th, Hamburger SK and Kiel will be waiting for Kirchweyhe. Both teams are currently at the bottom of the table and will probably play with a full team in order to push back into the safe midfield against Werder Bremen and Kirchweyhe.
By the way, next season there will be a new superpower in the German Chess League. Provided that the Düsseldorf SK manages to get promoted, the Düsseldorf team will shake things up. The arrival of Fabiano Caruana from the OSG was announced in the summer, and Ding Liren is another star signing.
