Basically I think I'll have to go down to 2 teams as initially I planned to switch wojowhiskey and miltie to resolve the clash but that would bring MRM down to 1809.75 that is less than the 1858 for the 4th bottom team so I'd have two teams in the same section. In addition mcstorytaller also has a clash with TrickyMove so I think due to the high rating of the bottom section I can't make 3 teams work.

So I think MRM will be removed and MPM will have Miltie added for wojowhiskey to get a rating of 1764.5

As far as the best layout I'd suggest 4-4-5-4

Kasparov section with 6 teams would acutally be extremely balanced (all teams within less than 20 points!), so, Kenny, I really hope you don't drop your second team. I'm sure you can exchange ideas with LightKnight and pchesso on how to solve the clashes.

Aside from the huge gap in Alekhine (which I don't know how could be addressed), 4-4-6-4 seems rather natural.

I had a whisper about potentially one more team coming in (they are new, and tell me they only have 3 players right now). If so, that would mitigate the loss of a Mysterious Moves team.

I had hoped we could get a 6-team Fischer section, since the top 4 teams are so familiar with each other at this point, but I think the problem is that the 7th and 8th teams are quite a bit higher rated than the teams below them, creating an unbalanced Spassky section. So assuming no teams being added or lost, I tend to agree that 4-4-6-4 looks good.

@SBC: but which section that new team is likely to enter? Kasparov?

If that team were in the high 1600s or 1700s and we could maintain MRM for 19 teams, even 4-4-7-4 would be possible.

Well if the potential new team needs a player LNO, mcstorytaller and wojowhiskey asked to play in a second team so could potentially play for them depending on section they'd land in (i.e. above 1850)

Also the issue that has really made it hard for me to form 3 teams is the rating limit of the lowest section

T83 - 1793.75
T84 - 1813
T85 - 1828.75
T86 -1801
T87 - 1858

So basically it means a 1500 player needs a 2200 player to offset them to play in the lowest section

Just a quick update that I've managed to get dalmata to cover for mcstorytaller for MRM so I might just be able to get 3 teams to work although ideally I'd aim to get a replacement for wojowhiskey so I don't steal pchesso's player

@kurumim I don't have a lot of details at this stage. Given what the prospective captain told me two days ago, I think it's probable that this team doesn't get formed in time for this tourney.

Just going to say if there are no more teams a 4-4-6-4 layout as suggested is fine with me

Sections are up. I went with the consensus. Pairings tomorrow. Thanks to all for your input.

Looks good, sbc. Thank you once again for your top-notch work, and good season to all!

Thank you, smallblackcat.

Have fun, everyone!

Pairings are done. As usual they can be seen here: http://teamleague.org/LightNEasy.php?page=compschedule
People are encouraged to check and report any errors.