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2026 Daily Chess Milk Cup

2026 Daily Chess Milk Cup

Clans

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I propose creating a second clan competition in 2026, a Cup, which would be fun for clan leaders and players and might lead to increased interest and activity in the clan feature. Preparing for 2026 and the additional competition might have some clans pursue the ideas we have seen in the forum. Maybe some of the smaller clans will combine. Maybe some of the larger clans will add a co-leader.

Adding a Cup may affect some clan strategies for the season long title, so that needs to be considered, but that seems to be the only drawback.

My proposal is based on the games and matches that clan leaders will create in 2026. There won’t be different cup games. We will just track the leader-created clan games in two different places. We always track results in the Net Points table, but we can also track them in a Cup table. We can ask @Russ if he could create a new report - a Cup table - for 2026.

When a clan game fits a set of rules we create, it is added to the Cup table too. There are variables we will need to decide on together.

How many clan games in the cup? For the sake of the math here, let's say 1200. This is variable and can be decided together.

1200 games - against who? Clans need to play at least 50 games (variable) against every clan in the cup table. This can be programmed into the report. Clans will have to decide before the year starts if they want to join the Cup. Clans are free to join the 2026 Cup or not. Other Cup games to reach the 1200 limit are up to the clan leader.

Time control? 3/7 and 7/7, how many of each is another variable. I propose a minimum - clans have to play at least 400 games in both time controls in the Cup table. Other Cup games to reach the 1200 limit are up to the clan leader.

Clan games are not just games - they are part of matches and this is where we need some help from the better clan leaders. We can set a limit of 5v5 challenges to be counted in for Cup games. Or 4v4. Variable.

It's a report. When a clan game is finished, the Cup table will use our set of rules to decide whether or not to add that game.

Did the game start in 2026? Was the game between two clans in the Cup table? Was the challenge 4v4 or less? As long as it passes every rule we create, it is added to the Cup table.

When a clan hits 1200 Cup games (which will include by rule: 50 games against all other clans in the table, 400 3/7 games, and 400 7/7 games ) - that is that clan’s final Cup record for the year and no more games are added to the Cup table for that clan.

1 point for win .5 point for a draw. Games start and end in 2026. Highest Cup point total after 1200 games in 2026 wins the Cup.

Clock

Or a straight knockout cup.

That could be done inside a year.

Clock

i liked the clan leagues, the problem with the clan leagues though was there was too many of them based on different timeouts etc and clans just put their highest rated players in so lower rated players often got overlooked by the clan leader, sure at one point was 5 or 6 going, introduce one clan league over say 2 divisions with a relegation/promotion basis, teams used to be a squad of 5 or 6? teams need to be weighted to have a broad range of ratings to stop clans just putting best players in as happened before, so maybe you need to have a player from say 800-1200, 1200-1400, 1400-1600 etc to make it a fair playing field

Clock

@Bish Sounds interesting but I refuse to play a couple of other clans because they are completely unreasonable in their proposals. We wouldn’t be able to participate as a result.

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@lstcyr said
@Bish Sounds interesting but I refuse to play a couple of other clans because they are completely unreasonable in their proposals. We wouldn’t be able to participate as a result.
Cheers lstcyr

"Clans will have to decide before the year starts if they want to join the Cup"

What if they choose not to participate? Not all clans will sign up ...

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@Wycombe-Al said
i liked the clan leagues, the problem with the clan leagues though was there was too many of them based on different timeouts etc and clans just put their highest rated players in so lower rated players often got overlooked by the clan leader, sure at one point was 5 or 6 going, introduce one clan league over say 2 divisions with a relegation/promotion basis, teams used to ...[text shortened]... ou need to have a player from say 800-1200, 1200-1400, 1400-1600 etc to make it a fair playing field
This idea has merit Al.

A clan league with 5-player teams: U1200 U1400 U1600 U1800 U2000 using the 5 Years rating. Once the clan league starts for the season, your rating can go anywhere - but next season the player would have to be in a different chair if they crossed a ratings threshold ...

nice one β™œ

Clock

@BishWell done for thinking of ways to stimulate the clan culture. Tends to get a bit stagnant with the top clans proposing preposterous challenges in order to gain points.

I like the idea of a knock out competition, 5 similarly matched pairs. Should be completed easily in a year if clan leaders pull their fingers out.

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@Bish
great idea matey ! nice ; -)

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@lstcyr said
@Bish Sounds interesting but I refuse to play a couple of other clans because they are completely unreasonable in their proposals. We wouldn’t be able to participate as a result.
With a cup competition you'd need someone neutral to set the games if the two clan leaders can't decide. Both leaders not being particularly happy is the sign of a fair challenge.

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@A-Unique-Nickname said
With a cup competition you'd need someone neutral to set the games if the two clan leaders can't decide. Both leaders not being particularly happy is the sign of a fair challenge.
It's brilliant in its simplicity. A clan ombudsman or commissioner to help resolve disputes and helps with "some" challenges. Someone here at Daily Chess that is respected, but not part of any clan.

We are getting somewhere here people. πŸ•ΊπŸ’ƒ

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@Bish said
It's brilliant in its simplicity. A clan ombudsman or commissioner to help resolve disputes and helps with "some" challenges. Someone here at Daily Chess that is respected, but not part of any clan.

We are getting somewhere here people. πŸ•ΊπŸ’ƒ
I don't like it, I believe it would be the same Clans involved each year. I am going to advise my Clan leader not to get involved. What he does of course is entirely up to him. I don't think their should be two divisions.

I believe everyone should play everyone else as it now is done. Why make extra work for Russ, because you want to be able to say you won something??
I am Dead Set against it.

It might be time for me to leave the Clan Challenges, there have been enough changes over the years, now YOU want to make changes again to suit YOU!!!
No Thank You. I dislike it enough to think seriously about not playing in any Clan System. I don't Like things being fixed to suit a few people one this SITE!!!

50 games is JOKE, is that all your able to play??? I play close to 200 a year if you want to take into consideration my other challenges a hell of a lot more than that.

-VR

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@Very-Rusty

Have you not had your morning coffee yet?

What Bish is suggesting is not a change to the current clan system which would remain the same but at extra cup competition. Like the clan leagues but a cup... Cup. Made of milk apparently, they tried that in England but changed it to coca cola, milk being too healthy.

Clock
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@Very-Rusty said
I don't like it, I believe it would be the same Clans involved each year. I am going to advise my Clan leader not to get involved. What he does of course is entirely up to him. I don't think their should be two divisions.

I believe everyone should play everyone else as it now is done. Why make extra work for Russ, because you want to be able to say you won something?? ...[text shortened]... ar if you want to take into consideration my other challenges a hell of a lot more than that.

-VR
I see now every post has a thumbs down. Wonder who did that.

πŸ₯±

Clock
2 edits

@A-Unique-Nickname said
@Very-Rusty

Have you not had your morning coffee yet?

What Bish is suggesting is not a change to the current clan system which would remain the same but at extra cup competition. Like the clan leagues but a cup... Cup. Made of milk apparently, they tried that in England but changed it to coca cola, milk being too healthy.
NO, He wants to add something that would be a benefit for People like yourself who don't play a lot of games, what the Hell 50 Games to win a cup??? That my old friend is B.S.!!!

Yes, in fact I am having my coffee now. I just don't like a few people getting together figuring a way that they can win something every year!!!!

-VR

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@Wycombe-Al
Like this idea ... players with lower ratings enjoy competition too. Plus, some clans (like ours) only have 1 or 2 higher rating players and would like to give more action to their lower ranking clan mates.

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