FA Cup Final Chelsea v Liverpool

[John Foley]

Kick-off 5th May 5.15pm gives only three and a quarter hours of chess before the Big Match.
Not even a full time control.
Will there be enough space at the bar?
I predict some early draws.

This reminds me that each year our evening league schedules matches for St Valentines.
Surely it is time to recognise that some chess players may have perennial interests outside chess.

[Alex Holowczak]

Kick-off 5th May 5.15pm gives only three and a quarter hours of chess before the Big Match.
Not even a full time control.

Since when did the FA Cup Final not start at 3pm?

This reminds me that each year our evening league schedules matches for St Valentines.

I'm reminded of an anecdote from North London.

A team captain is trying to raise a team for a league match. He asks player after player, but is struggling. No one is agreeing to play. He becomes exasperated, and after the one player too many declined to play, he asks "Surely you can't be so indebted to your wife that you can't miss Valentine's Day to play in a chess match?!" Then comes the reply "No, not Valentine's Day. Arsenal are playing!"

[John Foley]

Since when did the FA Cup Final not start at 3pm?

This year - as announced last year.

[Alan Burke]

John ... I agree that "some chess players may have perennial interests outside chess."

However, some of those interests might not always include football and therefore whichever date is chosen to host a particular congress will often clash with another event which some chess players might also have been keen to watch.

Perhaps the 4NCL could ask the FA to reschedule the Cup Final to avoid their congress ??? (I'm joking before anyone wishes to take issue with that comment.)

[Ben Purton]

2nd best sporting event of the day certainly behind the 2000 Guineas

[Roger de Coverly]

If you aren't prepared to concentrate 100%, you deserve all the rating points you lose. Against that, at a fixture meeting I have to have a note of a certain club's (European) fixtures.

[Alex Holowczak]

Against that, at a fixture meeting I have to have a note of a certain club's (European) fixtures.

The Birmingham League has managed to schedule its AGM (June 11th) and fixtures meeting (June 19th) for days on which England play France and Ukraine respectively in Euro 2012. I'd be surprised if the AGM was quorate. I intend to get the fixtures done by phone/e-mail in advance of the meeting. (Although really, I can choose which nationality I am for England-Ukraine match, so either way I'm happy. )

[benedgell]

I remember playing NCL (I think it was last season) and Chelsea were playing against Everton in the FA Cup. Myself and my opponent were going to the bar between moves to watch the match, and when it came to penalties we both watched.