European Team Championship November 2023

[Jonathan Rogers]

Hang on!

Might Scotland win? Not only a game but even the match?

[LawrenceCooper]

Hang on!

Might Scotland win? Not only a game but even the match?

On current positions it looks very possible.

[John Moore]

David will need to grind on - a win looks unlikely but 2-2 might still be a good result looking at the other matches.

[Mark Howitt]

Can't believe they played Haria and he lost again...

It's like they pay to have a 'team captain' and he can't even do the obvs job of picking the best team. Unless McShane is v ill there is no excuse.

[LawrenceCooper]

Can't believe they played Haria and he lost again...

It's like they pay to have a 'team captain' and he can't even do the obvs job of picking the best team. Unless McShane is v ill there is no excuse.

He is ill, that's been made clear in this thread and elsewhere. Ravi has also been ill but was presumably the least ill when the team was selected.

[Mark Howitt]

Thanks. Overall though like many people said Fernandez should have been selected instead beforehand.

There have been plenty of days in my job where I was ill and still worked... it does seem quite surprising to me that people get ill on the few days when they have the chance to play for England. I guess the foreign conditions etc do not help...

[LawrenceCooper]

Thanks. Overall though like many people said Fernandez should have been selected instead beforehand.

There have been plenty of days in my job where I was ill and still worked... it does seem quite surprising to me that people get ill on the few days when they have the chance to play for England. I guess the foreign conditions etc do not help...

You should show Ravi more respect. He's a very capable grandmaster and to put it in context was higher rated at the age of 10 than you have ever been.

Players hardly choose to get ill but judging by the European Club Cup and now the European Team this year there have been far more cases than normal. It would certainly take a lot for Luke to not play as it did with those who missed games in Albania.

[Peter Ackley]

For a man who wrote a book Mark Howitt seems to have severe literacy problems - previous posters have already explained Luke McShane's absence.

Can someone remind me of what Mark Howitt's credentials are to criticise both Ravia Haria and the team captain. Strong player? No. Experienced manager? No. ECF member? No.

It seems a bit rich that the picking process is being criticised by a man who comes across as needing illustrated instructions to pick his own nose.

[Alan Walton]

Thanks. Overall though like many people said Fernandez should have been selected instead beforehand.

There have been plenty of days in my job where I was ill and still worked... it does seem quite surprising to me that people get ill on the few days when they have the chance to play for England. I guess the foreign conditions etc do not help...

Well since you have only played one over the board game in 15 years; and I would assume that the standard of any games you have historically played is at, and putting it politely, not at a high level; how would you know how illness affects you chess playing ability; I was quite ill at the 2017 Euro Club event and whilst I felt like I played OK I don't think it was optimal and definitely not the level these guys are playing at; so if one of your players is ill and you have an opportunity to swap then why not (I didn't have that chance)

[John Moore]

I think that Mark might get the picture - from posts from some strong players. Meanwhile David is down to increments and still going for it.

[John Moore]

Well David drew and so we lose to Serbia. Still a chance of a medal tomorrow, you would think.

[Mick Norris]

Armenia have played both Germany and Serbia, so presumably we play them and will need to win for a medal

[LawrenceCooper]

Last round pairings: England v Sweden (Cramling x2)


1 Croatia (11) Germany(13)
4 Greece (11) Serbia (13)
5 England (11) Armenia (11)

[Mark Howitt]

Guys I have NEVER said I was a good chessplayer- I know who u all are and that you're all better players than me. Quite rude some of these comments but don't worry I won't sue anyone

TBH though I think this kinda discussion is good as it's just more publicity for chess...

You know like how football FANS give their OPINION even though they often don't play football.

But yeah it's like in many sports players won't even mention that they're ill because they want to play so much. Boxers fight with broken wrists. When I was writing my novel I never gave myself a day off and I wasn't even getting paid to do that at the time.

[Mick Norris]

Last round pairings: England v Sweden (Cramling x2)


1 Croatia (11) Germany(13)
4 Greece (11) Serbia (13)
5 England (11) Armenia (11)

Both Germany and Serbia will expect they need to win, so will be 3 tough matches

Greece have surprised me