2017 Reykjavik Open

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Tomorrow he plays Shirov with White. I don't think a norm is possible as he would have to have met five titled opponents; is that right?
John has played 2xGM, 1 x IM, 1xFM, 1 x WFM but I don't think the WFM counts towards the quota for male players?

I don't see anything in the regulations saying WFMs don't count. They do say CMs and WCMs don't count.

He'll get a norm if he draws or wins against Shirov. As the tournament website says he's gaining 10 rating points already, a win would push his rating over 2400 and get him the IM title as well.

Talk about pressure! Though at the age of 60+, I suppose an IM title would be more noteworthy for the age than anything else - might that be some sort of record (if it happened)? Has he always been fairly active as a chess player, or did he have a period away from the game?

Oldest people to get the GM (or IM) titles from active play is an interesting topic. Some would exclude performances where you win a GM title by winning a world title (e.g. the World Senior Championships). See more on this here.

FWIW, the oldest "British Isles" titles are probably Jeff Horner (IM in 2008 at the age of 58-59), and Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (GM in 2009 at the age of 40-41).

A surprising number of people become IMs in their 40s and 50s. Still hope for some of us!

[Chris Rice]

The final round is underway and I think its fair to say John Pigott is going for it against Shirov https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 017/10/1/7 though White doesn't look that great after Shirov played 13...h5.

[Roger de Coverly]

Has he always been fairly active as a chess player, or did he have a period away from the game?

His ECF grading history tells a story of relative inactivity with some grading lists in which he is absent.

http://ecfgrading.org.uk/new/menu.php?f ... de=117144G

I don't recall him playing that much in the 1980s but he has an original 1986 grading code.

In the 1970s, he was a regular on the domestic circuit. I played him in 1976 in the Southend SCCU Championship and again in 1978 in the Evening Standard Summer Open.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

John Pigott's position is looking good! The online engine at chess24.com has White at 1.36 after 17...Qf6.

[Chris Rice]

John Piggott's position is looking good! The online engine at chess24.com has White at 1.36 after 17...Qf6.

Can't believe Shirov played 19...f5 with a White rook on the e-file and his king still at e8 though Stockfish isn't saying it's that bad.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

John Pigott's position is looking good! The online engine at chess24.com has White at 1.36 after 17...Qf6.

Can't believe Shirov played 19...f5 with a White rook on the e-file and his king still at e8 though Stockfish isn't saying it's that bad.

Hmm. The net effect is that the black pawn got to f4 and the White rook went to e3 and back to e1, with d4 played as well. Pigott should, apparently, have played d4 immediately, without the rook lift. Still hope, but Shirov may be playing confidently.

EDIT: What a bluff by Shirov! Offering the h7 bishop (by moving it to g6) and daring his opponent to take it. Computer says it is safe (and good for White). Anything else leaves Black better. Or maybe Shirov miscalculated something?

[Leonard Barden]

VINCIT QUI PATITUR!

David Sedgwick will understand the reference, even if noone else on the Forum does.

[Brian Towers]

And Pigott getsa his norm!
1-0 in 26 moves against Shirov!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Wow. I was trying to work out why Shirov's clock had stopped when it was his move, then realised that he had resigned!! Amazing result from Pigott. Truly, "he conquers who endures".

[Mick Norris]

Wow, what a result

In less important news, looks like Giri wins the event

[Leonard Barden]

VINCIT QUI PATITUR!

David Sedgwick will understand the reference, even if noone else on the Forum does.

Amazing result from Pigott. Truly, "he conquers who endures".

The reference is subtler than just the translation.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Hmm, a school motto?

(Gawain Jones is losing, sadly. So over the three Opens [Sharjah, Dubai and Reykjavik], will have shed some 17 rating points, but the prize money from Dubai will help salve that loss.)

[Roger de Coverly]

Hmm, a school motto?

Whitgift in Croydon. That's where Leonard and David Sedgwick went to school and I suspect John Pigott as well.

[Michael Yeo]

Hmm, a school motto?

Whitgift in Croydon. That's where Leonard and David Sedgwick went to school and I suspect John Pigott as well.

You suspect correctly. Leonard may have overlooked another regular poster who was there at the same time (not me).

[IM Jack Rudd]

There's also a regular poster whose father went there.