World Senior Chess Championship 14 – 27 November 2022 Assisi – Umbria Italy

[LawrenceCooper]

The point is surely that you can easily do such a thing by accident, with no gamesmanship element even coming into the picture.

A repeat offender would suggest something more, I agree.

Agreed. One thing I wondered about, if the player did the same thing in the next round (as opposed to a second time in the one game) would arbiters still be inclined to give a time penalty as it's the second time it occurred in the tournament?

[Matt Bridgeman]

I think my daughter had a worse example at the Birmingham Open last weekend. 80+10 time control. She was down to 10 second increment and had been for a while. Her opponent had at least 20 minutes on the clock. In a losing position he starts blitzing out 10 or 20 immediate response moves, trying to win on time, not recording any moves. She wasn't fully aware of the rules, but as the arbiter was watching all this happen and didn't intervene, she didn't want to stop the clock because she didn’t really believe he'd get more than just a light warning. She just played it out and won. He then stropped off without resetting his pieces. I might have said something to the Dad, but as he seemed to spend most of the event blasting out loud tick tocks on his phone, burping, farting and generally making a racket. I didn't think it was worth it!

[Ken Norman]

I think my daughter had a worse example at the Birmingham Open last weekend. 80+10 time control. She was down to 10 second increment and had been for a while. Her opponent had at least 20 minutes on the clock. In a losing position he starts blitzing out 10 or 20 immediate response moves, trying to win on time, not recording any moves. She wasn't fully aware of the rules, but as the arbiter was watching all this happen and didn't intervene, she didn't want to stop the clock because she didn’t really believe he'd get more than just a light warning. She just played it out and won. He then stropped off without resetting his pieces. I might have said something to the Dad, but as he seemed to spend most of the event blasting out loud tick tocks on his phone, burping, farting and generally making a racket. I didn't think it was worth it!

I don't understand what this has got to do with the World Seniors Championship.

[Mick Norris]

I see Nunn lost in round 8 to Kristiansen, who is half a point clear of the field with 3 rounds to go

[Matt Mackenzie]

I think my daughter had a worse example at the Birmingham Open last weekend. 80+10 time control. She was down to 10 second increment and had been for a while. Her opponent had at least 20 minutes on the clock. In a losing position he starts blitzing out 10 or 20 immediate response moves, trying to win on time, not recording any moves. She wasn't fully aware of the rules, but as the arbiter was watching all this happen and didn't intervene, she didn't want to stop the clock because she didn’t really believe he'd get more than just a light warning. She just played it out and won. He then stropped off without resetting his pieces. I might have said something to the Dad, but as he seemed to spend most of the event blasting out loud tick tocks on his phone, burping, farting and generally making a racket. I didn't think it was worth it!

I don't understand what this has got to do with the World Seniors Championship.

It has arisen from a discussion of something that *did* happen there. Reading the whole thread, where practicable, can help.

[LawrenceCooper]

I see Nunn lost in round 8 to Kristiansen, who is half a point clear of the field with 3 rounds to go

A win in round 9 to maintain his 100% with white.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Who thought that John Nunn would easily win this? (He is now equal-first with two rounds to go.) I suppose it is different from the British event he won at a canter. These low-rated ageing GMs are clearly a tricky bunch to play (and the low ratings can be misleading)!

Looks like it will take a bit of luck for Keith to get into the medals. Glad to see he won one of the two blitz tournaments (two blitz tournaments?? See above comment about ageing chess players!).

[Keith Arkell]

I don't need luck I need points! ( 1.5 / 2 or maybe 2/2 ). MInd you sometimes luck and points go together

In the first one of these - probably the strongest ever - Sturua and me got 8.5 and Nunn got the bronze with 8. But with Black v the top seed in my score group ( 6.5) tomorrow ( Nevednichy, who was 2600+ a decade ago and is 'only' 53 now) I've got my work cut out. Im case anyone is confused by my board, I would normally be on 3 tomorrow but I'm on 15 permanently because it's near an air vent.

[Mick Norris]

Good luck Keith (at least with the air vent, just get those points)

[NickFaulks]

These low-rated ageing GMs are clearly a tricky bunch to play (and the low ratings can be misleading)!

Why? "Underrated seniors" is a not a concept I have previously encountered.

[Roger de Coverly]

Why? "Underrated seniors" is a not a concept I have previously encountered.

Those of us that play in "all age" competitions are liable to have lower ratings than those who exclusively play in senior events.

[Keith Arkell]

These low-rated ageing GMs are clearly a tricky bunch to play (and the low ratings can be misleading)!

Why? "Underrated seniors" is a not a concept I have previously encountered.

I understand what Christopher means. Ofter 'ageing GMs' , and IMs too, for that matter, let their ratings drift right down during their run - of - the - mill chess.

They can lose motivation and have lots of quick draws v weaker opposition. Spassky was a typical example, when he was active.

But then when they play in a World Championship suddenly they are fighting tooth and nails again and playing the best chess they are capable of.

[NickFaulks]

Is there any group of players that is not systemically underrated? Maybe we should fix the system by just adding 100 to everyone.

[Roger de Coverly]

Maybe we should fix the system by just adding 100 to everyone.

The same would be achieved by knocking 100 points off the rating and performance requirements for titles. There's a perception by those close to the relevant rating ranges that obtaining titles is becoming more difficult. That could just be because the required standard of play has become higher.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Older players sometimes have the advantage that they recognise a (type of) position they saw many years earlier and just know what to do. You can also confuse younger players with 1970's opening theory, which isn't on Chessbase.