Hastings Congress 2022-23

[John Moore]

Ah, I have, of course, heard of Freddie Gordon. Still don't understand why he played on in that game.

[Wadih Khoury]

Don't know who Mr Waldhausen is, but he does have a 2069 elo rating and he played on today against a 1472 (presumably a kid), until he was mated with Q and K against K. I can't imagine what the reason might be for that.

His opponent is a strong junior (won the ukcc a few years ago), same age, who had stopped for his eleven plus. He started playing again this summer, so was both rusty and severely underrated but glad to see he is returning to his former level.
Can't say why Freddie kept playing, though this happens a lot in junior vs junior games.

[Owen Phillips]

Very good showings from Ismail and James Golding amongst others and Brandon was standing better against Sulkis before eventually losing, Can't help think that Brandon was playing too many games what with also competing in the Xmas and NY Open too!!

Clearly we have a lot of young talented players.

ATB to all in 2023, Owen.

[Wadih Khoury]

Very good showings from Ismail

Yes Ayan has an incredible tournament. Given his performance is nearly 2500, does he have any chance for a norm or he has not the right mix of opponents?

[IM Jack Rudd]

His mix of opponents is more than fine, even if he were to get an untitled Englishman in round 10.

[Owen Phillips]

Yes a very exciting performance!

[LawrenceCooper]

Very good showings from Ismail

Yes Ayan has an incredible tournament. Given his performance is nearly 2500, does he have any chance for a norm or he has not the right mix of opponents?

Definitely a good chance of an IM norm. His average is 2339, so a score of 6/9 (not including the half point bye) will hopefully suffice. The only danger perhaps being a round 9 loss and then playing someone too low rated in the last round.

[Simon Rogers]

I was informed via email that a member of the Blackpool & Fylde League played as a filler on the bottom board in the Hastings Masters.
Neil Coward, also plays regularly on the Congress circuit.
I was just wandering how he got on and who he played.
What is a filler?

[Kevin Thurlow]

"What is a filler?"

When the number of players is odd, kind-hearted organizers find an innocent bystander and ask them to play the person who would otherwise have the bye.

[Leonard Barden]

I was informed via email that a member of the Blackpool & Fylde League played as a filler on the bottom board in the Hastings Masters.
Neil Coward, also plays regularly on the Congress circuit.
I was just wandering how he got on and who he played.

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 022/8/1/42

[LawrenceCooper]

Very good showings from Ismail

Yes Ayan has an incredible tournament. Given his performance is nearly 2500, does he have any chance for a norm or he has not the right mix of opponents?

Definitely a good chance of an IM norm. His average is 2339, so a score of 6/9 (not including the half point bye) will hopefully suffice. The only danger perhaps being a round 9 loss and then playing someone too low rated in the last round.

A last round win now needed after a very sad end to his ending against Cherniaev.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Black against Andrew Muir.

[LawrenceCooper]

Black against Andrew Muir.

Game drawn.