British Championship 2023

[John Moore]

I seem to recall Tim Harding asking some time ago whether there was any information about where the 2023 British was due to be held and in the absence of any response, it seemed that no-one did at the time. I thought that the word at the 2022 congress was that an announcement was likely around the end of September, but none seems to have been made. Anybody got any further information?

[Roger de Coverly]

I thought that the word at the 2022 congress was that an announcement was likely around the end of September,

That could be an AOB or otherwise AGM question for whoever is now the Director responsible for the British Championships. That's why it isn't possible to revert to the old process of announcing both the date and place of the next British Championship before the end of the current ones.

For that matter what has happened to the practice of publishing pgns from all tournaments?

[John Upham]

I assumed it had been announced it was to be Stockport (or was it Southport?) for 2023.

[LawrenceCooper]

I seem to recall Tim Harding asking some time ago whether there was any information about where the 2023 British was due to be held and in the absence of any response, it seemed that no-one did at the time. I thought that the word at the 2022 congress was that an announcement was likely around the end of September, but none seems to have been made. Anybody got any further information?

I did ask the question (to help avoid a clash with my title norm all-play-all event) in late July but although I got a reply there was no specific information on date/location. It sounded likely that the format will return to the extended one week format. Although not mentioned in the reply I have an idea that October was mentioned somewhere regarding an announcement so maybe at the next ECF meeting.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I assumed it had been announced it was to be Stockport (or was it Southport?) for 2023.

It has been in the latter before, dunno about Stockport tho.

[Mike Gunn]

I was the person who passed on the snippet about an announcement in late September which I was told by a member of the control team.

[John Reyes]

I assumed it had been announced it was to be Stockport (or was it Southport?) for 2023.

you are in the loop so you should know where the british is being held?

[John Upham]

I assumed it had been announced it was to be Stockport (or was it Southport?) for 2023.

you are in the loop so you should know where the british is being held?

My understanding is that the original intention was S****port (not sure which) but Adrian Elwin was informed that the venue had jacked-up its rate and it became unviable. Others may know more.

[Roger de Coverly]

My understanding is that the original intention was S****port (not sure which)

Southport is a seaside resort between Liverpool and Blackpool, so more likely than Stockport which is just outside Manchester and is or was an industrial town.

The British Championships were last in Southport in 1983. Before that BH Wood used it for a few years in the 1960s and 1970s as a venue for his annual summer festivals.

[Mick Norris]

We would like to bring the British to Manchester, but I don't think even Stockport players would see Stockport as being viable or having a suitable venue

Southport like Blackpool and Morecambe would have viable venues; whether the terms would be acceptable to the British organisers is a different issue

[Ken Norman]

Clearly the sensible decision would be to make Torquay the permanent venue for the British Championships.

[Tim Spanton]

Clearly the sensible decision would be to make Torquay the permanent venue for the British Championships.

Remember when London was proposed as a permanent venue? As I understand it, that would have come with substantial sponsorship by The Times ...

[John Upham]

Clearly the sensible decision would be to make Torquay the permanent venue for the British Championships.

Remember when London was proposed as a permanent venue? As I understand it, that would have come with substantial sponsorship by The Times ...

Would have the ECFs bill for journeys for The Times of London Correspondent by Taxi cab have rivalled that for the total bill to the BCF from the 1993 match? I'm not confident that the ECFs finances could have coped.

[Roger de Coverly]

Would have the ECFs bill for journeys for The Times of London Correspondent by Taxi cab have rivalled that for the total bill to the BCF from the 1993 match? I'm not confident that the ECFs finances could have coped.

Perhaps Tim was thinking of 1990 or 1991 when the Championship was in Eastbourne two years running possibly as a consequence of the uncertainty. The desire of the The Times to become a chess sponsor was eventually realised with the Short-Kasparov match in 1993.

I think participants at the Congress were offered a vote on fixed venues and voted against.

[John Upham]

Perhaps Tim was thinking of 1990 or 1991 when the Championship was in Eastbourne two years running possibly as a consequence of the uncertainty. The desire of the The Times to become a chess sponsor was eventually realised with the Short-Kasparov match in 1993.

The event that took the BCF to the brink of bankruptcy. Taxi!