ACO WORLD AMATEUR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2016

[David Gilbert]

It won’t be long now. In just a fortnight seven English, a Welshman, and a Irishman will be flying out to Kos and heading for the amazing Helona Resort for the Amateur Chess Organisation’s (ACO) 5th World Amateur Chess Championships. The event has attracted its biggest entry with 247 participants from 30 countries. Can't wait!

The ACO has announced today that they’ll be recognising the exceptional contributions from Mike Basman and Amanda Ross in this year’s Social Chess Awards. Neither are playing, so I guess they’re having a bit of a free holiday. Well done those two - they're doing great work to promote chess.

[David Gilbert]

This Summer I went swimming, this Summer I might have drowned, but I held my breath and I kicked my feet and I moved my arms around. We've reached the rest day at the amazing Helona Resort on Kos. It's warm and today is being spent around the pool. The resort is so good that the ACO is coming back for a third year in 2017. The UK contingent is having a great time.

Group B: David Jameson (WLS) 3/6

Group C: Mark Le Vine 5/6 (joint leader)

Group D: John Nicholson (IRE) 4.5/6, Abhishek Pradham (IND) 4/6, David Gilbert 4/6, Jason Madden 2.5/6, Mike Cresswell 2/6

Group E: Patrick Sartain 3/6, Susan Chadwick 3/6, Jennifer Golsmith 2.5/6

Group F: Omar Jassim 3.5/6

PS: Some of us might be a few inches wider when we get home. Happy days.

[Chris Rice]

I've attached the link to the main site http://amateurchess.com/ in case anyone wants to follow progress and good luck of course to all the Brits. One oddity is that the blitz event was won by Falko Bindrich (2584) http://chess-results.com/tnr221185.aspx ... t=4&wi=821 I had no idea these amateur tournaments were so strong. You may recall Mr Bindrich from the scandal in 2012 http://en.chessbase.com/post/cheating-s ... -phone-use

[John McKenna]

... Happy days.

Monday, Tuesday... Wednesday, Thursday...
The weekend comes... Dave Gilbert hums... "I wish I could stay groovin' for an extra week. These days are mine... "

And, thanks to Chris, who kindly posted the links, below -

I've attached the link to the main site http://amateurchess.com/ in case anyone wants to follow progress and good luck of course to all the Brits. One oddity is that the blitz event was won by Falko Bindrich (2584) http://chess-results.com/tnr221185.aspx ... t=4&wi=821 I had no idea these amateur tournaments were so strong. You may recall Mr Bindrich from the scandal in 2012 http://en.chessbase.com/post/cheating-s ... -phone-use

[Roger de Coverly]

One oddity is that the blitz event was won by Falko Bindrich (2584)

He's an organiser.

http://amateurchess.com/team/

The tournaments don't go above 2400.

[David Gilbert]

A fabulous nine days at the amazing Helona Resort on Kos. A little more time to crank the sun and dry my hair. I booked for an extra day of rolling up the trouser leg and dipping my toe in the Aegean pool. It was a good time to bring the decorators in. The work is complete and I'm coming home to a newly decorated house tomorrow. By the way, for those who didn't come here because of concerns about bumping into a migrant or two, your fears were unfounded. Not a single sighting here or in Kos town. The final scores from the UK based contingent were:


Group B: David Jameson (WLS) 5/9

Group C: Mark Le Vine 6/9

Group D: David Gilbert 6/9, John Nicholson (IRE) 5.5/9, Abhishek Pradhan (IND) 4.5/9, Jason Madden 4.5/9, Mike Cresswell 3.5/9

Group E: Patrick Sartain 6/9, Susan Chadwick 4/9, Jennifer Golsmith 4/9

Group F: Omar Jassim 5/9