I don't know if grading can be used as an objective measure of giant killing, because of the following:Neville Twitchell wrote:This may have been covered before but does anyone know what the record is for the greatest act of giant-killing in chess, measured objectively in terms of ECF grading or ELO rating?
Of course there are many examples of players beating much stronger opposition at all levels of the game and in all forms of the game, but statistically speaking what is the greatest grading difference (or rating difference) between the stronger (losing) and weaker (winning) player?
I am referring only to over the board chess, not postal chess or online chess, and only to "proper" games, ie not blitz, though rapid-play may be acceptable.
What are the records for domestic (English) play, and for international tournaments/matches respectively?
This could be at any level of play, whether it be a "100" beating a "200", for example, or a "150" beating a "250", or whatever.
Does anyone here remember Martin Goldschmidt? A London Central YMCA junior with a BCF grade of 99 (ninety-nine)
around the early 70s, he improved very rapidly indeed and started beating not only strong club players, but also
some titled players, while he still had that 99 grade, much to the consternation of all those 200+ rated opponents!!!
Hilarious schadenfreude! Martin retired from chess early on to focus on managing pop groups, making a one-off
re-appearance at an Upminster weekend tournament in the 80s. That was the last I saw of him.