Search found 9087 matches

by Alex Holowczak
Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:29 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: World Youth Championships
Replies: 324
Views: 39062

Re: World Youth Championships

I'd like to apologise for my post of 14 January, in which I inappropriately disclosed information that had been shared with me in a confidential conversation.
by Alex Holowczak
Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:22 am
Forum: International News
Topic: Tata Steel 10th-28th Jan 2020
Replies: 169
Views: 20782

Re: Tata Steel 10th-28th Jan 2020

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Mon Feb 10, 2020 1:22 am
But maybe they have more sense.
India is the home of arbiters - and the regulations they are obliged to enforce - finding new and original ways of defaulting players to stop them playing chess. I'm sure English arbiters have many faults, but this isn't one of them.
by Alex Holowczak
Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:15 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Knight Pair
Replies: 22
Views: 4645

Re: Knight Pair

It should be at the 4NCL website soon I suppose I didn't make my reason for asking clear, did I? :) Sorry, I'm clearly being dense - were you inputting the games at Maidenhead? https://beauchess.blogspot.com/ No, I co-ordinate the efforts to get the games played across the 4NCL on the website. I wa...
by Alex Holowczak
Sun Feb 09, 2020 10:59 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Knight Pair
Replies: 22
Views: 4645

Re: Knight Pair

Tim Spanton wrote:
Sun Feb 09, 2020 10:44 pm
It should be at the 4NCL website soon
I suppose I didn't make my reason for asking clear, did I? :)
by Alex Holowczak
Sun Feb 09, 2020 10:00 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Knight Pair
Replies: 22
Views: 4645

Re: Knight Pair

Tim. I read your excellent Thematic Exchange Spanish a quarter century ago so thanks again. Time for me to dig up my Knight Pairs. Thanks Nick - you may be interested in my 123-move game from yesterday's 4NCL: https://beauchess.blogspot.com/2020/02/yesterday.html Is that 123-move game available in ...
by Alex Holowczak
Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:37 pm
Forum: 4NCL
Topic: Div 3 North 2019-20
Replies: 55
Views: 16172

Re: Div 3 North 2019-20

I liked the suggestion that it would be cheaper to move Birmingham 20 miles closer to London. There's a lot to be said for Coventry, which is about 20 miles closer to London than Birmingham. Direct rail access to Birmingham, Birmingham International Airport and London. Marginally lower cost of livi...
by Alex Holowczak
Sun Feb 02, 2020 6:54 pm
Forum: Congress Diary
Topic: Richmond Stars Barred
Replies: 3
Views: 1433

Re: Richmond Stars Barred

The inaguaral FIDE rated Richmond Stars Barred (U2200) standard play takes place at Orleans Park School on Saturday 19th December. Registration from midday, finish by 18:00. 11 round Swiss, one section, open to all. Prize fund £750. Entry form can be downloaded from: entry form Entries, pairings an...
by Alex Holowczak
Sat Feb 01, 2020 10:37 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: World Youth Championships
Replies: 324
Views: 39062

Re: World Youth Championships

In my scenario the ECF only needs to show balance of probabilities that it acted reasonably in banning a player or sanctioning an organisation. Assuming it has the will to get involved, which per Alex's comments, it might not. I think the ECF Board would take the appropriate action if it happened a...
by Alex Holowczak
Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:27 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: World Youth Championships
Replies: 324
Views: 39062

Re: World Youth Championships

Notably, the policy doesn't place any specific obligations on organisers to have robust anti-cheating measures in place, merely saying they should be vigilant and might choose to use electronic equipment detection devices. Cheating would be trivial in league chess if someone wanted to cheat, and I ...
by Alex Holowczak
Thu Jan 30, 2020 6:56 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: World Youth Championships
Replies: 324
Views: 39062

Re: World Youth Championships

There are ECF grade criteria : "Dates to Achieve Target ECF Grade By World Youth Championship (U14,16,18) – January 2020 European Youth Championship (U8,10,12,14,16,18) – August 2020 European Youth Rapid & Blitz (U8,10,12,14,16,18) – August 2020" I Imagine the ECF grade target has been met. Actuall...
by Alex Holowczak
Tue Jan 28, 2020 10:36 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Leonard Barden's last Evening Standard column
Replies: 32
Views: 6975

Re: Leonard Barden's last Evening Standard column

When I read some of today's other news, it struck me that Leonard's service on the London Evening Standard was longer service than that of Nicholas Parsons on Just a Minute. Which is quite an achievement!
by Alex Holowczak
Sun Jan 26, 2020 7:08 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: The French System
Replies: 34
Views: 4403

Re: The French System

I've actually spoken to the same people who John has. The answer is nothing to do with having a plan. The answer is having a culture that local government authorities donate significant amounts of money to different sporting events, including chess. This is even common in Western Europe, particularl...
by Alex Holowczak
Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:33 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Cheating in chess
Replies: 3034
Views: 344352

Re: Cheating in chess

The third parties who may have been harmed include: the arbiter, the organiser; the sponsor; the move inputter; the buletin compiler' and anybody who comes on the so-called game in the future. Speaking as a move inputter, if at the next 4NCL weekend everyone wants to agree a draw in 8 moves, they'd...
by Alex Holowczak
Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:59 pm
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: ECF Online Chess
Replies: 33
Views: 8154

Re: ECF Online Chess

Andy Stoker wrote:
Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:13 pm
one of their algorithms had incorrectly fingered me
Gosh, these really are revolutionary computer algorithms. :shock:
by Alex Holowczak
Fri Jan 24, 2020 12:06 pm
Forum: Junior Chess
Topic: World Youth Championships
Replies: 324
Views: 39062

Re: World Youth Championships

https://www.dorsetchess.co.uk/100-day-countdown-to-25th-dorset-rapidplay-1000-in-cash-prizes-entries-now-possible/ Yet another Rapidplay that could be FIDE-rated that isn't. :cry: When are the FIDE Arbiter courses in England planned for in 2020 ? Why does that matter? Being an ECF Level 1 Arbiter i...