English Chess Forum

Disappointing outcome for him then but I still don't understand why anyone who has any endgame knowledge would play f5. Is it not already drawn at that point? If one is looking for candidates for mysterious decisions the 89th move would be very far down on my list! I think move 62 just taking on g7...

David’s 4.5/5 with four blacks is very impressive

I actually had permission to leave Paignton ( on 6/6) with a zero point bye, to nip off to one of the easy qualifiers ( eg Bristol or Cardiff, nearby) but decided against doing so as it just seemed wrong. It looks like the event was quite successful, but I think it was a mistake to automatically el...

In the few years having playing in Ireland you can never come across a nicer man; sorry for your country’s loss

Remember back then k factors were only 15 for everybody, and not 40; if your are to do true comparisons then you have to calculate on an equivalent basis Start ratings were higher as well, so if you come in at 1600 or 1800 that's less of a gain needed to reach 2300 and an FM title. CM and FM titles...

According to the fide site David was rated 2193 in July 2001 aged 10 years 8 months. Shreyas is rated 2115 aged 9 years 7 months. If he maintains his current rate of progress he will be ahead of that curve. At Shreyas current age, Praggnanandhaa was rated 2200. Whereas Abdusattorov was rated 2057 R...

The side room which hosted the Open section had its own independent air conditioning control. I know, as I switched it in the morning when putting up notices and placing board numbers. From the reports posted and otherwise received it would appear that the units failed or were unable to cope, both ...

I was there to present the prizes, and I agree the playing conditions weren’t great. No promises (money is tight as always), but we’ll see if anything can be done for next year. Can we award you the ECF prize for biggest understatement of the year with this comment; you could have just said conditi...

I have to admit I was quite glad to get away after the game this weekend (not just because I lost); the conditions in the playing area for the Open were most probably the worst I have ever played at; with no air conditioning the heat was very oppressive; I had players coming from the main room actua...

Nice piece Chess: Trio of young English experts impress at Pula Open in Croatia by Leonard Barden in the Guardian online: "Success in Pula reflects well on the English Chess Federation’s elite programme, which provides an annual grant to the best talents to be spent on coaching, books, or travel to...

Horton has a TPR of 2519, has played 3 IM+ and 5 titled players if you include the opponent who didn't turn up against him. But it's quite complicated given the situation with the default, and I lack the enthusiasm to dive into those murky depths at the moment. It is relatively simple regarding the...

2.Nf3 gives black a pretty comfortable game straight away, the knight doesn’t always belong on f3 in a lot of variations and believe it or not is better on h3 - a lot of opponents in the minor are London / Colle players, so you will get this move a lot - White will be hoping for 2...d5 next, gettin...

At Bunratty a couple of years ago I lost three on the bounce against Nick Pert, Bogdan Lalic and David Fitzsimons, albeit David was only an FM but he was rating 2390; this was in round 3-5, but it was still within 24 hours

I think in this transitional year until the new qualifying process is embedded it does look strange to have a lower limit

Once the new qualifying is in place; I suspect the volume of U2051 players will be significantly reduce and this becomes less of an issue

When I played in the Canadian Open back in 2010 they used Canadian grades for those who had one (FIDE for others); in Rd 1 I played somebody rated 2350, beat him quite quickly and he said I was stronger than by rating of about 2150 at the time; only after found out he was only FIDE rated at 2130; so...