English Chess Forum

Played tonight in memory of John even though I didn’t want to. But felt it a nice way to pay tribute to him. I never met the guy but out of everyone on the internet I have never met I think I was closest to John. Been too gutted to even post on this forum post. I spoke with John many hours a day ove...

Very sad to hear this news. Played John a few times but will remember him most as the guy who out stayed me at Hastings every year. As I also used to watch all the games till the bitter end in 2012-2016 ish. Always friendly and polite and always said Hello to me and shook my hand when he saw me. Wil...

Very sad. Always strange when someone you played and shared banter with passes. Played him around 2014. In a team match for Hackney. One of my first brilliant results. I was 120. Think he was about 182. I lost my queen. And still managed to draw him. And he offered it. He was slightly better. Had so...

I was just about to post this up myself but had logging in issues. Tim to me was really like the Grandad I never had. Like Brendan said. He was so gentle and friendly. And still had a great sense of humour towards the end. I was in touch with him around Xmas. I offered to meet up with and him and as...

The ECF system is also vulnerable to this type of gaming. Look at the progress of my ECF rapidplay grade over the years. Wow Jack haha. Is that the opposite of sandbagging? :D What is that 88 games now? Over 10 years Jack you won in a row at Barnstaple haha. :D This guy Rausis has obviously just co...

Just saw on the Ecf Database that Michael Dean has passed away. Cant see anything about it online at all or on here. So just thought I would give my respects. Someone I always used to see at Hastings. And said hi to. RIP Michael.

Good News Brendan. Hope you have told him people have asked about him and miss him

Hi Ronnie, thanks for this. This is great news. Was really worried it was something worse. Hope to see him soon back playing

Exactly Michael which is why I said if he doesn't mind. Was hoping there was a non health reason why he has stopped playing. Or if it was health he would not mind. Would be nice for him to know he is missed and we wish him well.

Just wondering if anybody has seen or heard of Alan Fraser? As I am sure many of you know he is one of if not the most active player on the UK Chess scene. I have not seen him since the British Chess Champs 2017 myself but I see he did play up until October last year and his last event was the Dorse...

Only just seen this :( Dave Flower was my History teacher at Highbury Grove School in the early 90s. I had no idea he was a Chess player. I would of probably been in the same hall as him on occasions as I played for Hackney. Wish I knew as would of said hello. Was one on my fav teachers. I am sure h...

Luckily Nick Roger helped me out telling me about a little trick of buying tickets for just 1 journey rather than the whole thing.

Just looking at the entries in some events and they are amazing. 68 in the u140 for example. Just had a look at the prizes and as usual very low. Just wondering due to the huge amount of entries in some sections will the prizes be buffed up or grading prizes added for example in the u140. As its bas...

Thanks for comments. And Chris I was more on about there being a lower section than the usual 120 in many rapid events. And yeah Adam I am sure that space is one of the issues but looking at your last GG event for example you had 45 players in the u120 section. Why not limit the amount in the bottom...

Due to the success and popularity of this tournament it amazes me more of these types of huge rapid events are not more common in the UK? Especially the u85 section. As like some people on this forum I teach kids chess. And this tournament is the only one in the country bar a few others where I feel...