English Chess Forum

So, Bodhana is playing for the title itself. So far so good. I like Leonard's column today, where he notes that ordinarily special mention would go to Richard Pert and indeed his whole team. Well quite. Both an individual English best, and team best for any English team, in this swiss format - whate...

I remember him from from my time as a student at Nottingham. He was a solid board one for the staff. Funny to reflect that the University had both a staff and a student team in the eight team first division back then; presumably, no longer.

He seemed very nice. My condolences to his family.

we could also try prompting Nick Burrows for his reaction to his team's debut in division one!

On the contrary, I would say the only inaccurate (and hardly “shockingly” so) is the 2300 error, as opposed to 2350. I wouldn’t say that anything else is any more unlikely than an 11 year old girl being within touching distance of the IM title. That's an error? Indeed, even that isn’t lol! For some...

I have raised concerns with Barbara Farrar, one of the ECF Gold Members Representatives, about transparency and consistency in the selection of England teams. The concern is not about removing selectors’ judgement or introducing a rigid rating-only system. It is about whether the ECF should investi...

Jersey (seeded 161) and Guernsey (seeded 172) finished slightly below seeding, but were 158th - 181st, and the tie-break is always a bit random. Our local teams didn't have a nightmare at least. It did occur to me you would have quite a decent tournament if the team captains played each other. Uzbe...

Uzbekistan might still have won!

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 27, 2026 2:04 pm

Gaprindashvilicup

11th is better than I expected

Now that must be unambiguously our best result in generations.

England’s best performance (especially combined) since…? A long time? certainly since 2018. I suspect that generally 2016 and 2018 run it close. For all of that it was only really better than 2022 because we won a fluctuating last round match against a slightly weaker team, rather than losing a flu...

Final round is go. Vitiugov must be pleased to have a nice position with Black so quickly, though still plenty of play left. Engine doesn't like Gawain's position, but then it is an engine, and Gawain is playing the KI: I imagine that we would be more optimistic. Luke is about equal but then it woul...

Good to see that Felix Jose Ynojosa Aponte, of Venezuela, has gained a GM norm here. Those with long memories will remember he used to live and play in the UK as a junior (well, not that long a memory ago, I think until around 2015?). https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1469895.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=VEN...

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 26, 2026 6:46 pm

........ Either Sindarov or Abdusattorov have good chances to make a determined attempt to add to the 2800 club.

Maybe both. There are surely many of us who simply regard them as the strongest (reasonably active) classical players in the world right now.

My memory is saying that there are possibly some 2-2 draws around that should count as impressive results but are less likely to be remembered. Yes, there have been some 2-2 draws with Russia/Armenia (in the days when they competed/fielded Aronian) and (in 2008) with Azerbaijan. You are right to sa...

, but it was a tough match against an obviously able and determined team playing at home, just after we had lost to India. Could they do it on a Wednesday night at a freezing chess club in Stoke Much easier to imagine these things if one accepts the obvious - that in Olympiads we are in general pla...

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 25, 2026 6:55 pm

Jonathan Rogers wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 25, 2026 6:51 pm

Armenia played Azerbaijan today! Did that receive much attention? Anyway Armenia won and we shouldn't need to ask who scored the only victory.

Yes, although didn't they try him losing and the others drawing the other day?

ah. well they switched back to their old system then!