English Chess Forum

Streatham's great young hope Qixiang Han is on fire in the Open with 3 straight wins to reach 4.5 points, having only lost in Round 1. Last victim was an IM. Now on a 2378 performance gaining 101 FIDE rating points. Guess he must be in with a shout of an IM norm if he continues this run (?). I think...

I think I played Clive in the final of a Drunken Knights Blitz tournament, which was in Spring 1996. There was a room full of decent players and I was very surprised to make the final. A lot less suprised (but still surpised) that I didn't know my opponent. I played white and he resigned when I had ...

Entry details are now out. FIDE open costs £100, which seems quite reasonable for what it is. The Under 2000 looks a real bargain at £50 however. It is cheaper than the season ticket (£60), which gives the same access. Bit surprised there is not a slowplay weekender. There are rapidplays at a fast ...

Entry details are now out. FIDE open costs £100, which seems quite reasonable for what it is. The Under 2000 looks a real bargain at £50 however. It is cheaper than the season ticket (£60), which gives the same access. Bit surprised there is not a slowplay weekender. There are rapidplays at a fast t...

Yes indeed Simon was certainly a larger than life character and also very generous. Always willing to help the club out and someone who would never make his excuses when you were frantically trying to replace a last minute withdrawal at an away match many miles away (like Royston).Instrumental in re...

I went last night. Thought it well worth going to. Did wonder what it would be like, when in films etc. the chess scenes normally involve the players spending more time staring at their opponents than the board, playing at blitz clip and rarely pressing the clock or writing the moves down. At the en...

Fine win from my Great-Grandfather on board 24 no doubt! Given I play about board 5 or 6 for Middlesex now it might look as if I am better than him. I am far from convinced though- far more people turned out in those days for county chess and I would definately struggle to make board 24 of a full st...

RIP Colin. I was his captain at Pinner for many years and he was exactly what you wanted- very reliable and very strong.

Happy Birthday Leonard! Hope I have your energy when I am 85. Hope I get to 85!

Today's puzzle: why did black resign in the final position? [Event "Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2014 "] [Site "The Caleta Hotel - Gibraltar"] [Date "2014.02.05"] [Round "9.111"] [White "Holleland, Sigve"] [Black "Andersen, Daniel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "1812"] [BlackElo "1941...

I don't understand all of Andrew's reservations about a play-off. There couldn't be as many as ten players on 4/4, surely. If you wanted a round robin with the six players or so, it should be possible; and you could at least say that if they are more than two players still tied, then the top rated ...

By the way, it’s really no concern of mine, but I do think this tie-break sucks. At least make it a blitz play-off between qualifiers. Anyone of my strength who had made it to 4/4 would have had to beat two or even three 2550+ GMs, whereas Istratescu hasn’t had to play any, by virtue of being t...

Highest rating is the tiebreak. Seems to have been a disappointing day for the 2600's but still likely to be two of them taking the spots. A cracking day on the live boards, helped no doubt by the differences in ratings and as JR has said the need to try and get to 4/4

Keith Arkell wrote:Agreed Andrew. Ok then what about if a wealthy 2600 qualifies, who doesn't like rapidplay?

A wealthy 2600? This is chess we are talking about!

Presumably if a qualifier for the rapidplay prefers to stay on and complete the International Open ( eg if he is an IM on line for a GM norm who doesn't need the money) then he will be allowed to play on and the 3rd highest rated on 4/4 will take the place instead? It looks highly improbable anyone...