Why no British Championship in Leeds?

[David Hirst]

Being a Leeds player I have found out, after some research, that there has been little or no strong standard play chess events in Leeds. The British championships have been staged at Harrogate (1947), Sheffield (2011), Scarborough (2004) and York (1959). Yet never Leeds! Our city has staged the British rapidplay championships several times. But no strong standard play tournament. I have researched this and found that the strongest standard play tournament played in Leeds was actually 1861! I have produced an article on this - http://leeds-rose-forgrove-chess.org/18 ... ament.html – and it really was a chess exhibition. Yet, the question remains why has Leeds not staged a strong standard play event? Anybody know?

[Roger de Coverly]

Yet, the question remains why has Leeds not staged a strong standard play event? Anybody know?

The usual reason why events don't take place is that no-one steps forward to run them.

Don't knock the Leeds national rapidplays though. They were played in a large city centre hotel with well over a hundred participants. Also it was over two days, so if you stayed in the venue, it was a prototype of sorts for the 4NCL. Even the travelling was similar as the first round didn't start until midday of the Saturday. In terms of participation by top players, like the 4NCL, many were there.

[David Hirst]

Yes, it is great that the British rapidplay has been held at Leeds several times and will probably be held again here this year. It appears that there is always positive feedback regarding such events at Leeds which makes me more bemused that no standard play British championships have been held in the city

[Mick Norris]

You may have the same problem we do in Manchester - finding a big enough venue for free for a fortnight

Manchester Town Hall would be fabulous, but when our juniors played Berlin there a couple of years ago, one arm of the Council was charged by another to hire a small room for an afternoon

[William Metcalfe]

Venues are always the problem when i was thinking of running a Darlington weekend congress i got in touch with the local council i was quoted a price range between £850 and £1200 and this was 5/6 years ago

[JustinHorton]

Scarborough (2004)

And indeed 2001, 1999, 1930 and 1909.

[Jon Mahony]

Leeds Chess Club is staging a long-play congress this July (13th-15th) more info + entry form can be found here: http://www.leedschessclub.org/congress.htm

It will be small scale for the moment, but we hope to build on it, and I would hope to get a good number of the Leeds chess players turning out in support

[Sean Hewitt]

Leeds Chess Club is staging a long-play congress this July (13th-15th) more info + entry form can be found here: http://www.leedschessclub.org/congress.htm

It will be small scale for the moment, but we hope to build on it, and I would hope to get a good number of the Leeds chess players turning out in support

Jon - good luck with the event. If you would like me to display some entry forms at our Buxton event a couple of weeks before just let me know.

I have to ask, who came up with the time control of 37 moves in 90 minutes, and why?!

Sean

PS - Will the congress be ECF graded? Can't see the answer on the website or entry form.

[Roger de Coverly]

PS - Will the congress be ECF graded? Can't see the answer on the website or entry form.

They are offering a £ 3 discount to ECF members. The entry form also implies that ECF grades rank above Yorkshire ones. But Yorkshire Congresses have been known to behave like local Yorkshire leagues and not want anything to do with the ECF, or to just grade the games played by ECF members.

[Jon Mahony]

Leeds Chess Club is staging a long-play congress this July (13th-15th) more info + entry form can be found here: http://www.leedschessclub.org/congress.htm

It will be small scale for the moment, but we hope to build on it, and I would hope to get a good number of the Leeds chess players turning out in support

Jon - good luck with the event. If you would like me to display some entry forms at our Buxton event a couple of weeks before just let me know.

I have to ask, who came up with the time control of 37 moves in 90 minutes, and why?!

Sean

PS - Will the congress be ECF graded? Can't see the answer on the website or entry form.

Hi Sean

That would be great, if you PM me with an address, I will send you a supply of entry forms in the post

The decision to shorten the time controls was a purely practical one, in order to get an earlier finishing time on Saturday and Sunday night - Feedback we’ve had from most people who have shown an interest, tells us they will be travelling every day as opposed to staying over. If the shortened time controls proves unpopular, we will certainly be open to changing it next year.

Roger - I hear what you are saying about the local grading situation, although I think it’s fair to say it's not such an issue in Leeds - most players are ECF members. Though yes, we do use the YCA grades in the local leagues.

Personally I do like the YCA grading system as it’s live and you can check your progress (or lack there of, in my case!) online (though as I play quite a bit outside Yorkshire, so it’s not as accurate for me). But I certainly agree that ECF grades should take president.

In any event, rest assured that the Leeds congress will be fully ECF graded

[Roger de Coverly]

The decision to shorten the time controls was a purely practical one, in order to get an earlier finishing time on Saturday and Sunday night

The question was over the seemingly bizarre choice of move 37 as a time control after 90 minutes. One might either expect the traditional 36, or perhaps 40 or even not to have an intermediate time control and play all moves in 105 minutes.

[Sean Hewitt]

The question was over the seemingly bizarre choice of move 37 as a time control after 90 minutes. One might either expect the traditional 36, or perhaps 40 or even not to have an intermediate time control and play all moves in 105 minutes.

Yep, it was the 37 moves in .... that I didn't understand!

[Neil Graham]

Being a Leeds player I have found out, after some research, that there has been little or no strong standard play chess events in Leeds. The British championships have been staged at Harrogate (1947), Sheffield (2011), Scarborough (2004) and York (1959). Yet never Leeds! Our city has staged the British rapidplay championships several times. But no strong standard play tournament. I have researched this and found that the strongest standard play tournament played in Leeds was actually 1861! I have produced an article on this - http://leeds-rose-forgrove-chess.org/18 ... ament.html – and it really was a chess exhibition. Yet, the question remains why has Leeds not staged a strong standard play event? Anybody know?

The British Championships have always been run at a free venue. As anyone connected with chess must know finding a free venue has become progressively more difficult over the last decade and finding a venue that would house the British Championships over a fortnight with all the myriad problems which are too long to list even more so. The carrot that the ECF can offer is substantial economic benefit over the fortnight to the host town/city. I am aware that figures in excess of £1,000,000 have been quoted. You must remember that as well as competitors, the event attracts many families (especially in the junior sections). Obviously the type of venue that will attract the most competitors is a seaside location and it is natural for the tournament to gravitate to these where available. Other venues have proved less popular and when prospective entrants were polled about holding the event at, for example, Bradford or indeed Twickenham, they were met with a resounding thumbs down. Whilst Leeds may have plenty to commend it, I wouldn't expect it to be an ideal venue in many players' minds.

[Andrew Bak]

I guess that the venue is not the only issue, presumably adequate accommodation must also be available for however many people are going to participate in the event? I assume this is why seaside locations always seem to be quite popular.

[Stewart Reuben]

When I investigated Leeds as a venue for the British Championships in the 1990s the only problem, as far as I was concerned, was the cost of hire of the venue at the university. Sheffield, which I found for 2011, was basically free. Edinburgh in 1985 and 2003 was not free, but in both cases funding was found. Torquay will not be free in 2013. Scarborough in 2004, not only was the venue free, but there was some small support from the Council. Birmingham the cost of the venue has always been the problem.
If somebody wishes to investigate Leeds again for the British, or anywhere else, the basic requirements are:
A minimum 900 sq. metres playing space well-lit and quiet, preferably one area. A sports hall is sometimes suitable. North Shields at 1500 sq.metres (an indoor bowling green), plenty of break out rooms, reasonably priced accommodation, seaside resort is fine.
Commentary room
Analysis room
Administrative offices
Reasonably priced accommodation locally
Reasonable access
A place where it is attractive to spend a two week holiday. This is getting to be a bigger and bigger problem.
The event is peripatetic. Liverpool 2008, Sheffield 2011, North Shields 2012 is not ideal.
2014 will provide a particular problem. The normal dates for the British Championship will clash with the Chess Olympiad in Norway.