British Chess Championships 2011

[LozCooper]

If the Bobby Fischer of 39 years ago was playing in this years British Chess Championships, how many points do people think he would finish on, and who, if anyone, would he drop points to?

Nil - he'd walk out over the pairing system, lighting, sharing the building with the swimmers, distance from the spectators or something like that

A lot of Fischerites think he would win now, while he is dead, he was that good.

I've just remembered: about 7 or 8 years ago a rumour went round the Atherton Chess Club that Nigel Short had played Fischer on the Internet Chess Club and got absolutely trounced. I don't know how much truth there was in the rumour but apparently Short didn't win a game, and the score when this illusive opponent left was 6-0. Perhaps if Nigel reads this he might be kind enough to enlighten us.[/quote]

I may be wrong but I thought it was subsequently found to be a very strong computer programme.

[Ian Kingston]

Short-Fischer

The story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1533946.stm

A ChessBase report: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=11

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Short

Also in 2001, Short was in the news as the story broke that he had been secretly playing the reclusive former chess champion Bobby Fischer online in speed chess matches. Short later retracted the claim after Fischer himself had denied it.

Seems likely that 'Fischer' was someone with a computer.

[Maxim Devereaux]

On the "Possible norms" page, the arbiters seems to have forgotten about Jonathan Hawkins. Slightly strange, given that he is performing at a higher level than Jovanka. It's not great for him, because his rating average is a bit high for 7/9 and a bit low for 6.5/9, but it's on.

I make it he needs 2/2 against Stuart Conquest today (with White) and a 2290+ in round 9.

Or 2.5/3 vs. Stuart and two players averaging 2469.5 for a 10 round norm.

[IM Jack Rudd]

If he beats Stuart, he'll get black against Jones or Howell in round 9.

[Alex McFarlane]

Sorry - I did calculate Jonathan (and agree with you). Just saved him without noting him down. Sorry again.

[Maxim Devereaux]

Another person with a theoretical chance is my clubmate Terry Chapman. He's suffering from the Swiss yo-yo, having played 5 players over 2400 (two of whom over 2500), scoring 1.5/5, and two around 2100-2150 (and a third today), scoring 2/2.

He seems to need 2/2 vs. today's opponent (2146) and 2579 for 9 round norm, or 3/3 vs. today's opponent and 2x2324 for 10 round norm, or 2.5/3 vs. today's opponent and 2x2514 for 10 round norm.

[LozCooper]

Martin Brown was also in contention and I suspect still has a chance with a good finish.

[Maxim Devereaux]

Martin Brown was also in contention and I suspect still has a chance with a good finish.

Looks like 2/2 vs. today's opponent (2214) and Gawain or better (well, 2603+ to be exact).
Quite similar to Terry, so, without double checking the sums, that probably means 3/3 vs. today's and 2x2336 or 2.5/3 vs. today's and 2x2526

[Carl Hibbard]

Close to 6,000 unique visitors today which is probably a record?

[Matthew Turner]

Is it
Pert, N - Short
Adams - Palliser
Jones - Hawkins

for round 9

[Kirk Gornall]

I am very impressed with the way Jonathan Hawkins is playing. He is surely going to be rated above 2500 in the near future and will no doubt be one of England's next GMs.

Does anyone know why Luke McShane is not playing this year?

[Alex Holowczak]

Does anyone know why Luke McShane is not playing this year?

Work commitments.

[David Sedgwick]

Is it
Pert, N - Short
Adams - Palliser
Jones - Hawkins

for round 9

I think so. And I think the next two are Howell - Ansell and Wells - Zhou.

[Roger de Coverly]

Matthew Turner wrote:
Is it
Pert, N - Short
Adams - Palliser
Jones - Hawkins

for round 9

I think so. And I think the next two are Howell - Ansell and Wells - Zhou.

That's what Lara is saying on the recorded message.

Board 6 is Gordon - Pert (R)

[Mark Howitt]

Adams seems to have the easiest pairing there. I predict a win... so far the tournament is showing my early prediction of Adams and Short being above the rest to be true. Pert-Short will be interesting, and I expect Nigel to push for a win but it'll be tough.