British Championship Thread

[Jonathan Bryant]

It strikes me as being poor form (no disrespect intended Jonathan, just my opinion) to say that someone would not be justified in winning the title because of the strength of their opposition. As well as Ben's NFL example, there are many examples of athletes winning gold at the Olympics who would never have won had a "more deserving" competitor(s) not been injured, boycotting etc. Or did Federer never deserve to Wimbledon this year because all his opponents had to play Federer and he didn't ?

Don't worry James - I'm quite used to people disagreeing with me about this.

Stewart Reuben made the point elsewhere that the top rated player has the advantage of not playing him or herself - and that's something I'm happy to live with because it seems to boil down to the best player having an advantage because they are the best player.

The other stuff is a bit different to what I'm suggesting. What I'm asking about is does the system produce a 'deserving' winner amongst those who take part.

[John Upham]

You have to respect the fryed liver. Top stuff by Conquest. brilliant

Despite trotting out the Fried LIver Attack (which is refreshing to see) Stuart is behind on the clock. Sadly, DH did not return the favour with a Traxler Counter Attack. The crowds would have gone wild.

This is a world apart from 2700+ style chess...

[Jonathan Bryant]

Just to point out, you are taking in only the opposition so far.
Should Conquest win the title he is likely to have played Howell and Williams.
Likewise, if Howell loses (to Conquest) then he will then have lower ranked players.
After 11 rounds, the winners run-in would look more favourable than present.

Yes I'm aware of that Tim, but it's only going to be one more game after today's so i'm pretty sure you'll find out things won't even out in terms of average of rated opposition, number of GMs played etc.

[Ian Lamb]

i see Si williams did not wheel out his mighty dutch against Pete Wells I guess because he thought wells would spend hours preping this line. he went for the Kings indian instead. Stu conquest like to think in the opening even when he knows the lines to get himself focused for the game ahead. i can guratee stu will have spent at least 4 hours preping this line today.

[Alex Holowczak]

i see Si williams did not wheel out his mighty dutch against pete wells i guess because he thought wells would spend hours preping this line. he went for the Kings indian instead.

Well, he just played the Dutch-esque f5 (he says with virtually no knowledge of the Dutch whatsoever). Maybe Williams was shocked that Wells actually turned up on time?

[Ian Lamb]

wow young zhou the 13 year old going for it against Buckley with nxf7 in the french exchange line have you all seen that game?

[Carl Hibbard]

Isn't Jones already winning, looks over to me anyway...

[Jonathan Bryant]

i see Si williams did not wheel out his mighty dutch against pete wells i guess because he thought wells would spend hours preping this line. he went for the Kings indian instead.

Well, he just played the Dutch-esque f5 (he says with virtually no knowledge of the Dutch whatsoever). Maybe Williams was shocked that Wells actually turned up on time?

Wells' game started late on my computer screen but that may have been a transmission problem. I pretty much took up the Dutch inspired by the Ginger GM so it's a great shame for me that he doesn't play it so much (at all?) any more.

[John Upham]

i see Si williams did not wheel out his mighty dutch against pete wells i guess because he thought wells would spend hours preping this line. he went for the Kings indian instead.

Well, he just played the Dutch-esque f5 (he says with virtually no knowledge of the Dutch whatsoever). Maybe Williams was shocked that Wells actually turned up on time?

Peter and Simon both play many matches for the same local (to me at least) league teams on boards 1- 4 (Nick Pert and Thomas Rendle are their team mates) and they therefore know each others repertoires very well. Peter is arguably the most theoretical English GM on the circuit and so surprising each other would not be easy. Simon seems to have moved on from his Dutch days to the Semi-Slav and Kings Indian.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Deserving to win the whole thing or not ... I wonder if Howell and Conquest are breaking the record for number of undeveloped pieces 2 hours into a session.

[James Coleman]

Yes...it certainly has the makings of a time scramble later !

[Ian Lamb]

buckley looks busted to me against zhou what you think?

[James Coleman]

I think he's slightly better! After ...Nxd4 White must meet the threat of ...Nf3+ winning so he may have to exchange queens after which an unclear ending arises in which I'd marginally prefer Black.

[Ian Lamb]

will white just not be exchange up after this?

[James Coleman]

No Black has two pieces for the Rook