2nd London Chess Classic 2010

[Warren Kingston]

I am coming down to watch on the Sunday. Staying at Travelodge at Covent Garden, only £65 per night. Wifes taking me to Opera House on Tuesday night to watch Cinderella?! Might take a chess book with me lol

[David Haydon]

whats the cheapest accommodation near the london chess classic that anyone has found?

David.

[Scott Freeman]

Camping in Hyde Park I guess. Some foreign tourists (I think) tried it years ago and woke up the next morning to find themselves surrounded by security staff. They had climbed over a wall into what they thought was Hyde Park and instead found themselves in the garden of Buckingham Palace.

I don't think it cost them anything though!

[Warren Kingston]

whats the cheapest accommodation near the london chess classic that anyone has found?

David.

Travelodge was cheaper than £65 near The London, was about £50

[Michael Jones]

I've stayed in a youth hostel near Hyde Park, which although not exactly luxurious has the twin advantages of being cheaper than the Travelodge (about £15) and of not running the risk of getting arrested.

I've been looking at the schedule for this event, and is it just me or is it not really possible to combine spectating and playing? You seem to have to chose one or the other, or accept only seeing the end of the Classic games if you have a short game yourself in one of the subsidiary events. If anyone has worked out the best balance between playing and spectating (I know there were viewing boards in the lobby/cafe area last year), maybe they could say? I suspect the Weekend Classic might be best, as anything in the FIDE Open clashes with watching the main event.

The 45 entries announced today for the FIDE Open are here:

http://www.londonchessclassic.com/festival_entries.htm

I played one of the rapids last year and had no problems combining that with a bit of spectating in between rounds (particularly since my game was rarely the last to finish); I imagine it would be rather harder if you're in one of the longplay events.

[Richard Bates]

Just as a matter of interest - is there a Game Fee reduction for ECF members?

[Kevin Thurlow]

I've been looking at the schedule for the "Open" and there are five different start times during the event, which only lasts nine rounds.

Rd 1 - 14.30, Rd 2 - 16.30, Rd 3 - 14.30, Rd 4 - 14.30, Rd 5 - 14.30, Rd 6 - 1000, Rd 7 - 1600, Rd 8 - 14.30 and Rd 9 - 1230.

I know the last round always starts early and if you have two rounds on a day, you need an adjustment, but this does seem a bit confusing. Indeed, Rd 7 could start at 1630, same as Rd 2. Certainly the starting time for Rd 2 looks very strange, but if it has to change why not align Rd 7 with it? Presumably the junior event is occupying a large space on the Rd 2 day?

Players do like to get in a routine for these events, which experienced organisers would know, so I assume it was unavoidable?

[Adam Raoof]

I've been looking at the schedule for the "Open" and there are five different start times during the event, which only lasts nine rounds.

Rd 1 - 14.30, Rd 2 - 16.30, Rd 3 - 14.30, Rd 4 - 14.30, Rd 5 - 14.30, Rd 6 - 1000, Rd 7 - 1600, Rd 8 - 14.30 and Rd 9 - 1230.

I know the last round always starts early and if you have two rounds on a day, you need an adjustment, but this does seem a bit confusing. Indeed, Rd 7 could start at 1630, same as Rd 2. Certainly the starting time for Rd 2 looks very strange, but if it has to change why not align Rd 7 with it? Presumably the junior event is occupying a large space on the Rd 2 day?

Players do like to get in a routine for these events, which experienced organisers would know, so I assume it was unavoidable?

Sadly, yes - the schedule for the Open had to make way for the various new Junior events. I accept that it isn't perfect - perhaps we need a larger venue next year?

[David Brock]

whats the cheapest accommodation near the london chess classic that anyone has found?

David.

Your house or a Park bench ???

[David Haydon]

staying for 2 nights, costing 85 quid....pretty cheap compared to most i think

[Andrew Camp]

Ordered 3 adult and 12 kids' train tickets today for Tuesday 14th.

What a way to get a day out of school!

[Simon Spivack]

Presumably Alex is the appropriate person to ask, I'd be interested to learn whether the intention is to publish on the Internet the pairings for the FIDE open the evening before each round, except for the first and for the second game on the double round day. I do appreciate that the best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men gang aft agley.

My motive as a competitor is partly selfish, it would put my eyes under less strain if I did not devote time preparing on the same day as the game, without having a break of a few hours. Additionally, I suggest that fewer people lugging around laptops may be a good thing in any instance.

[Alex McFarlane]

Hi Simon,

It is certainly intended that the draw will be published asap after the completion of the previous round. There may, obviously, be a delay on the day of the double round (Monday) as other things will have a higher priority.

[Andrew Camp]

What a great Headteacher I have.

Not only am I going down on the 14th with my juniors but he has now given me permission to go down on my own on Friday 10th for the CSC coaching course and to see the GM games.

Two visits and all on expenses.

[Simon Spivack]

Hi Simon,

It is certainly intended that the draw will be published asap after the completion of the previous round. There may, obviously, be a delay on the day of the double round (Monday) as other things will have a higher priority.

Thank you for your answer.