London Chess Classic 2013

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Roger de Coverly
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Sep 04, 2013 11:48 am

Matthew Turner wrote:Does anyone know yet how the qualification for the rapidplay (from the FIDE open?) works?
According to Malcolm's piece in the September 2013 edition of Chess
This year there will be an innovation as after four rounds, the leading two players will be transferred to the main event which will be a 16-player rapid tournament.
No definition is given of "leading two" as after four rounds of a large Swiss, a large number of nominally tied leaders are to be expected. If accelerated pairings are used, you might even get a lower rated player defying the seeding.

Sean Hewitt
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Sean Hewitt » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:16 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Mick Norris wrote: Interesting line up of events around the Classic too
A cut back on events with FIDE rating, only the nine rounder, the Womens and one of the weekenders. None of the rapidplays or Blitz. Presumably an effect of recent FIDE regulations.
The information online is not as clear as it could be, and I've asked for it to be presented in a better fashion. However, I can confirm that MORE events will be FIDE rated this year, not less. The following events will be rated

FIDE Open
Weekend B (Top 3 sections)
Mid Week Tournament (U1900 section)
All four sections of all THREE rapidplays
All four blitz events

Sean Hewitt
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Sean Hewitt » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:17 pm

Matthew Turner wrote:Does anyone know yet how the qualification for the rapidplay (from the FIDE open?) works?
The top two will qualify. In the event of a tie, the two highest rated players tied.

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:25 pm

Sean Hewitt wrote:
Matthew Turner wrote:Does anyone know yet how the qualification for the rapidplay (from the FIDE open?) works?
The top two will qualify. In the event of a tie, the two highest rated players tied.
Does seem a bit unfair on lower-rated players that get into the tie. Is the prize money for the FIDE Open split equally, and will those advancing to the Classic event be getting more prize money there?

Sean Hewitt
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Sean Hewitt » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:30 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:Is the prize money for the FIDE Open split equally,
No, players get more prize money for finishing on more points :D
Christopher Kreuzer wrote:...will those advancing to the Classic event be getting more prize money there?
Yes.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Sep 04, 2013 2:21 pm

Sean Hewitt wrote: The following events will be rated

FIDE Open
Weekend B (Top 3 sections)
Mid Week Tournament (U1900 section)
All four sections of all THREE rapidplays
All four blitz events

Which presumably means that any non English "tourists" wishing to play at short notice will be turned away unless they can be found on the FIDE website.

David Gilbert
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by David Gilbert » Wed Sep 04, 2013 2:37 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote:

Which presumably means that any non English "tourists" wishing to play at short notice will be turned away unless they can be found on the FIDE website.
Is that right? Even if they are playing in a non-FIDE rated weekender event?

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IM Jack Rudd
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by IM Jack Rudd » Wed Sep 04, 2013 2:41 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Sean Hewitt wrote: The following events will be rated

FIDE Open
Weekend B (Top 3 sections)
Mid Week Tournament (U1900 section)
All four sections of all THREE rapidplays
All four blitz events

Which presumably means that any non English "tourists" wishing to play at short notice will be turned away unless they can be found on the FIDE website.
Unless either (a) they're happy to be registered with England or (b) the rules have changed by then. I wouldn't rule either out.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Sep 04, 2013 2:54 pm

David Gilbert wrote: Is that right? Even if they are playing in a non-FIDE rated weekender event?
They are fine if it's just a weekender, but according to Sean, all the Blitz and Rapidplays are to be FIDE rated.

Particularly for a Blitz where last minute entries are quite likely, having to check absolutely everyone against the FIDE site before accepting their entry would be a complete pain. All arbiters not registered with FIDE have to be hidden away as well.

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IM Jack Rudd
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by IM Jack Rudd » Wed Sep 04, 2013 2:56 pm

Or possibly, I supppose, (c): the IROs of the world get together and agree to share each other's login details. That would be one way to get round the problem.

Richard Bates
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Richard Bates » Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:19 pm

Sean Hewitt wrote:
Matthew Turner wrote:Does anyone know yet how the qualification for the rapidplay (from the FIDE open?) works?
The top two will qualify. In the event of a tie, the two highest rated players tied.
Are we allowed to turn it down?

Alex Holowczak
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Alex Holowczak » Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:39 pm

Richard Bates wrote:Are we allowed to turn it down?
I like the confidence!

Richard Bates
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Richard Bates » Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:45 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Mick Norris wrote: Interesting line up of events around the Classic too
A cut back on events with FIDE rating, only the nine rounder, the Womens and one of the weekenders. None of the rapidplays or Blitz. Presumably an effect of recent FIDE regulations.

I'm not sure what I think of starting play every day at 4.30pm during the week in the FIDE Open. If commuting, it can make for a daily experience of late night trains. It can also get busy trying to reach the venue for the start time.
Not great news for the local pubs... ;)

Wouldn't be so bad if the 4.30 games were well timed to enable watching the Ashes but they don't really :(

Martin Crichton
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Martin Crichton » Wed Sep 04, 2013 10:09 pm

hope the organisers can sort out the IT / live coverage this year. Nearly 3 months notice to try to get it right. Last years coverage was one of the worst ever for any event of any chess tournament on the world circuit. Live transmission either kept freezing or it was impossible to link into.
The playing schedule looks interesting this year with the 4:30pm starts in the week days. In theory this would facilitate people working in London (like me) to play without taking time off work. But in reality it could be a very long day...doing a days work and then playing a 5 hour game of chess.
Member of "the strongest amateur chess club in London" (Cavendish)

my views are not representative of any clubs or organisations.

Alex Holowczak
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Re: London Chess Classic 2013

Post by Alex Holowczak » Wed Sep 04, 2013 10:13 pm

Martin Crichton wrote:Last years coverage was one of the worst ever for any event of any chess tournament on the world circuit.
And it's comments like that that make it all worthwhile... :roll: