2013 British Chess Championships (Torquay)

[Ben Purton]

Alex, John

Well it is just a little bit weird - I don't like such a rule. I also don't understand it.

In the 4NCL if one of my players is sick and does not make it to the board I can put a nominated reserve in place of them.

This is a published draw(1.5 hours before) as well as FIDE rated.

I sort of just shrug and give up. These pointless rules changes make no sense.

[Geoff Chandler]

" It is unfair to have to play someone else with no preparation done..."

It could not have been put better by ChessBase itself.

What is the next step. Are Arbiters going to carefully go over games and scold the loser
because he did not prepare for the game.

The lad took ill and the draw had been posted. The End.

(or the arbiters could not be arsed doing another draw so the win by default stands.)

The solution is of course do not post the draw till 15 minutes before the round starts.
(Or have FIDE/Chessbase got that one covered as well saying you must give players
at least 12 hours notice to see who they are playing so they can use CB software.)

Is there a timescale on when a draw must appear before a round?

Also given the amount of crooked dealings that are going on elsewhere.
Cheating players...phantom tournaments...I'm sure one re-draw would not have sent FIDE into a frenzy.

Are all chess games before labtops and CB now to be called the 'Unfair Games?'
I hope ChessBase do not open up a publishing house. 'Capablanca's Best Unfair Games of Chess.'

[Alex McFarlane]

Could you clarify if the the event pairing according to FIDE pairing rules, or British (CAA) rules?

I don't understand the significance of this question.

We are not using the Dutch pairing system if that is what you mean but we are using a system that is acceptable to FIDE.

[John Cox]

So is Howell-Jones so far an exact rerun of Gordon-Palliser? I can't be bothered to check, but it has very familiar contours. I'm not sure why Black plays this stuff. White just looks a bit better to me.

[Mick Norris]

let's hear who the ECF's FIDE delegate is

Nigel Short

[Thomas Rendle]

Watching Jack's game is always entertaining. I wonder if Black missed a chance by not playing 14...Rxf2, the idea being to meet 15.Qxe4 with Rxe2+ and Bxg4. It all looked rather strong.

[Ian Jamieson]

So is Howell-Jones so far an exact rerun of Gordon-Palliser? I can't be bothered to check, but it has very familiar contours. I'm not sure why Black plays this stuff. White just looks a bit better to me.

First 35 half-moves the same, allowing for transposition of White's first two moves. Palliser played 18. ... Qc7, Jones 18. ... Bc8

[John Cox]

Ah, thanks. ...Bc8 does look a bit snappier, somehow, doesn't it?

One for Jonathan's TISE series, presumably - at least I suppose White's playing dxe4 after ...e4, isn't he?

Aha - Nigel S - that accounts for it. He's always had a bee in his bonnet on this matter since his absurd behaviour at the Isle of Man a few years ago. Even so, you'd think even the ECF could restrain him from this sort of nonsense - no, sorry, what am I saying?!

[Sean Hewitt]

Could you clarify if the the event pairing according to FIDE pairing rules, or British (CAA) rules?

I don't understand the significance of this question.

It's significant because the requirement not to change the published pairings is contained within the FIDE Swiss pairing rules (aka The Dutch System). If those rules are not being followed for the Championship then the requirement not to change the published pairings falls away (unless it's also contained within the CAA rules).

[Jonathan Bryant]

Geoff Boycott on TMS talking about how he wants to meet a chess Master.

Can anybody arrange a meeting with David Howell (or Peter Svidler)

[IM Jack Rudd]

I'm available at a moment's notice, should he wish to meet me.

[Andrew Bak]

It's a shame that Sarah Hegarty's game seems to have frozen - or has her opponent forfeited also?

[LawrenceCooper]

It's a shame that Sarah Hegarty's game seems to have frozen - or has her opponent forfeited also?

Agreed, very frustrating

[JustinHorton]

They've still got some work to do on the top board if they want to break the record. (I know there's been pieces exchanged: I'm assuming that's also the record for the latest pawn capture.)

[Andrew Bak]

They've still got some work to do on the top board if they want to break the record.

I went to London Classic a couple of years ago and saw Short-Nakamura that was a similar sort of game, it went for 90 moves + where nothing happened - and we missed our train

What happened in Murphy-Jones. It looked like Jones threw away the win with 68...Kd1, he should have played ...Kf3 ...Kg4 etc. But then it seems his opponent missed the draw with the obvious 72.Re1. At first I wondered if he moved 72.Re6, without letting go of the rook, then realised that Re1 drew and played that instead - but the score still says that Black won. Very odd.