British Championship Congress 2019

Debate directly related to English Chess Federation matters.
Nick Ivell
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Nick Ivell » Sun Aug 04, 2019 12:59 pm

Weaker players than Adams find it pretty much impossible to meet his 1. e4. One is reminded of Karpov in the early 80s, when everyone was weaker than him, and Miles trying 1...a6? because nothing else worked.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sun Aug 04, 2019 1:07 pm

NickFaulks wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 12:51 pm
This takes me back to Mamedyarov - Kurnosov, Aeroflot 2009, one of the earliest important cases. From a well known position, White played dreadfully and was crushed by a series of fairly obvious forcing moves. His opponent left the playing area several times - he says for a cigarette, as was his custom - and Mamedyarov afterwards accused him very publicly of cheating.

This claim was widely derided, but there was one reason why I felt some sympathy for him. Apparently he had approached the Chief Arbiter, asking if a member of the team could check what his opponent was up to while out of the room, and the reply was that they were too busy. The game was on top board, with a big prize at stake, and it was never clear what the arbiters were doing that was more important.

So yes, I am pleased that the arbiters here did not tell Charlie to get lost, whatever their view of the merits of his complaint.
Nonetheless, nothing else ever emerged to even suggest a possibility that the late Igor Kurnosov was a cheat - and Shak compounded things by his less than graceful reaction to their sudden and sad demise.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Richard Bates
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Richard Bates » Sun Aug 04, 2019 1:22 pm

John Moore wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 12:50 pm
Dan Fernandez had another shocker today to finish on 50%. Slightly surprisingly, at least to me, he only dropped 13 Elo points overall.
He didn’t, he lost around 20. Still he was hardly alone in that regard.

Liked the T-shirt he was sporting today though...

“It’s a Daniel thing. I don’t expect you to understand”

:)

Nick Ivell
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Nick Ivell » Sun Aug 04, 2019 1:25 pm

Is Adams still our best player? Yes, and by some distance, whatever the ratings may say. He has not just beaten people in this tournament - he has destroyed them.

Howell will overtake him at some point. That point is not now.

John Moore
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by John Moore » Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:06 pm

Nick Ivell wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 1:25 pm
Is Adams still our best player? Yes, and by some distance, whatever the ratings may say. He has not just beaten people in this tournament - he has destroyed them.

Howell will overtake him at some point. That point is not now.
Yes, if there was a team event tomorrow, Adams would still be on board 1 although there would be the usual discussion about the order to follow him.

Nick Ivell
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Nick Ivell » Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:11 pm

I'm not consulting an engine - I never do - but I'm getting worried about Howell's position.

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:31 pm

On the commentary it was suggested that next year's event might be at Great Yarmouth, Scarborough or Liverpool.

Alex Holowczak
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Alex Holowczak » Sun Aug 04, 2019 3:33 pm

Matt Bridgeman wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:31 pm
On the commentary it was suggested that next year's event might be at Great Yarmouth, Scarborough or Liverpool.
Out of interest, do you believe it will end up in any of these three places?

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Sun Aug 04, 2019 3:50 pm

I have no clue for next year. I think Cumbria might be in the frame in the next two or three years if a new hotel complex is built on the site at Rheghed at Penrith.

David Robertson

Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by David Robertson » Sun Aug 04, 2019 5:39 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 3:33 pm
Matt Bridgeman wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:31 pm
On the commentary it was suggested that next year's event might be at Great Yarmouth, Scarborough or Liverpool.
Out of interest, do you believe it will end up in any of these three places?
I'd have thought Liverpool was highly fanciful, though I know one Board member is pushing it (with me urging restraint on him).

John Moore
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by John Moore » Sun Aug 04, 2019 5:51 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 3:33 pm
Matt Bridgeman wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:31 pm
On the commentary it was suggested that next year's event might be at Great Yarmouth, Scarborough or Liverpool.
Out of interest, do you believe it will end up in any of these three places?
Alex, why would you expect Matt to have a clue.

Scarborough has always worked well and is a reasonably pleasant place. I was at Great Yarmouth when the British was there and it's not the most attractive place to go. A lot of deprivation and hardly a decent pub. The venue was OK but would it be big enough this time around. Alex, I know you don't know and even if you do, you can't say.

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Sun Aug 04, 2019 6:51 pm

I get the impression that some people think that the entire Laws of Chess and the Tournament Rules should be read to an enrapt audience at the start of each round!

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:09 pm

Shocking turn around in Emms-Haria. John Emms was clearly winning, and then managed to lose. Nice for Ravi Haria to finish 3rd and take the U21 title. That will make up for not getting a GM norm (was I right that Ravi need slightly higher rated opponents or a half point more)?.

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Joey Stewart
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by Joey Stewart » Sun Aug 04, 2019 9:59 pm

Nick Ivell wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 12:59 pm
Weaker players than Adams find it pretty much impossible to meet his 1. e4. One is reminded of Karpov in the early 80s, when everyone was weaker than him, and Miles trying 1...a6? because nothing else worked.
I love seeing his e4 games - especially when beating down irritants like caro kahn or french players with such ease, it is a nice reminder that there is a reason such openings are out of favour at the highest level and they should just give that garbage up for good !
Last edited by Joey Stewart on Thu Aug 08, 2019 1:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Lose one queen and it is a disaster, Lose 1000 queens and it is just a statistic.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: British Championship Congress 2019

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sun Aug 04, 2019 10:44 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:
Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:09 pm
Shocking turn around in Emms-Haria. John Emms was clearly winning, and then managed to lose. Nice for Ravi Haria to finish 3rd and take the U21 title. That will make up for not getting a GM norm (was I right that Ravi need slightly higher rated opponents or a half point more)?.
Yes. He does have a GM norm from the 2016-17 season though.