British Championship Congress 2019

[JustinHorton]

Wackiness in Fernández - Palliser. (Incidentally I believe I'm right in thinking Richard's played both the Big Two, so a win for him today could be interesting.)

White's opening looks even worse than the sort of rubbish I play. Stockfish has White virtually losing by move four

He's made a few unfathomable decision today, including the one to carry on playing this long.

btw is Richard on for a GM norm does anyone know?

There's a discussion somewhere above, but I believe the answer is no, because there's been two defaults and you can't have a seven-round norm.

[Jon Tait]

There's a discussion somewhere above, but I believe the answer is no, because there's been two defaults and you can't have a seven-round norm.

ah right. shame

[JustinHorton]

Amazing that he appears to be 45 minutes down on the clock and playing on the increment.

[JustinHorton]

Stephen Gordon wins, so he'll have Mickey Adams tomorrow yes?

[John Moore]

Andrew Smith draws so at least he's broken his run of losses and, I imagine, he's still gaining elo points.

[LawrenceCooper]

Stephen Gordon wins, so he'll have Mickey Adams tomorrow yes?

If there's anything other than a Howell win on top board then yes with Mickey likely to get white.

[Martin Benjamin]

Fatigue (long tournament, long game) probably strikes on board 9 (65....Bd6???) Mental stamina counts for so much in chess. That's what impresses me most about the quality of play by my peers in Over 50 events.

[Leonard Barden]

Charlie Storey appears to be close to his second IM norm...

[Alex Holowczak]

The suggestion made in previous posts was that the arbiters would only enforce the rule if asked to do so and would turn a blind eye otherwise. That's a very different situation from not enforcing the rules because you weren't aware an infringement had occurred.

I don't see where anyone has said that. What have I missed?

Lorin D'Costa - "[The arbiters] said it was the rules, however they kept dithering on this for quite some time as if they felt bad to make it, and I eventually asked if they could make a final decision as this was dragging on."

Jonathan Rogers - "I exclude the possibility that the arbiters chose to approach him on their own initiative, not being obliged to do so, since they were apparently not interested in looking at the contents of the phone and so did not actually suspect him of "real" cheating."

Jonathan Rogers isn't playing in the event and presumably isn't in Torquay, so with all due respect to Jonathan, I think Lorin's comment is more important.

The quote you've provided from Lorin doesn't say anything about a blind eye being turned to this rule.

[Chris Ross]

Wackiness in Fernández - Palliser. (Incidentally I believe I'm right in thinking Richard's played both the Big Two, so a win for him today could be interesting.)

White's opening looks even worse than the sort of rubbish I play. Stockfish has White virtually losing by move four

btw is Richard on for a GM norm does anyone know?

Would be surprised if Rich’s TPR does not reward him with another GM norm.
No clue what Fernandez was attempting to do there. Reckless and irresponsible play with the white bits. Sure, Palliser’s well-theory-bound, but that’s taking it to another level. Playing on for such a long time a piece down is just disrespectful too.

[JustinHorton]

Would be surprised if Rich’s TPR does not reward him with another GM norm.

Only seven games though.

No clue what Fernandez was attempting to do there. Reckless and irresponsible play with the white bits. Sure, Palliser’s well-theory-bound, but that’s taking it to another level. Playing on for such a long time a piece down is just disrespectful too.

I'd kind of like to know just out of curiosity. What did he think he was trying to do?

[AustinElliott]

Anyone with any norm chances we should know about going into the final round?

[IM Jack Rudd]

I think Toma and Storey both get IM norms with a win, but that's about it.

[Paul Cooksey]

Does Adam Ashton have a chance too?

[Chris Ross]

Would be surprised if Rich’s TPR does not reward him with another GM norm.

Only seven games though.

No clue what Fernandez was attempting to do there. Reckless and irresponsible play with the white bits. Sure, Palliser’s well-theory-bound, but that’s taking it to another level. Playing on for such a long time a piece down is just disrespectful too.

I'd kind of like to know just out of curiosity. What did he think he was trying to do?

Presumably, Fernandez was just “trying” to be clever and take Palliser out of his theory. I guess, to imbalance the position from the outset, hoping that his higher rating would enable him to outplay his opponent. Higher rating doesn’t mean better talent and that was demonstratively displayed. Again, I’m surmising that sheer embarrassment of this failed endeavour drove him to play on in a hopeless position a piece down, confounding the unsportsmanship.