BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP 2016 & 2017

[Jon Mahony]

Hull the 2017 city of culture is a possible venue for the 2017 British according to item 8 of the ECF Board meeting 16 Feb 2015 minutes.

http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-conte ... -FINAL.pdf

I can't see that being a popular one with a lot of people, but I'd personally find Hull great (I play the congress there every year) It's an hour away from me and cheap to stay at, or even travelable

[Stewart Reuben]

Why on earth would the English Chess Federation want to hold their championship ever (again) in Scotland, especially after last Thursday?

Because the British Championships are not owned by the ECF. There is a clue in the name. The ECF runs the British under license.
It is certainly time the British was again played in Scotland, but there has been litle appetite for this in the last 10 years. A pity, Edinburgh was very successful in 1985 and 2003, less so in Dundee 1983.
Similarly there has been little enthusiasm for a London venue among the players, including particularly Londoners. Inded The Times was willing to sponsor the event in the 1990s, on condition that it be held in London. A large majority of the players said no.

I have hopes for an excellent site for 2016, but that does not seem to be public knowledge, so I won't hint. Hull 2017 does indeed make sense. If not the British, then perhaps the rarely held EU Championship as in Liverpool in 2008. The first EU Championship was, of course, in Cork at my suggestion when tht city was European Capital of Culture.

[Roger de Coverly]

Because the British Championships are not owned by the ECF. There is a clue in the name. The ECF runs the British under license.

Except that the British Chess Championship Congress used to be styled as the annual Congress of the British Chess Federation. To this day, various county and regional associations continue to run run annual Congresses.

The point being that the British Chess Federation ran an annual Congress which contained a tournament, the winner of which was recognised as British Chess Champion. Eligibility was mostly determined by the BCF, with some consultation with other national and regional bodies. Isn't the BCC a relatively recent (last thirty years) development?

[Stewart Reuben]

At my suggestion it changed in the 1980s to the British Chess Championships. I felt that name was more media attractive than 'The Annual Congress of the BCF.
Go back a bit further to the 1970s and each Union used to run the congress when in their area. So what? I have made other suggestions to be considered. e.g, a company be formed to run the event. But currently it is run by the ECF under license.
There are many other championships at the congress than just the British. Also the English Championship and English Women's Championship are subsumed within the British. Tania Sachdev won 5 Championships in 1994.
Throughout the BCF had overall responsibility for the event as you would expect. That has been transferred to the ECF.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Another EU Championship would be a nice thing to play in. I enjoyed the 2006 and 2008 events.

[Stewart Reuben]

Sadly the EU Chmpionship has never caught on as an annual event, probably because of the European Championship's much greater status. I don't think Jack has ever played in that. This year in Jerusalem David Howell was our only representative.
It is time the British returnd to Scarborough. But 2018 would be a suitable year to revist Torquay.

[Roger de Coverly]

I have hopes for an excellent site for 2016, but that does not seem to be public knowledge, so I won't hint.

The British Championships site now confirms 2016 as Bournemouth at "the Pavilion".

http://www.britishchesschampionships.co ... /bcc-2016/
http://www.bhlive.co.uk/venues-and-cent ... -pavilion/

[Andrew Zigmond]

Already looking forward to 2016 and a part of the country I've never been to. May fly from Leeds to Southampton

[Ronnie Burton]

The Dorset Committee will do an 1st Class job on dealing with venue requirements with Bournemouth Council but my main concern
will be what deals can be archived with hotels on cost of accommodation for the whole period of the tournament. Unlike Torquay
where costs can be £30 - £50 per night its more likely at Bournemouth the cost will be £50 - £70 per night.
It will be the height of tourist trade so the hotels will be filled with non chess players so there will be no pressure on the hotels to reduce
their charges for the period of the British.

[Roger de Coverly]

but my main concern
will be what deals can be archived with hotels on cost of accommodation for the whole period of the tournament.

It's rather more of a University town than Torquay, so student accommodation may well be available.

A website with a national choice of that type of accommodation is http://www.universityrooms.com/en/countries/GB which features Bournemouth.

[Ronnie Burton]

Thanks Roger for information

Looks excellent value. Need to book early !!!

[PaulTalbot]

<<<<<Hull 2017 does indeed make sense.>>>>

Oh great! Happy holidays in Hull Imagine telling your friends that your going to Hull for your holidays. If it goes to Hull I'll be giving it a miss for a start.

Surely a major consideration should be that the venue is based in a holiday destination for the sake of family members who go along to support players. Bournemouth, Torquay, both brilliant, Hull No! No! No!

[MJMcCready]

Bournemouth is a good choice of venue, I'd heard rumors that Alton Towers was being lined up as a venue for 2016 and the Shetland Islands for 2017.

[Stewart Reuben]

A cruise ship is going to be hired and will go round the British Isles.

[Andrew Zigmond]

<<<<<Hull 2017 does indeed make sense.>>>>

Oh great! Happy holidays in Hull Imagine telling your friends that your going to Hull for your holidays. If it goes to Hull I'll be giving it a miss for a start.

Surely a major consideration should be that the venue is based in a holiday destination for the sake of family members who go along to support players. Bournemouth, Torquay, both brilliant, Hull No! No! No!

Hull is the UK Capital of Culture for 2017. It also has a fine chess tradition as Hull Chess Club were the winners of the Yorkshire League first division every year from 1987-2000 inclusive, a record that will take some serious beating. Just because a city has a reputation for being a bit drab doesn't mean it is obliged to stay that way - it seems as if Hull City Council are trying to regenerate the city for the 21st century. I'd have a look at what the city might have to offer in 2017 before making such judgements.