English Chess Forum

>If the ECF were to reintroduce a separate Ladies championship as part of the British championship (similar to the seniors and obviously female players who qualified for the championship or wished to play in another event so could do so) would it attract many more unique entrants?<
The reason the separate British Women's Championship at the British Championship was dropped is because there were so few entries.
There was at least one section for weaker women players, but this was dropped when they moved to a one week event. I know some players were disappointed at that.

Stewart Reuben wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 08, 2018 9:00 pm

The reason the separate British Women's Championship at the British Championship was dropped is because there were so few entries.

Was it not also because the stronger female players of the time wanted to be able to compete for norms as well as the title? We're talking about the 1980s. A separate championship would not have been strong enough.

There have been years where there was only one or none as female entrants. Norwich in 1994 where Cathy Forbes was the sole contender and Isle of Man in 2005 where there was no contest.

Roger >Was it not also because the stronger female players of the time wanted to be able to compete for norms as well as the title? <

I tried making the British Ladies' open and importing foreign women title holders so that a norm was possible. This was not all that successful.
It has been very difficult to popularise women's chess in England. We need role models.

Compare it with the British 50+ Championship. That is a separate event from the British. But the title of British 50+ champion should really be in the British. Several eligible GMs played there. 2017 John Nunn did indeed play in the British 50+ Championship. He wanted to win a title 50 years after his last one.

Stewart Reuben wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:28 am

I tried making the British Ladies' open and importing foreign women title holders so that a norm was possible. This was not all that successful.
It has been very difficult to popularise women's chess in England. We need role models.

We already have many outstanding role models among our female players

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:48 am

We already have many outstanding role models among our female players

No doubt, but it would be nice if more women players were able to name them.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 8:20 am

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:48 am

We already have many outstanding role models among our female players

No doubt, but it would be nice if more women players were able to name them.

I don't think that it's women that have a problem with that.

Perhaps Lawrence Cooper has a problem? There are a few role models among our female chess players. It was a crushing blow when Harriet Hunt's ill-health precluded her becoming a GM. Ruth Sheldon dropping out was also a blow. Susan Lalic is not currently active as a player. ...

What? Lawrence Cooper has done (and still does do) a huge amount for women's chess in England and generally. Among other things, organising invitational tournaments at the London Chess Classic for female players.

I was under the impression that Harriet Hunt made a decision to focus on her studies and career. If any health issues are not widely known, it is best not to mention them publicly here (though a bit late now).

On the wider issue of how well known our top female players are, most regular posters here do follow their exploits alongside those of the men. It would be amazing if one day an England female player was selected for the Open team at the Olympiad or other team events. (Even more amazing would be one day a country fielding its top four or five players that are all women.)

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 12:20 pm

It would be amazing if one day an England female player was selected for the Open team at the Olympiad or other team events.

Ketevan has played in the Scotland Open team, but a standard of 2500 to 2550 would likely be needed to make the England team, even if only in the "reserve" slot. That's only male GM standard, so perhaps achievable.

Roger > That's only male GM standard, so perhaps achievable.<

Sigh. There is no male GM title.
To make the English team would currently require a player to be well above 2550. Were Matthew Sadler playing in Georgia, all 5 of our players would have been 2600+.
There is no 'reserve' slot these days. The board 5 player is a full member of the team. In each match 4 out of 5 players play. Ordinarily 4 of the 5 players play 9 games, the other one plays 8.

Somebody commented that a man, Loren d'Costa is captaining the English women's team. That is perfectly normal. A strong woman player would first be selected to play for the team. An experienced, strong coach can be invaluable. I doubt the ECF considered a foreign candidate.

Stewart Reuben wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:25 pm

To make the English team would currently require a player to be well above 2550.

Nick Pert isn't and I don't think Stuart Conquest and Danny Gormally were either when selected in the past. "Reserve" in the sense of being the fifth player.

Stewart Reuben wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:25 pm

Somebody commented that a man, Loren d'Costa is captaining the English women's team. That is perfectly normal. A strong woman player would first be selected to play for the team. An experienced, strong coach can be invaluable.

The Olympiad teams were out today and looking at the Women's section it appears that male captains do indeed heavily outnumber the female ones.

Roger .>Nick Pert isn't and I don't think Stuart Conquest and Danny Gormally were either when selected in the past.<

Go back far enough and of course you will find we had no GMs in the English team.
I'm just guessing, but perhaps Mathew Sadler and Jonathan Hawkins were not available for selection. Also FIDE Rating isn't the only criterion.

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 05, 2018 2:55 pm

Well if you don't agree with women only competitions, don't take part in them I suppose......

PS googlng the name "Cathy Chua" reveals a bridge player most prominently - is that you?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/720 ... at-the-top

The book has been expensively produced and includes forty-six photographs.

One review reads:

“ Cathy Chua (b. Depasquale in Adelaide, 1959) represented Australia twice in Olympiads before quitting competitive chess in favour of Bridge... "

I (JM) say that the four-handed card game is much more amenable to a much greater degree of gender equality than the two-handed board game.

In tennis (while I've yet to see a female in a men's event) mixed doubles is very popular and perhaps FIDE could follow suit with a Chess Mixed Doubles World Championship, in which alternate moves could be made in the following orders -

W male, B female, W female, B male, W male...

And in the next game (with colours alternating, of course) -

W female, B female, W male, B male, W female...

PS Why is it that since the Polgar experiment no female player has got anywhere near the top of the FIDE rating list?

John McKenna > Why is it that since the Polgar experiment no female player has got anywhere near the top of the FIDE rating list?

As said before, it is the simple weight of numbers. Nowadays internationally women's chess is widely encouraged.
A new idea. A minimum of 8 women should qualify for the 128 player knockout. of course it should not be at he same time as the Women's WC.