2019 British

Debate directly related to English Chess Federation matters.
Alex Holowczak
Posts: 9085
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 5:18 pm
Location: Oldbury, Worcestershire

Re: 2019 British

Post by Alex Holowczak » Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:18 pm

John Reyes wrote:
Fri Aug 03, 2018 10:40 pm
but have you seen the size of the venues when the players championship are held? you need to check them out!!
I have not. But again, in context, the prize fund of one Players Championship is in excess of the prize fund of the British Chess Championship - more than double in fact. And there are 22 of them in 2018.

Mark Ashley
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2014 5:56 pm

Re: 2019 British

Post by Mark Ashley » Wed Aug 08, 2018 5:47 pm

I would also imagine that there is a difference in the space taken up by competitors, and the audience - who when attending the darts are likely to be spending big on beer and sundries...not quite the same at the chess i would have thought which prefers a quieter spectator.

Neil Graham
Posts: 1939
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:36 pm

Re: 2019 British

Post by Neil Graham » Wed Aug 08, 2018 6:40 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote:
Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:18 pm
John Reyes wrote:
Fri Aug 03, 2018 10:40 pm
but have you seen the size of the venues when the players championship are held? you need to check them out!!
I have not. But again, in context, the prize fund of one Players Championship is in excess of the prize fund of the British Chess Championship - more than double in fact. And there are 22 of them in 2018.
There are times when I think people have no conception at all about what is required in organizing a chess event.

LawrenceCooper
Posts: 7173
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:13 am

Re: 2019 British

Post by LawrenceCooper » Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:25 pm

Neil Graham wrote:
Wed Aug 08, 2018 6:40 pm

There are times when I think people have no conception at all about what is required in organizing a chess event.
Are there times when you think that they do? :?

Nick Grey
Posts: 1838
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:16 am

Re: 2019 British

Post by Nick Grey » Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:59 pm

Or no conception about organising darts events or any other large scale events.

Stewart Reuben
Posts: 4542
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:04 pm
Location: writer

Re: 2019 British

Post by Stewart Reuben » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:10 pm

It is far more difficult to find a venue for the British Chess Championships these days. e.g. Scarborough 2004 was just about OK, but would not be big enough now. Another problem is increased hire costs everywhere.
But why not plan further in advance?
Why not visit Confex in February? I found several venues there.
Was Canterbury deemed unsuitable?
By the way, the EBU (English Bridge Union) had problems this year for their large event. In 1984 both the ECU and British took place in Brighton at the same time, albeit different venues.

When I was giving up being the Director for Congress Chess, I estimated it represented approximately 7 weeks work at about 40 hours per week, but spread over the year. Some years later, David Welch told me that the amount of work involved had become much greater.

Nick Grey
Posts: 1838
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:16 am

Re: 2019 British

Post by Nick Grey » Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:38 pm

Ideally they ought to be organised a few years in advance much as other organisations do.
Popular venues with holiday makers who are not the slightest bit interested in chess is a problem in terms of demand.
I still think there is a fixation on Victorian holiday venues. And limiting to the start of the school summer holidays.

Richard Bates
Posts: 3338
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:27 pm

Re: 2019 British

Post by Richard Bates » Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:46 pm

Perhaps a left field suggestion of holding them outside the countries should be considered? ;). After all, if one of the main determinants of popular venues is that they are in attractive holiday locations, then why not? Could even reduce costs for players and organisers alike!

Well, if the Pound recovers a bit anyway...

Alex Holowczak
Posts: 9085
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 5:18 pm
Location: Oldbury, Worcestershire

Re: 2019 British

Post by Alex Holowczak » Wed Aug 22, 2018 6:17 pm

Nick Grey wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 5:38 pm
Ideally they ought to be organised a few years in advance much as other organisations do.
How many other organisations are like this?

The 2018/19 World Snooker Tour did not finalise its dates for this season until after the 2018/19 Tour Qualifying School in June. The 2019 PDC World Darts Championship dates were not known when the PDC published the schedule for the 2019 season. The 2019 PGA Tour only announced its schedule on 10th July (the season starts in October 2018). The 2019 Formula One calendar isn't known yet. If these organisations can't get their calendars announced years in advance, with all the logistics that are necessary for those sports to function properly, isn't it asking a bit much for the British Championship venues to be known years in advance?

Nick Grey
Posts: 1838
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:16 am

Re: 2019 British

Post by Nick Grey » Wed Aug 22, 2018 7:08 pm

On formula one it is hardly relevant. Race tracks have to bid MILLIONS and that will not guarantee accepted bids.
Plymouth is nice if walkable from accommodation.
Hopefully not heatwave conditions.

Stewart Reuben
Posts: 4542
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:04 pm
Location: writer

Re: 2019 British

Post by Stewart Reuben » Wed Aug 22, 2018 7:35 pm

Nick Grey >I still think there is a fixation on Victorian holiday venues. And limiting to the start of the school summer holidays.<

I doubt Aberystwyth, Bournemouth, Llandudno, Torquay, University of Warwick can be in any way described as Victorian.
When I took over the event, I found the dates always clashed with term time in Scotland. So it had to be moved earlier. North West England also have unusual term times relative to most of England.
Richard Bates. Holding the British often brings in new players and new administrators. To hold it outside the British Isles would be absurd. Gibraltar could be considered. But I don't know if the biggest school building would have adequate facilities.

Plymouth is, of course, fine. But Plymouth and Torquay in consecutive years is undesirable.
I remember Great Yarmouth with affection.

Alex why compare us with these relatively new sports? FIDE paid us compensation when they chose to have the World Knockout in Vegas clash with the British Chess Championships.

Alex Holowczak
Posts: 9085
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 5:18 pm
Location: Oldbury, Worcestershire

Re: 2019 British

Post by Alex Holowczak » Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:09 pm

Nick Grey wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 7:08 pm
On formula one it is hardly relevant. Race tracks have to bid MILLIONS and that will not guarantee accepted bids.
The calendar for 2019 hasn't been announced yet, but the Australian Grand Prix next year will probably be in March (there is a provisional date), so it's just 7 months away. Yet I expect 200,000+ fans will turn up to it for the weekend despite not having confirmation of when it is yet. They can probably guess where it will be. In that context, do 1,000 chessplayers really need 2-3 years notice of when and where the British Chess Championships are going to be?

Venues don't necessarily want to commit themselves to things 2-3 years down the line, because they'd rather hold out in the hope of a more lucrative offer.

Alex Holowczak
Posts: 9085
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 5:18 pm
Location: Oldbury, Worcestershire

Re: 2019 British

Post by Alex Holowczak » Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:10 pm

Stewart Reuben wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 7:35 pm
Alex why compare us with these relatively new sports?
I was just trying to point out that other sports seem to cope just fine with less than 12 months' notice of their events. Why are the British Championships any different?

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 21301
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: 2019 British

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:32 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:10 pm
Why are the British Championships any different?
I've always thought it made sense to market next year's event at this year's. Where else do you get such a large number of potential attendees?

Given that local organisations will up to a point compete to hold the British, why not where possible map out the schedule in advance so as to rotate round the country?

It can also be the case that the best hotel accommodation can get snapped up quickly perhaps up to a year in advance. Those probably intending to play cannot compete for this if they don't know where and when the British is going to be held.

Nick Grey
Posts: 1838
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:16 am

Re: 2019 British

Post by Nick Grey » Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:49 pm

I suppose we have to wait until the AGM?