English Chess Forum

Some thoughts

the prize fund for the GCT Finals in London will also be raised to $350,000 ($150,000 for 1st place and $100,000 for 2nd).

Don't tell Geoff Chandler !

To promote fighting chess, all GCT classical games in 2019 will use a time control of Game in One Hundred and Thirty Minutes (130) Minutes with a thirty (30) second delay per move from move 1.

That's an equivalent of a time allowance of two and a half hours for 40 moves, a time limit whose abolition twenty five years ago almost overlapped with the introduction of the first DGTs.

This all takes place in 2019. What is the time scale for the recently announced Agon Grand Prix knock outs as the same players are likely to potentially involved in both?

To promote fighting chess, all GCT classical games in 2019 will use a time control of Game in One Hundred and Thirty Minutes (130) Minutes with a thirty (30) second delay per move from move 1.

Not necessarily a bad control, but it is not clear to me why it might be expected to promote ( or deter ) fighting chess.

Anyway, yet another new time control. I'm not terribly bothered, but a few years ago we were assured by the ACP that this is the one thing which their GMs hate.

Ok, to copy Roger, some thoughts

IA David Sedgwick has been reappointed as the GCT Chief Arbiter for 2019

well done David

The expansion does mean a lot more chess in 2019, so the dates in the calendar are getting full; given we also have Norway 4 - 14 June, World Cup 9 Sep to 2 Oct etc, where are FIDE going to fit in the Grand Swiss and the Grand Prix events?

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 10:17 am

The expansion does mean a lot more chess in 2019, so the dates in the calendar are getting full; given we also have Norway 4 - 14 June, World Cup 9 Sep to 2 Oct etc, where are FIDE going to fit in the Grand Swiss and the Grand Prix events?

A crowded calendar is good. The best way to drive up prize funds for professional players is to fill the calendar up, because then new event organisers can't slot their event in a gap in the calendar. They have to compete, so they have to increase their prize funds.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 10:08 am

Not necessarily a bad control, but it is not clear to me why it might be expected to promote ( or deter ) fighting chess.

It's a time control that permits extended thinking time. Whilst it can be unwise to spend too much time on a single move at 90 30, at 130 30, there's a lot more available. Under the old 40 in 150 minutes time control, players were apt to think for a long time after the opening, and find they had ten minutes or less from move 30 or less to reach the safe haven of the adjournment at move 40.

Would GMs train for this time control of 130 30 (delay), as I don't know of any events where it's currently used ?

"No draw offers will be permitted in any of the classical games for the 2019 Grand Chess Tour. "

That might encourage fighting chess, or at least imaginative ways of drawing.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 12:26 pm

or at least imaginative ways of drawing.

Indicating a need to be certain of the procedures for claiming a draw by repetition. That spectacular Carlsen draw in the Isle of Man was strictly speaking illegal as the position wasn't exactly the same because of forfeited castling rights.

[Event "chess.com IoM Masters"] [Site "Douglas ENG"] [Date "2017.10.01"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Carlsen,M"] [Black "Nakamura,Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2827"] [BlackElo "2781"] [Annotator ""] [Source ""] [Remark ""] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Re8 11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Qc1 Bf5 14.Bxf6 Nc2+ 15.Ke2 Nd4+ 16.Ke1 Nc2+ 17.Ke2 Nd4+ 18.Ke1 Nc2+ 1/2-1/2

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 12:37 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 12:26 pm

or at least imaginative ways of drawing.

Indicating a need to be certain of the procedures for claiming a draw by repetition.

But that's prohibited at this event due to Article 9.1.2.3.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 1:39 pm

But that's prohibited at this event due to Article 9.1.2.3.

9.1.2.3 wrote: A claim of a draw under Article 9.2 or 9.3 shall be considered to be an offer of a draw.

These "no draw" rules are becoming increasingly commonplace. Have any of them outlawed player claims of repetition or 50 moves using that paragraph? A draw is still possible, but requires arbiter intervention to spot a position repeated 5 times or running 75 moves without a pawn move or capture.

The newly formatted FIDE Grand Prix danced around the GCT with three of its dates, but the 3rd leg seems to clash with the Romanian leg. I suspect several GP people will decline their invitation, but for players like Nakamura, it'll be interesting to see which one they choose - if indeed they have to.

Alex Holowczak wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 5:58 pm

The newly formatted FIDE Grand Prix danced around the GCT with three of its dates, but the 3rd leg seems to clash with the Romanian leg. I suspect several GP people will decline their invitation, but for players like Nakamura, it'll be interesting to see which one they choose - if indeed they have to.

Different world now where everyone is reasonable.

"FIDE and the Grand Chess Tour are pleased to confirm that they will cooperate with regards to the final scheduling arrangements of participants in both the 2019 FIDE Grand Prix and the 2019 Grand Chess Tour. This will ensure that Players can accept invitations to both the 2019 Grand Chess Tour and the 2019 FIDE Grand Prix series should they wish to do so."

Chris Rice wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 28, 2019 6:37 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 25, 2019 5:58 pm

The newly formatted FIDE Grand Prix danced around the GCT with three of its dates, but the 3rd leg seems to clash with the Romanian leg. I suspect several GP people will decline their invitation, but for players like Nakamura, it'll be interesting to see which one they choose - if indeed they have to.

Different world now where everyone is reasonable.

"FIDE and the Grand Chess Tour are pleased to confirm that they will cooperate with regards to the final scheduling arrangements of participants in both the 2019 FIDE Grand Prix and the 2019 Grand Chess Tour. This will ensure that Players can accept invitations to both the 2019 Grand Chess Tour and the 2019 FIDE Grand Prix series should they wish to do so."

Good news indeed.

Presumably (see retirement news elsewhere), Kramnik's invitation (if declined as expected) is extended to the first alternate instead, which is Karjakin.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 29, 2019 12:49 pm

Presumably (see retirement news elsewhere), Kramnik's invitation (if declined as expected) is extended to the first alternate instead, which is Karjakin.

Yes chess24