22th European Team Chess Championship 2019

[John Moore]

Just noticed an oddity. Why have France played a 2415 IM on board 3 above Bauer and Gharamian or, indeed, why have they played him at all.

[Paul Cooksey]

He is 12.

[John Moore]

Then there is plenty of time for him to play in the future - if they wanted him to get the experience, put him in as reserve and give him 2 or 3 games.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Marc Andria Maurizzi

Here he is with Kasparov.

He was beating GMs when he was 10.

Part of the Young Stars program of the Kasparov Chess Foundation

He won the U12 European Championships earlier this year.

Clearly the French expect big things of him.

Who has been the youngest ever England international and at what age?

[Alex Holowczak]

Just noticed an oddity. Why have France played a 2415 IM on board 3 above Bauer and Gharamian or, indeed, why have they played him at all.

There are a number of teams missing their superstars, of which France is one.

[Mick Norris]

Pairings confirmed as

England (11) v Russia (12)
Ukraine (11) v Germany (11)
Croatia (9) v Slovenia (10)
Azerbaijan (9) v Armenia (9)

England Women v Latvia

[Roger de Coverly]

Who has been the youngest ever England international and at what age?

The obvious candidates are Short and Adams, but one of the Women's team may have been younger. Actually it may have been Ray Keene who played at Havana in 1966 when he was 16. Bill Hartston was in that team as well, but he's slightly older than Keene. There was also David Goodman in the team for the Moscow European in 1977. If you count the annual match against the Dutch, there may be other candidates.

[John Moore]

Ray Keene was born in January 1948.

[John Moore]

How about Akshaya Kalaiyahahan.

[LawrenceCooper]

Pairings confirmed as

England (11) v Russia (12)
Ukraine (11) v Germany (11)
Croatia (9) v Slovenia (10)
Azerbaijan (9) v Armenia (9)

England Women v Latvia

Hopefully the players won't be distracted by this but we can: http://chess-results.com/tnr434677.aspx ... ES&flag=30

[JustinHorton]

How about Akshaya Kalaiyahahan.

Or Harriet Hunt?

[Alan Walton]

Then there is plenty of time for him to play in the future - if they wanted him to get the experience, put him in as reserve and give him 2 or 3 games.

Why? If you have confidence in a player, and you don’t expected to medal it is great experience to play higher up

From my French friends comments this lad will be a GM within 24 months, and some of his games have been very impressive in this tournament

Sometimes I think even ourselves should at least have a young IM (Ravia for example) in the team and play him on board 2/3 just to get valuable experience in these events

[Richard Bates]

Then there is plenty of time for him to play in the future - if they wanted him to get the experience, put him in as reserve and give him 2 or 3 games.

Why? If you have confidence in a player, and you don’t expected to medal it is great experience to play higher up

From my French friends comments this lad will be a GM within 24 months, and some of his games have been very impressive in this tournament

Sometimes I think even ourselves should at least have a young IM (Ravia for example) in the team and play him on board 2/3 just to get valuable experience in these events

It’s an argument if you can’t put out a team with a realistic prospect of doing well. I don’t really see the point if you do though - sacrificing the chance of doing well today for the sake of giving someone exposure who might be part of a possible chance of success in future (and with all due respect to Ravia, I’m not sure he and a 2415 12 year old are quite in the same category!)

[LawrenceCooper]

Then there is plenty of time for him to play in the future - if they wanted him to get the experience, put him in as reserve and give him 2 or 3 games.

Why? If you have confidence in a player, and you don’t expected to medal it is great experience to play higher up

From my French friends comments this lad will be a GM within 24 months, and some of his games have been very impressive in this tournament

Sometimes I think even ourselves should at least have a young IM (Ravia for example) in the team and play him on board 2/3 just to get valuable experience in these events

It’s an argument if you can’t put out a team with a realistic prospect of doing well. I don’t really see the point if you do though - sacrificing the chance of doing well today for the sake of giving someone exposure who might be part of a possible chance of success in future (and with all due respect to Ravia, I’m not sure he and a 2415 12 year old are quite in the same category!)

I'm guessing that Ravia is Ravi Haria merged into one name

[Richard Bates]

Why? If you have confidence in a player, and you don’t expected to medal it is great experience to play higher up

From my French friends comments this lad will be a GM within 24 months, and some of his games have been very impressive in this tournament

Sometimes I think even ourselves should at least have a young IM (Ravia for example) in the team and play him on board 2/3 just to get valuable experience in these events

It’s an argument if you can’t put out a team with a realistic prospect of doing well. I don’t really see the point if you do though - sacrificing the chance of doing well today for the sake of giving someone exposure who might be part of a possible chance of success in future (and with all due respect to Ravia, I’m not sure he and a 2415 12 year old are quite in the same category!)

I'm guessing that Ravia is Ravi Haria merged into one name

That was my assumption!