English Chess Forum

The 2019 King Salman World Rapid Championship begins at 12 noon GMT in Moscow, running for three days, with two days of the World Blitz Championships to follow.
In the men's rapid there are 207 players with average rating 2536. 15 rounds, 5 each day,
The top pairing is Magnus Carlsen v Azamat Utegaliev of Kazakhstan, a new name to me, untitled but 2564 rapid rating.

In the Women's event (four rounds a day) there are 121 players average rating 2250. Anna Muzychuk is top seed.

Not a single UK or Irish entry in either event.....

Leonard Barden wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 11:22 am

Not a single UK or Irish entry in either event.....

I guess Christmas at home is a bigger attraction than going to Moscow, especially for people with families/non-chess partners.

The Irish Blitz Champion is 15-year-old FM Tarun Kanyamarala and the Rapid Champion is Stephen Moran who (rated about 2200 classical, 2100 rapid) finished ahead of several higher-rated players.

Magnus wiped out the Scandinavian in 26 moves, better than his 0/2 start in 2018.

Leonard Barden wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 11:22 am

Not a single UK or Irish entry in either event.....

There's a reasonable showing of British titled players at Hastings, headed by David Howell.

http://chess-results.com/tnr468458.aspx?lan=1

I was well aware of Howell at Hastings, but was thinking of McShane and Short (who both played in the 2017 world rapid/blitz), and Jones (who played in the 2018 world rapid/blitz).

No players at all in an official world championship gives a negative message.

Contrast that with the large numbers of weak juniors who went to the European rapid/blitz in Tallinn.

If it were a boycott of a Saudi backed event being played in Russia that wouldn't be a negative message, but I doubt that has anything to do with it

Although the UK is represented there on the other side of the desk: Alex Holowczak is on the arbiting team.

IM Jack Rudd wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 2:19 pm

Although the UK is represented there on the other side of the desk: Alex Holowczak is on the arbiting team.

Good for Alex! Seems his brave decision to transfer Shirov and Yu Yangyi may have been a positive career move.

IM Jack Rudd wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 2:19 pm

Although the UK is represented there on the other side of the desk: Alex Holowczak is on the arbiting team.

How do we track his progress?

Leonard Barden wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 1:39 pm

I was well aware of Howell at Hastings, but was thinking of McShane and Short (who both played in the 2017 world rapid/blitz), and Jones (who played in the 2018 world rapid/blitz).

No players at all in an official world championship gives a negative message.

Contrast that with the large numbers of weak juniors who went to the European rapid/blitz in Tallinn.

I think that the Worlds has a minimum rating requirement (2500? for men and 2250? for women) except for national rapid/ blitz champions who qualify by right. Also extra places for the host nation (technically, Saudi Arabia). Maybe anyone can enter the Euros?

IM Jack Rudd wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 2:19 pm

Although the UK is represented there on the other side of the desk: Alex Holowczak is on the arbiting team.

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 2:37 pm

How do we track his progress?

In two ways:

1. By whether or not the pairings on Chess-Results appear in a timely manner,

2. By whether or not he continues to find the time to post on this Forum.

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 3:45 pm

2. By whether or not he continues to find the time to post on this Forum.

There's a bit more time in the Rapid (and some very long games)...

Alex Holowczak wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 4:03 pm

… some very long games ...

… and a couple of very short ones, about which I have posted in the "boycotts" thread.

Leonard Barden wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2019 2:36 pm

Good for Alex! Seems his brave decision to transfer Shirov and Yu Yangyi may have been a positive career move.

Explanation?