FIDE Online Olympiad 22 July to 30 August 2020

[Leonard Barden]

Half an hour in against Ecuador, not looking great. No clearly superior positions, two or three dodgy ones (including Gawain in a 3 Bb5 Sicilian). Maybe they'll rescue the match in the nxt 20 minutes, but this first weekend's play so far doesn't bode well for the stiffer tests next weekend. Howell has been resourceful, while Nadia Jaufarally has made an excellent impression on her two opportunities.

Later: Better second half, now likely 4-2 with no losses, but still not convincing in conjunction with the Argentina and Colombia misfires. I get the impression that some of the players aren't sufficiently familiar with the 15/5 time limit, and that two or three are suffering from rust.

Some serious mandatory training sessions before the second weekend seem indicated....

[Mick Norris]

Qualifiers so far:
Group A - Bulgaria, Germany & Indonesia
Group B - Greece, Romania & Slovakia
Group C - Spain, Netherlands & Italy
Group D - Turkey, Croatia & Norway

Group E - Hungary have qualified with 2 rounds to spare beating England 4-2

[Jonathan Rogers]

Ideally we would not be beating Bolivia by the same margin by which we lost to Hungary, but there it is. Obviously the format does not play to England's strengths, which as we know, is based on a sizeable number of world class male players in their thirties and forties, but not much else.

It has still been a bit frightening to consider what the scores would have been in each match minus the contributions of our elite players. By that measure, we would seem to be fighting on roughly equal terms with much of South America. But OK, many of our players are rusty and may prefer to play more familiar/stronger opposition in the A group. Let's hope so.

[Mick Norris]

Ecuador beat an already qualified Hungary, and are level with Colombia & Argentina in the race for the 3rd qualifying spot behind England

[Mick Norris]

Argentina qualify

Top division Friday to Sunday; playoffs start on the following Thursday as per the schedule

[John Moore]

Ideally we would not be beating Bolivia by the same margin by which we lost to Hungary, but there it is. Obviously the format does not play to England's strengths, which as we know, is based on a sizeable number of world class male players in their thirties and forties, but not much else.

It has still been a bit frightening to consider what the scores would have been in each match minus the contributions of our elite players. By that measure, we would seem to be fighting on roughly equal terms with much of South America. But OK, many of our players are rusty and may prefer to play more familiar/stronger opposition in the A group. Let's hope so.

It is a worry that our junior rapidplay ratings are so comparatively low. We have no male under 20s over 2200 and no female under 20s over 1900!
Since at least two of the six boards in each match are required to be under 20, we are clearly going to struggle in the finals.

[Matt Bridgeman]

In part it’s probably just a lack of FIDE Rapidplay events in England. Some of those juniors probably only ever play them once a year at the very strong London Chess Festival. The old (and very strong) guard get regular opportunities to play in FIDE rapidplays in Europe. Michael Adams was playing in one just the other week.

[John Moore]

In part it’s probably just a lack of FIDE Rapidplay events in England. Some of those juniors probably only ever play them once a year at the very strong London Chess Festival. The old (and very strong) guard get regular opportunities to play in FIDE rapidplays in Europe. Michael Adams was playing in one just the other week.

Yes, that's true and Wadsworth and Willow both have decent ECF Rapidplay grades but there is still no female under 20 with an ECF Rapidplay grade above 180. We must hope that the experience gained in the preliminary round will help in the finals.

[Ian Thompson]

It is a worry that our junior rapidplay ratings are so comparatively low. We have no male under 20s over 2200 and no female under 20s over 1900!
Since at least two of the six boards in each match are required to be under 20, we are clearly going to struggle in the finals.

I see that the Indian team has an even worse problem, at least in the team they have selected. I doubt they are worrying about it.

[John Moore]

Ian, it could be that great concern is being expressed on the Indian equivalent of this Forum

[NickFaulks]

It is a worry that our junior rapidplay ratings are so comparatively low.

I don't mind what their rapidplay ratings are. It wouldn't hurt if they were stronger players - not that they've done badly.

[John Moore]

It is a worry that our junior rapidplay ratings are so comparatively low.

I don't mind what their rapidplay ratings are. It wouldn't hurt if they were stronger players - not that they've done badly.

Actually, Nick, you are right. They haven't done badly in terms of overall results - just that some of the games have been a bit terrifying to watch, but I guess that is part of Rapidplay.

[Matt Bridgeman]

The board 6 Akshaya Kalaiyalahan was an FM at 16 on rating, which is impressive! I expect education has now taken her focus, as her grade has drifted a little. It seems quite common in English chess for the best juniors to surge to an FM title, but then get other priorities in life. There’s not really great opportunities to make chess a career unless you go all in streaming and making video/book content, and combine that with a lot of coaching. It's pretty hard work to make ends meet.

[Paul Cooksey]

Obviously the format does not play to England's strengths, which as we know, is based on a sizeable number of world class male players in their thirties and forties, but not much else.

I think with Harriet and Jovi both playing our adult women are not significantly weaker than the men in relation to other nations.

Actually I think the format kind to us, in that we do have a few promising juniors, future GMs at least if not future 2700s. If it required strength in depth, we would be overtaken by a lot of nations.

[LawrenceCooper]

England pairings for Division One: http://chess-results.com/tnr532617.aspx ... =2&flag=30