English Chess Forum

International Round Up 30/03/10

World Amateur
http://www.nachess.org/naca/results/WAC ... gs_Rd9.pdf
http://www.worldchesschamps.com/world-amateur/pairings/

Duncan Harwood was the only English representative and finished on 6/9. The event was held in Skokie, Illinois in the U.S.A. Entry was restricted to players rated below 2000 and there was a $20000 prize fund with a first prize of $3000. Bianca Albano Jeremias of Birmingham University was also playing and finished on 6/9.

33rd San Sebastian International Open
http://www.fgajedrez.org/
http://www.fgajedrez.org/directo
http://chess-results.com/tnr30848.aspx

Andrew Ledger and Jonathan Nelson are playing and are both on 1 out of 2. There is also an Irish contingent of five players including Sam Collins who is on 2/2 and one from Wales.

Future events:

Surrey Chess Congress 2nd-5th April 2010
http://www.surreychesscongress.co.uk/index.html

There is a FIDE rated open as well as Major, Intermediate and Senior events on the 2nd-4th followed by a rapidplay and junior championship on the Monday.

Southend Easter Congress 2010 2-5 April
http://southendchess.awardspace.biz/club/Congress.html

There are several events being organised; a FIDE rated open with a first prize of £2000, the major is open to players grade below 180, the intermediate is open to players graded below 150 and the minor is open to players graded below 120. There is also a blitz event on Saturday 3rd.

Coulsdon International 5-9 April
http://www.ccfworld.com/Chess/Results/2 ... tional.htm

Coulsdon are organising IM norm and Challengers events from 5-9 April. In addition there is a long play congress from 2nd-3rd April as well as rapidplay and blitz events. I believe there are still places available in the IM event, so please contact [email protected] if interested.

10th Wellington College International 14-18 April
http://intranet.wellingtoncollege.org.u ... px?id=4972

This event is likely to be run as a nine round rated swiss event and there are still places available. Anyone who is interested in playing rated games with the chance of a norm should contact [email protected] if interested.

In addition to the individual websites the latest international chess news can be found at the following link:
http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic803.html

Lawrence Cooper
Director of International Chess
English Chess Federation 30/03/10

LozCooper wrote:
World Amateur

Duncan Harwood was the only English representative and finished on 6/9. The event was held in Skokie, Illinois in the U.S.A. Entry was restricted to players rated below 2000 and there was a $20000 prize fund with a first prize of $3000. Bianca Albano Jeremias of Birmingham University was also playing and finished on 6/9.

Some readers of this Forum will remember another competitor, Dan Mayers of Idaho, USA. He used to live in Sussex and was British Senior Champion in 1996. He's now 87 years old, but he scored a respectable 4/9.

I'd like to congratulate the winner, Andrew Hubbard of Illinois, USA, who played some excellent chess. His critical last round game was the last to finish in the whole event; he kept his nerve to draw a difficult ending.

I'd also like to congratulate the organiser, Sevan Muradian. Duncan Harwood said to me at the end that it had been a great event and extremely well organised. I concur entirely.

David Sedgwick wrote:I'd also like to congratulate the organiser, Sevan Muradian. Duncan Harwood said to me at the end that it had been a great event and extremely well organised. I concur entirely.

How did they resolve conflicts between USCF and normal international practice?

(1) compulsory USCF membership even for visitors.
(2) equipment to be supplied by the players.


Despite being nominally a "proper" FIDE event, did they have a sensible rule for default times?

Roger de Coverly wrote: How did they resolve conflicts between USCF and normal international practice?

(1) compulsory USCF membership even for visitors.
(2) equipment to be supplied by the players.

Despite being nominally a "proper" FIDE event, did they have a sensible rule for default times?

Responding to each of your points in turn:

(1) I never thought to ask. However, it must be the case either that the requirement was waived or that the organiser paid the membership fees out of the entry fees. One male and one female nominee from each Federation received free entry. The entry fee for others was $120, $40 of which was payable to FIDE.

(2) The organisers supplied all the equipment. Particularly on the days when there were two rounds a day, the atmosphere was similar to that at a typical English weekend congress. Immediately the first round ended, if not sooner, one group of people scurried round resetting clocks, putting out scoresheets, etc, whilst another group worked on the pairings for the next round.

As I mentioned last week, I was there primarily to conduct the accompanying FIDE Arbiters' Seminar. The arrangements for the tournament seemed very much more familiar to me than they did to the American arbiters attending the seminar. They were not at all au fait with the concept of the arbiter starting the clocks of absent players at the start of a round. As they pointed out to me, if both players are absent at an American tournament, there won't be a clock to start.

(3) My understanding prior to the event was that there would be a zero default time. When I arrived on the second day, I went in for the start of a round to see how they were coping with this. I found that they were actually using a default time of 30 minutes. Everybody seemed happy - I certainly was.

oi Loz

When you going to choose your more English team for Olympiad.

Im guessing it is going to Be

Jovanka
Lalic(if accepts)
Sarah
Sophie
One other Punter.

Whos going to be 5th board of the mens?

Ben Purton wrote:oi Loz

When you going to choose your more English team for Olympiad.

Im guessing it is going to Be

Jovanka
Lalic(if accepts)
Sarah
Sophie
One other Punter.

Whos going to be 5th board of the mens?

You should know better than to expect a selector to talk openly on the forum about who is going to be picked. Given your recent personal comments about a number of the players I am even less inclined to discuss the matter with you. As I have already explained the team will be picked in time to meet the May 20th deadline. I hope (but doubt) you are able to respect my position and wait until I announce the teams before asking me to comment on the forum.

when and where is the Olympiad?

I have bought the amazing book on the 2008 gathering, a German effort in English. It is like NEW IN CHESS and at £28 a library. At work, I lack exact details as I type.

If you see it give it your time.

James

Here are the details

World Chess Olympiad 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia 19-Sep-2010 4-Oct-2010

Thank you.

The book is

OLYMPIAD UNITED! - Dresden 2008
by Harald Fietz, Josip Asik and Anna Burtasova (Schach Wissen) pp 303!
100+ annotated games, hundreds of photos, eyewitness accounts, stats

Bought mine for £29.99 from Chess n Bridge.

James Pratt wrote:when and where is the Olympiad?

Please see:

http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... mpiad.html

David Sedgwick wrote:
As I mentioned last week, I was there primarily to conduct the accompanying FIDE Arbiters' Seminar. The arrangements for the tournament seemed very much more familiar to me than they did to the American arbiters attending the seminar. They were not at all au fait with the concept of the arbiter starting the clocks of absent players at the start of a round. As they pointed out to me, if both players are absent at an American tournament, there won't be a clock to start.

There's an interview with the organiser on the chessdom site. http://interviews.chessdom.com/sevan-muradian

It appears that European style events will be his USP.

Roger de Coverly wrote: There's an interview with the organiser on the chessdom site. http://interviews.chessdom.com/sevan-muradian

It appears that European style events will be his USP.

Well spotted, Roger. It's an interesting article.