Czech Open, Pardubice 2018

[Leonard Barden]

http://chess-results.com/tnr365637.aspx ... ES&flag=30

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 2018/3/1/1

The English contingent has begun well in this strong open, where IMs Alan Merry and Ravi Haria are both (I think) in search of their second GM norms.

Merry is one of 11 players on 3/3 and tomorrow meets GM Nitzan Steinberg, 2591, of Israel.

Haria, on 2.5, has it tough as Black against the Hastings winner GM Deep Sengupta, 2565, of India.

Both Merry and Haria will be on live boards.

Also in the norm hunt is FM William Claridge-Hansen. He has 1.5/3 but his loss was to Haria.

Keep an eye, too, on the D group where 9-year-old Daniel Shek, who John Upham of this forum rates highly, has begun with 2/2 including a win against a Russian rated 250 points higher than Daniel.

[Richard Bates]

And Louise Head, who is also presumably “in the hunt for norms”, has started well as well, reflecting her probable significant under-rating.

[LawrenceCooper]

And Louise Head, who is also presumably “in the hunt for norms”, has started well as well, reflecting her probable significant under-rating.

Agreed, a very encouraging start for the current English champion who makes her Olympiad debut in a couple of months.

[Jonathan Rogers]

http://chess-results.com/tnr365637.aspx ... ES&flag=30

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 2018/3/1/1

The English contingent has begun well in this strong open, where IMs Alan Merry and Ravi Haria are both (I think) in search of their second GM norms.

Merry is one of 11 players on 3/3 and tomorrow meets GM Nitzan Steinberg, 2591, of Israel.

...

Alan has two GM norms already: Isle of Man 2014 and Jersey 2018

His norm in 2014 was made against a field including four (!) Israeli players!

[Roger de Coverly]

His norm in 2014 was made against a field including four (!) Israeli players!

That performance was used as part of his IM application.
https://ratings.fide.com/apps/234061.pdf

[Jonathan Rogers]

I believe it can be used for a future application for GM title too.

[NickFaulks]

I believe it can be used for a future application for GM title too.

Correct, once upon a time it couldn't but it can now.

[LawrenceCooper]

I believe it can be used for a future application for GM title too.

Correct, once upon a time it couldn't but it can now.

All the more surprising then that it doesn't appear here: https://ratings.fide.com/title_norms.ph ... 1&title=GM but presumably this can be remedied by the federation contacting FIDE?

[David Sedgwick]

I believe it can be used for a future application for GM title too.

Correct, once upon a time it couldn't but it can now.

All the more surprising then that it doesn't appear here: https://ratings.fide.com/title_norms.ph ... 1&title=GM but presumably this can be remedied by the federation contacting FIDE?

It appears as an IM norm at https://ratings.fide.com/title_applicat ... e=IM&pb=42.

As you say, it can easily be resubmitted as a GM norm.

[LawrenceCooper]

And Louise Head, who is also presumably “in the hunt for norms”, has started well as well, reflecting her probable significant under-rating.

Agreed, a very encouraging start for the current English champion who makes her Olympiad debut in a couple of months.

Now 2.5/4

[LawrenceCooper]

And Louise Head, who is also presumably “in the hunt for norms”, has started well as well, reflecting her probable significant under-rating.

Agreed, a very encouraging start for the current English champion who makes her Olympiad debut in a couple of months.

Now 2.5/4

Now 3/5 after a draw with a FM rated 2329.

[LawrenceCooper]

Agreed, a very encouraging start for the current English champion who makes her Olympiad debut in a couple of months.

Now 2.5/4

Now 3/5 after a draw with a FM rated 2329.

She maintained her +1 score with a draw against a 2377 in round 6 albeit an untitled opponent which was mildly annoying.

[LawrenceCooper]

Now 2.5/4

Now 3/5 after a draw with a FM rated 2329.

She maintained her +1 score with a draw against a 2377 in round 6 albeit an untitled opponent which was mildly annoying.

A draw with black against a GM rated 2384 keeps her well placed.

[Richard Bates]

Now 3/5 after a draw with a FM rated 2329.

She maintained her +1 score with a draw against a 2377 in round 6 albeit an untitled opponent which was mildly annoying.

A draw with black against a GM rated 2384 keeps her well placed.

Probable 2/2 for an IM norm, if getting one more IM/GM.

[LawrenceCooper]

Now 3/5 after a draw with a FM rated 2329.

She maintained her +1 score with a draw against a 2377 in round 6 albeit an untitled opponent which was mildly annoying.

A draw with black against a GM rated 2384 keeps her well placed.

A win in round 8 against an FM rated 2354 takes her score to 5/8 against an average of 2329. Depending on her last round opponent she may need a win for an IM norm, a draw for a WGM norm and the WIM norm is already achieved.