44th Guernsey International Chess Festival

[David Sedgwick]

It is good to see the Legends of Surrey Chess going so well.

Sedgwick 0-1 Rosen, so one legend in that pairing is no longer doing so well.

The other features on Board 1 in the last round: Rosen v Hillarp-Persson.

Would our intrepid band of followers please note that play starts at 0930 tomorrow.

[Nick Grey]

The Legends will need a big breakfast for their last round.
Back in the Fred Winter Kingston - we have the delights of Shepherd - Bates on board 1.

In the Major Board 1 is the clash of the joint U160 Surrey County Captains - Grey v Alcock.
A 10am start & extra coffee.

[John Saunders]

I probably shouldn't admit this but, despite currently sitting in a room in which a vast number of the best chess players in the world are currently in action, on my computer I'm following progress at Guernsey as Jean-Pierre Le Roux attempts to beat Nigel Povah in order to share first place with Tiger Hillarp Persson. Well, I enjoy a good endgame and it's just opening moves here at the moment.

Anyway, I'm looking at the following...

[Event "Guernsey"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "7"] [White "Le Roux"] [Black "Povah"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "105"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 Re8 9. O-O Be7 10. Re1 h6 11. Bh4 Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nhf6 15. Nc3 Qd6 16. c5 Qc7 17. Ne5 Rd8 18. Nc4 Ne8 19. Qf3 Ndf6 20. Rcd1 Nd5 21. Ne4 Qf4 22. Qe2 Qc7 23. g3 Ndf6 24. Nc3 Kf8 25. Be4 Nd5 26. Bf3 b6 27. Ne5 Nef6 28. Rc1 b5 29. Nxd5 Nxd5 30. Bh5 g6 31. Bf3 Kg7 32. Qd2 Bd7 33. Bxd5 exd5 34. Qf4 Bf5 35. Nxg6 Qxf4 36. Nxf4 Re8 37. f3 f6 38. Kf2 Kf7 39. Rxe8 Rxe8 40. Re1 Rxe1 41. Kxe1 a5 42. Kd2 Ke7 43. a3 Bc8 44. b4 axb4 45. axb4 Bf5 46. Ke3 Kf7 47. Ng2 Bd7 48. Kf4 Kg6 49. g4 Kf7 50. Ne3 Kg6 51. h4 Be6 52. Kg3 Bd7 53. f4 * But I haven't seen a new move for some time. I've got an engine running and it reckons Nigel might be saving after 53...f5 although everything else seems to lose (and White had winning moves a couple of moves back).

Any comment from those at Guernsey?

[Kevin Thurlow]

I'm informed that Nigel lost, but results aren't published here either. There were other endings to enjoy!

[David Sedgwick]

I'm informed that Nigel lost, but results aren't published here either.

The results have now been published online.

http://chess-results.com/tnr347554.aspx?lan=1&art=4

http://chess-results.com/tnr347555.aspx?lan=1&art=4

[Kevin Thurlow]

It occurs to me that the players who tied 5th on 4.5 (except Jan Havenaar of NL) would have qualified for the British Championship under the old rules.

[David Sedgwick]

It occurs to me that the players who tied 5th on 4.5 (except Jan Havenaar of NL) would have qualified for the British Championship under the old rules.

… it would be helpful if seven round events had a BCQ place ...

I would not expect any such change to be retrospective.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"I would not expect any such change to be retrospective."

Neither would I - several players were outraged that players at the lower end of ratings in the last British were not eligible for rating prizes. I wasn't really bothered - it's just one more reason to play somewhere else.

[Alex Holowczak]

It occurs to me that the players who tied 5th on 4.5 (except Jan Havenaar of NL) would have qualified for the British Championship under the old rules.

… it would be helpful if seven round events had a BCQ place ...

I would not expect any such change to be retrospective.

When we held the meeting that introduced the regulations, Guernsey's representative was asked specifically about the status of the Guernsey event. He was perfectly satisfied that it should go into the new Grand Prix. He saw the bigger picture of what the regulation changes were trying to achieve, much to his credit.

[David Sedgwick]

Regarding my allegedly disrepectful reference to some "damaging consequences" of the new British Championship Qualifying Regulations, I was asked two years ago to submit constructive amendments to the Regulations. I did so and was ignored (not by Alex).

When we held the meeting that introduced the regulations, Guernsey's representative was asked specifically about the status of the Guernsey event. He was perfectly satisfied that it should go into the new Grand Prix. He saw the bigger picture of what the regulation changes were trying to achieve, much to his credit.

It just goes to show that people are more likely to be supportive if you treat them with courtesy.

[Nick Grey]

Any reasons why other congresses cannot got into British Championship Qualifying regulations = or is that one for the new home director and congress organisers.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"When we held the meeting that introduced the regulations, Guernsey's representative was asked specifically about the status of the Guernsey event. He was perfectly satisfied that it should go into the new Grand Prix. He saw the bigger picture of what the regulation changes were trying to achieve, much to his credit."

Maybe the Guernsey representative was not concerned about another Federation's championship? The Guernsey club champion qualifies for the British Championship, but I doubt anyone has taken up the place for many years.

Did the Guernsey tournament go into the new Grand Prix? I don't recall seeing the results included.

[Brian Valentine]

The Guernsey Organisers have opted out of submitting results for ECF grading, but I have been processing members elected submissions to Games Played Abroad this morning. In this situation it was not included in the ECF Grand Prix.

As an open FIDE rated competition from one of the British Isles Federations it qualifies in the British Championship Qualifying Grand Prix and was included last year.

Brian Valentine
Manager ECF Grading

[Kevin Thurlow]

Thanks Brian

Edit
"The Guernsey Organisers have opted out of submitting results for ECF grading"

BCF/ECF used to grade the tournament free, but one year sent a Game Fee bill, which Guernsey politely declined to pay. BCF/ECF said "We won't grade your games then!"
Guernsey said "OK".

[David Sedgwick]

Thanks Brian

Edit
"The Guernsey Organisers have opted out of submitting results for ECF grading"

BCF/ECF used to grade the tournament free, but one year sent a Game Fee bill, which Guernsey politely declined to pay. BCF/ECF said "We won't grade your games then!"
Guernsey said "OK".

That's not quite right.

Guernsey and the ECF had an arrangement wherby Guernsey would pay the Game Fee for English players who were not Gold or Silver members as appropriate.

Then the ECF personnel changed and the new officers insisted that Game Fee be paid for ALL players who were not Gold or Silver ECF members, including the large Dutch contingent.

Guernsey declined to continue with ECF grading on this basis.