English Chess Forum

PeterFarr wrote:

Roger de Coverly wrote:

PeterFarr wrote:I think it's hard for serious chess players to be objective about this sort of thing

FIDE has a long standing policy of awarding titles based on relative performance in its events. Perhaps with the extension of ratings down to 1000 they could reconsider. An Elo of 1600 is broadly equivalent to 125 on traditional conversions. A (male) British (Channel Islands) player achieved a CM title in an Olympiad whilst rarely escaping from the 120s in BCF/ECF grades.

Yes I realize she is not very strong, my point is that it's an interesting story given the overall context (non-chess reasons). Think of it as being about a girl escaping extreme poverty, rather than a story about the debasement of chess titles by FIDE.

Exactly, considering her circumstances and the unimaginable life challenges she has had to face, I think that her 1600 fide is very respectable as I know university educated privileged westerners who could never reach such a rating because despite wanting to improve, they don't put in the hard work. Let's not take credit away from this amazing character, I am very much looking forward to the movie (in hopes of it somehow bringing positive [anything] to that part of the world.

There was an article about Phiona Mutesi in this week's 'Observer' magazine:

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016 ... ona-mutesi

Is she playing in Baku?

Looking at Chess Results shows that the Ugandan womens team is among a large number of teams that appear to be absent.

Andy McCulloch wrote:Looking at Chess Results shows that the Ugandan womens team is among a large number of teams that appear to be absent.

The match arbiter next to me was, by co-incidence, from Uganda. I asked who Uganda were playing that day, and he said the team hadn't arrived yet. He explained that they left it late to book the flights and the price had gone up prohibitively. He said that they hoped they would arrive in time to start playing in the tournament in about Round 3.

Alex Holowczak wrote:The match arbiter next to me was, by co-incidence, from Uganda. I asked who Uganda were playing that day, and he said the team hadn't arrived yet. He explained that they left it late to book the flights and the price had gone up prohibitively. He said that they hoped they would arrive in time to start playing in the tournament in about Round 3.

The Ugandan teams have now arrived and Phiona Mutesi is in play on Board 4 of the Women's team against Honduras.

There is now to be a Disney film about Phiona (presumably based on the book).

Trailer here:- http://disney.powio.com/gb/queen-of-katwe/trailer

In one of the clips, the board is the wrong way round, which is a bit worrying.

Clive Blackburn wrote:There is now to be a Disney film ....

Indeed so. It’s showing in Walthamstow on Saturday 15th at 2pm


http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8690

Jonathan Bryant wrote:

Clive Blackburn wrote:There is now to be a Disney film ....

Indeed so. It’s showing in Walthamstow on Saturday 15th at 2pm

http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8690

I'm sorry Johnathan, I wasn't aware of that other thread

Clive Blackburn wrote:

Jonathan Bryant wrote:

Clive Blackburn wrote:There is now to be a Disney film ....

Indeed so. It’s showing in Walthamstow on Saturday 15th at 2pm

http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8690

I'm sorry Johnathan, I wasn't aware of that other thread

No worries. I put it on the main forum thinking that more people would see it there. But that was obviously not 100% correct so it’s good to to add it here too.

I read recently that Phiona currently lives on the West Coast of America and works as a motivational speaker. I think in the Seattle area.

Provisionally on BBC1 tomorrow afternoon 2.35pm until 4.35pm Film: Queen of Katwe
Film based on Phiona Mutesi came out in 2016.
Sadly I believe Disney has still not released the Film on DVD in Europe.

I finally watched the film today and it was definitely worth seeing.