ACO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

[David Gilbert]

Yesterday's updated list of the 172 entries heading to Crete for the ACO Seniors from 14th to 23rd October 2019 includes 15 ENG representatives and one from Wales. https://amateurchess.com/participants-crete-2019/ A great tournament at a great hotel, although some of us old folk are also attracted to reclaiming our childhood at the free water park. You can see one of the French players having a go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuGn9Hc9yqk

Flyers for the ACO Graded Championships that take place in Rhodes from 16th to 25th May 2020 were available at the British in Torquay and the excellent congresses at Thanet and Manchester last week. They should also be on show at Northumbria and Berks & Bucks this weekend. Details are here https://amateurchess.com/wp-content/upl ... 20_eng.pdf There's a €150 discount for bookings taken up to 30 September 2019 and there's already 88 players who have taken advantage of that.

[David Robertson]

Yesterday's updated list of the 172 entries heading to Crete for the ACO Seniors includes 15 ENG representatives and one from Wales

I wish the "one from Wales" well - Margaret Baron (ECF 29D). The ENG aren't hugely better. October in Crete can be pleasant though

[Mark Ashley]

Incredibly popular with players from Germany judging by the entry list so far.

[Ian Thompson]

Incredibly popular with players from Germany judging by the entry list so far.

That might be because the organiser is a German company, so it gets more publicity in Germany than elsewhere. Also, some non-Germans may be put off by having to book with a foreign tour operator. I'd be concerned by the condition that says the organisers can cancel the whole event if they don't get 300 entries as that's more than the 284 they got at the same venue this year.

[David Gilbert]

I'd be concerned by the condition that says the organisers can cancel the whole event if they don't get 300 entries as that's more than the 284 they got at the same venue this year.

Ian - There's no need to be concerned about numbers. The reference is to '300 persons' rather than '300 entries'. I'd say that more than half the players who come to ACO events are accompanied by partners, family and friends. It's a great holiday too. The 284 players from last year equates to well over 400 people.

[David Gilbert]

If anyone is looking to come to Rhodes next May for the ACO’s World Graded Championships the €150 discount ends on 30 September 2019, although you can still get €100 off if you enter by 15 November 2019. There’s 156 entries so far, including five from England, two from Wales and three from Ireland.

It’s a brilliant tournament and a fantastic holiday. The chess doesn’t stop. There’ll be people playing chess all over the hotel, day and night. One of the ACO's innovations is to have two friendly GMs, the Latvian Zigurds Lanka and Greece’s Spyridon Skembris, sitting outside the playing area taking the amateurs through their post-game analysis. These extras make the players feel a bit special.

I’m packed already!

[David Gilbert]

Celebrations will be going on all over the South West this weekend as popular player and arbiter Tony Tatam takes the ACO World Seniors Under 1400 Trophy on an open-top bus ride across Devon. You can go for miles on a senior persons bus pass. Meyrick Shaw, last year's Under 2000 champion, just missed out on retaining his title finishing in a points tie for second, but in overall fourth place on count back.

Former Drunken Knight, Mark Rich, ended the Under 2200 event in the runner-up spot finishing on 6.5/9. Mark also teamed up with GM Bindrich to take the ACO World Seniors Team Blitz title, three points clear of their nearest rivals.

Mark Shepherd playing his first ever competitive chess games scored one win in his nine games. Mark a former amateur boxer with the Army, who once shared the ring with the Dark Destroyer, Nigel Benn, was told about the sport of chess-boxing. He reckons he’ll score better if the boxing comes first.

It was warm and sunny in Crete with daytime temperatures ranging between 22° and 26°, the “black hole” flume had been especially greased for chess players and the pool water had been made extra splashy, especially for my delicate landings.

On to Rhodes next. May can’t come soon enough.