English Chess Forum

The website has been updated to announce the 2024 congress will be 9-11th February 2024.

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 1:04 am

The website has been updated to announce the 2024 congress will be 9-11th February 2024.

Sadly clashing with 4NCL

It did so last year as well. It looks like the event is now permanently in February.

The Blackpool Chess Congress starts tomorrow evening.
There are 375 entries so far.

I took a stroll round the Imperial.

This is far from being the event it used to be, full of strong players. I was amazed by how weak the Open looked.

I did however take heart from the number of promising juniors on view, in all sections.

Nick Ivell wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 10, 2024 7:25 pm

This is far from being the event it used to be, full of strong players. I was amazed by how weak the Open looked.

Clashing with the 4NCL will do that.

Agreed, but I'm not sure it's only that.

Could it be that prize money has not kept pace with inflation? Your average GM may not fancy the idea of having to win 5 games in order to turn a decent profit.

It was strong GMs who IIRC objected the most strongly to the Open games being FIDE rated (and got that dropped c15 years ago) so if they aren't playing any more there is even less reason not to restore something that many non-elite players would welcome.