British Championship Congress 2017

Details of upcoming UK events, please provide working links if possible.
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Roger de Coverly
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British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Roger de Coverly » Sun May 14, 2017 11:36 pm

The website for this is
http://www.britishchesschampionships.co.uk/
with the entry list at
http://www.britishchesschampionships.co ... ants-2017/

Top seeds entered so far in the Championship are
Howell, David WL GM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2684 270 2684
Jones, Gawain CB GM 4NCL Guildford ENG 2654 267 2654
McShane, Luke J GM none ENG 2644 260 2644
Pert, Nicholas GM 4NCL Guildford ENG 2565 250 2565
Hebden, Mark L GM 4NCL Guildford ENG 2480 246 2480
Ghasi, Ameet K IM 4NCL Grantham Sharks ENG 2467 232 2467
Emms, John M GM Wood Green ENG 2464 241 2464
Gormally, Daniel W GM 4NCL Barbican ENG 2462 242 2462
Trent, Lawrence IM none ENG 2455 236 2455
Williams, Simon K GM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2452 237 2452
Ward, Chris G GM 4NCL KJCA Kings ENG 2438 239 2438
Hanley, Craig A IM none ENG 2437 2437
Wells, Peter K GM 4NCL White Rose ENG 2427 233 2427
Merry, Alan B IM Barbican 4NCL ENG 2427 232 2427
Hunt, Adam C IM Woodbridge School ENG 2424 2424
Arkell, Keith C GM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2410 240 2410
McPhillips, Joseph FM none ENG 2400 226 2400
Eggleston, David J IM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2394 228 2394
Houska, Jovanka IM none ENG 2377 228 2377
Zakarian, David FM 4NCL Oxford ARM 2365 221 2365
Kolbus, Dietmar IM Isle of Man GER 2303 219 2303
Dineley, Richard DP Wrexham WLS 2269 203 2269
Storey, Charles H FM none ENG 2258 216 2258
Rudd, Jack IM Barnstaple ENG 2250 210 2250

There's another couple of former British Champions in the over 50, with the top 5 seeds being

Nunn, John DM GM none ENG 2600 236 2600
Littlewood, Paul E IM Lancs CA ENG 2370 2370
Chandler, Cliff R Maidstone ENG 2269 204 2269
Lewis, Andrew P FM Manningtree ENG 2245 215 2245
Chapman, Terry PD FM Cavendish ENG 2244 211 2244

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Wed Jul 26, 2017 2:30 pm

Nigel Short is not playing, as he is currently playing in the Xtracon Open in Denmark. Is Mickey Adams also absent, with his next event being the Isle of Man Open in late September (round 1 on 23 September)? Actually, I forgot the World Cup, from 3-27 September. I wonder what happens if some of those participating in the Isle of Man Open reach the final of the World Cup? The tie-breaks are on 27 September. I presume the final and semi-finals are the only rounds that might clash.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Jul 26, 2017 4:21 pm

This is the latest "top" list
Howell, David WL GM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2702 270 2702
Jones, Gawain CB GM 4NCL Guildford ENG 2660 267 2660
McShane, Luke J GM none ENG 2644 260 2644
Hawkins, Jonathan GM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2582 261 2582
Pert, Nicholas GM 4NCL Guildford ENG 2558 250 2558
Adair, James R IM 4NCL White Rose ENG 2481 251 2481
Hebden, Mark L GM 4NCL Guildford ENG 2477 246 2477
Emms, John M GM Wood Green ENG 2468 241 2468
Zhou, Yang-Fan IM 4NCL Guildford ENG 2468 240 2468
Ghasi, Ameet K IM 4NCL Grantham Sharks ENG 2467 232 2467
Gormally, Daniel W GM 4NCL Blackthorne Russia ENG 2462 242 2462
Trent, Lawrence IM none ENG 2445 236 2445
Williams, Simon K GM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2442 237 2442
Ward, Chris G GM 4NCL KJCA Kings ENG 2441 239 2441
Hanley, Craig A IM none ENG 2441 2441
Wells, Peter K GM 4NCL White Rose ENG 2434 233 2434
Merry, Alan B IM Barbican 4NCL ENG 2427 232 2427
Arkell, Keith C GM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2424 240 2424
Hunt, Adam C IM Woodbridge School ENG 2424 2424
Haria, Ravi FM Wood Green HK ENG 2417 234 2417 Round 1,2
Palliser, Richard JD IM 4NCL White Rose ENG 2408 238 2408
Houska, Jovanka IM none ENG 2402 228 2402
McPhillips, Joseph FM none ENG 2400 226 2400
Eggleston, David J IM 4NCL Cheddleton ENG 2394 228 2394
Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan E GM none SCO 2364 213 2364
Zakarian, David FM 4NCL Oxford ARM 2360 221 2360
Fitzsimons, David FM Wood Green HK IRL 2352 230 2352
Pritchett, Craig W IM Dunbar SCO 2326 2326
Horton, Andrew P FM 3Cs ENG 2324 221 2324
Longson, Alexander FM none ENG 2323 219 2323
Batchelor, Peter J FM none ENG 2309 224 2309
Kolbus, Dietmar IM Isle of Man GER 2306 219 2306
Jackson, James P FM Banbury ENG 2286 221 2286
Dineley, Richard DP Wrexham WLS 2269 203 2269
Claridge-Hansen, William FM 4NCL Oxford ENG 2267 220 2267
Rudd, Jack IM Barnstaple ENG 2252 210 2252

Adams and Short are absent, along with Sadler (who hasn't played in the Championship for many years).

MartinCarpenter
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by MartinCarpenter » Wed Jul 26, 2017 7:32 pm

Nice to see Hawkins back though. Looks a very strong field to me - there's quite a depth of IM's and maybe more 22/2300's than for some recent years?

Chris Rice
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Jul 26, 2017 7:47 pm

MartinCarpenter wrote:Nice to see Hawkins back though. Looks a very strong field to me - there's quite a depth of IM's and maybe more 22/2300's than for some recent years?
I'm guessing that for the 2200/2300s shortening the tournament so that players don't have to take so much time of work has encouraged more players to play. Above that I'm reliably informed that the major reason for the mid-table increase in strength is due to this:

Rating prizes: 2451-2550 1st £2000; 2nd £1000; 3rd £500; 2351-2450 1st £2000; 2nd £1000; 3rd £500.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Roger de Coverly » Wed Jul 26, 2017 8:09 pm

Chris Rice wrote: Rating prizes: 2451-2550 1st £2000; 2nd £1000; 3rd £500; 2351-2450 1st £2000; 2nd £1000; 3rd £500.
I don't think having rating prizes running all the way up to 2550 is a particularly sensible structure, particularly when they exceed the place prizes. Is there a coherent rule for who gets what in the inevitable clash where those eligible for rating prizes end up in the place prizes as well?

Eligibility for these prizes starts at James Adair who is sixth seed.

Andrew Zigmond
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Andrew Zigmond » Thu Jul 27, 2017 2:04 am

I might be opening a can of worms with this one but the total number of entries is 1023, down from 1184 in Bournemouth last year but still (according to statistics compiled by David Gilbert last year) the fourth best attended championship of all time. Significantly the numbers do smash the most obviously comparable recent British (Aberystwyth 2014) out of the park.
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Alan Walton
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Alan Walton » Thu Jul 27, 2017 9:16 am

Andrew Zigmond wrote:I might be opening a can of worms with this one but the total number of entries is 1023, down from 1184 in Bournemouth last year but still (according to statistics compiled by David Gilbert last year) the fourth best attended championship of all time. Significantly the numbers do smash the most obviously comparable recent British (Aberystwyth 2014) out of the park.
Personally I don't like comparing congresses with number of entries, I rather use number of persons, people attend entries don't

Counting the blitz and rapidplay entries inevitably double counts bodies; juniors always played in multiple events

When coming to organize the tournament, the number of bodies is the important number for the promotion of the event, you are then able to quantify the benefits to the local economy more clearly; three entries don't spend money in Llandudno, it is the one person relating to these

Andrew Zigmond
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Andrew Zigmond » Thu Jul 27, 2017 10:53 am

I think the key point is that the high number of entries (I take your point that these are not unique entrants) compared to previous events suggests that the change to the format has worked. Obviously somebody might want to do a full statistical analysis but the reduction in the number of events available (there is no longer a need for week 1 and week 2 events and some players would have played both weeks) has not apparently affected the number of entrants.

In any case players don't get a discount for entering multiple events so the 1,000+ entries suggests the nine day format is viable.
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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Thu Jul 27, 2017 10:55 am

For quantifying the benefit to the local economy, the amount of time people spend there is a better indicator. Someone just turning up for the rapidplay or one of the shorter events (are there less shorter events this year?) will have a lesser impact than someone staying for the whole event. But then some people pay lots to stay in local hotels, and some pay less if they stay with friends or travel to the event. I bet some people take sandwiches every day (old joke)! :D

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Lee Bullock
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Lee Bullock » Thu Jul 27, 2017 11:46 pm

Just looking at the entries in some events and they are amazing. 68 in the u140 for example. Just had a look at the prizes and as usual very low.

Just wondering due to the huge amount of entries in some sections will the prizes be buffed up or grading prizes added for example in the u140.

As its based on fide rating this year it would be nice to let some genuine u140 players on the ecf database had a chance on the grading prize as I cant see a genuine u140 player winning it this year with al these 150s and even 160s in it now on the new grades.

Many tournaments base prizes on entries and I think it would be a nice touch to hear in the announcements that prizes will be upped. I can see many players feeling not very happy with the entry fee to prize comparison and then high entries also.

Also feel sorry for players in the Major having to pay the same entry as last year with 2 less games this year and no change to prizes. Of course the main championship has seen huge rise in prizes but no other section has. Surely the huge entries should reflect on the event a bit.
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Jonathan Rogers
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Fri Jul 28, 2017 7:38 pm

comparisons with last year are a bit difficult though - everyone is better off through having to send less time in Llandudno (financially, I mean, although ....)

Anyway, where are the threads predicting the winner? Is anyone willing to call anyone out of the top three? Or, if you like, pick five players, excluding the top three, who will make at least 6.5/9. Actually, that sounds much better.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Roger de Coverly » Sat Jul 29, 2017 12:05 am

Top pairings for the first round.

1 1 GM Howell David Wl 2702 0 0 Moore Graham J 2155 53
2 54 Murphy Conor E 2154 0 0 GM Jones Gawain Cb 2660 2
3 3 GM Mcshane Luke J 2644 0 0 Coathup Roger H 2151 55
4 56 Moreby James E 2149 0 0 GM Hawkins Jonathan 2582 4
5 5 GM Pert Nicholas 2558 0 0 Gallagher Daniel Gh 2147 57
6 58 Richardson Alex 2147 0 0 IM Adair James R 2481 6
7 7 GM Hebden Mark L 2477 0 0 FM Smith Andrew P 2146 59
8 60 CM Coleman David J 2135 0 0 GM Emms John M 2468 8
9 9 IM Zhou Yang-Fan 2468 0 0 Ogunshola Olugbemiga (ben) 2133 61
10 62 WFM Sun Xinyue 2132 0 0 IM Ghasi Ameet K 2467 10

Mick Norris
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Mick Norris » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:14 am

Any postings on here represent my personal views

Barry Sandercock
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Re: British Championship Congress 2017

Post by Barry Sandercock » Sat Jul 29, 2017 10:32 am

Thanks Mick, very useful.

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