English Chess Forum

Weather permitting, Watford Juniors [part of Watford Chess Club] will be holding a smallish OTB event, "Chess in the Park", locally tomorrow relying on paragraph 103 of HMG's "Covid-19 Response - Spring 2021" publication which reads

"103. All children will be able to access any outdoor childcare and supervised activities. Parent and child groups can also take place outdoors with a limit of 15 attendees (children under five years of age do not count towards the attendee limit.)"

There's some debate as to whether organised chess events are "supervised activities" so, bearing in mind that local official interpretations are probably more important than the correct meaning, the event is limited to 15 attendees. But, from March 29, it seems open to others to do something similar.

Well done Roger - good luck and hope it goes well.

Good luck. School holiday and "Chess in the Park".

With English weather, good luck is a 'must' so I'm pleased to be able to report that today's event was successful and I've just uploaded the results of the rated games onto the ECF rating database. [In passing, I can highly recommend the League Management System].

Roger

Well done! I assume this is the first outdoor event submitted for rating. Are there any examples of outdoor events having been submitted for grading in recent years?

Brilliant!

J T Melsom wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:43 pm

Roger

Well done! I assume this is the first outdoor event submitted for rating. Are there any examples of outdoor events having been submitted for grading in recent years?

No idea. Given good weather and a reasonably benign playing environment, rapidplay games in particular shouldn't be difficult to organise. We drew the line at standard games as the minimum admissible playing time is 2 hours and, if after 30 minutes black clouds herald the approach of heavy rain, the options are limited. Of course, a gazebo would get around this and I assume the games would then still be "outdoors" for HMG purposes.

"Of course, a gazebo would get around this and I assume the games would then still be "outdoors" for HMG purposes."

I think a gazebo counts as outdoors for the smoking ban, so why not? (I assume the juniors aren't smoking as well...)

J T Melsom wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:43 pm

Roger

Well done! I assume this is the first outdoor event submitted for rating. Are there any examples of outdoor events having been submitted for grading in recent years?

I was going to say this one: https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... ent=165481 but then I remembered we played inside.
https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... vent=83646 was definitely outside though.

Well done! I hope no sun injuries or complaints.

J T Melsom wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:43 pm

Roger

Well done! I assume this is the first outdoor event submitted for rating. Are there any examples of outdoor events having been submitted for grading in recent years?

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 29, 2021 9:57 pm

I was going to say this one: https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... ent=165481 but then I remembered we played inside.
https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... vent=83646 was definitely outside though.

https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... ent=219320 was played outdoors. I imagine that there must be a number of other instances in Africa.

Also, Lawrence and I will never forget https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... vent=59800 and https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... vent=59801. The venue was flooded during one round and some of the games continued outside.

David, there should be a rule against players shedding bucketloads of tears when they lose games!

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 12:10 pm

J T Melsom wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:43 pm

Roger

Well done! I assume this is the first outdoor event submitted for rating. Are there any examples of outdoor events having been submitted for grading in recent years?

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 29, 2021 9:57 pm

I was going to say this one: https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... ent=165481 but then I remembered we played inside.
https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... vent=83646 was definitely outside though.

https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... ent=219320 was played outdoors. I imagine that there must be a number of other instances in Africa.

Also, Lawrence and I will never forget https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... vent=59800 and https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_inf ... vent=59801. The venue was flooded during one round and some of the games continued outside.

I will also never forget the workmen drilling through concrete above our ceiling claiming it was just coincidence that water started flooding through whilst they were there

I think it was Dave Ledger v Keith Arkell that moved outside to complete their game, one game was adjourned to my b&b. I think that one continued inside after a delay whilst a couple (including my co-organiser) agreed draws and made a sharp exit. Maybe a second game also moved outside but I can't quite recall who it might have been.

Roger Lancaster wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 12:13 pm

David, there should be a rule against players shedding bucketloads of tears when they lose games!

4NCL are bringing this rule in for the new season.

Follow-up interview [BBC Radio Three Counties] with one of yesterday's juniors tomorrow at 2.30 to discuss yesterday's event and, more generally, chess during lockdown.