e2e4 Chess

[Sean Hewitt]

I have been asked a number of times recently whether e2e4 Chess is winding down or ceasing completely. I can assure you that neither is the case!

I have announced today two further 2013 events, and I can also reveal that there will be a nine round tournament at which norms will be available at Sunningdale over Easter 2014.

We are currently working on a whole 2014 calendar, so please don't be alarmed by the fact that there is nothing in the calendar yet. We have lots of hotels offering us opportunities and we are trying to makes sure that we don't clash with other major events, as well as spacing out the events we do run throughout the year. This takes some time, but will also make it easier for other organisers to plan their events.

When the 2014 calendar is announced there will be plenty of events to choose from, all to the same high standard that you've come to know and expect from e2e4 Chess. I hope to have this calendar published in October 2013.

Calendar

[Carol Williams]

I have been asked a number of times recently whether e2e4 Chess is winding down or ceasing completely. I can assure you that neither is the case!

I have announced today two further 2013 events, and I can also reveal that there will be a nine round tournament at which norms will be available at Sunningdale over Easter 2014.

We are currently working on a whole 2014 calendar, so please don't be alarmed by the fact that there is nothing in the calendar yet. We have lots of hotels offering us opportunities and we are trying to makes sure that we don't clash with other major events, as well as spacing out the events we do run throughout the year. This takes some time, but will also make it easier for other organisers to plan their events.

When the 2014 calendar is announced there will be plenty of events to choose from, all to the same high standard that you've come to know and expect from e2e4 Chess. I hope to have this calendar published in October 2013.

Calendar

Question is why are people asking you this.

[David Sedgwick]

Question is why are people asking you this.

Possibly for the very obvious reason that, prior to these most recent announcements, the forthcoming event at High Wycombe was the last one in the published e2e4 calendar.

[Roger de Coverly]

the published e2e4 calendar.

The proposed Easter Sunningdale Congress would seem a direct competitor to anything the Surrey Congress might do, or even the CCF.

[Alan Walton]

From what I last noticed we live in a free market

Perhaps this is what we need a bit more competition, if the e2e4 tournament becomes a problem for the Surrey event, then it shows that that format is the way forward, and the organisers have to appreciate that Sean's model is the more attractive

[Alex McFarlane]

Unfortunately the dynamics of chess events are not so straightforward.

Consider Congresses A & B need 120 players to break even. Congress C needs 300 but usually gets 340.

If they clash A & B get 130 taking 30 each from C. C is now down to 280 and makes a significant loss (say £600). C is still clearly the event that most want to play in but it is now financially uncertain for the future.

I don't think my example proves anything in the way of the most desired format, all it shows is that there is a limited market for chess events and too many clashes may deprive players of events they like.

In my opinion chess players vary enormously in their likes and dislikes. Some are happy to play in dingy halls rather than better accommodation (provided this is reflected in the entry fees). Others want better facilities.

The playing conditions in the two biggest weekend congresses are not ideal (note I'm not saying they are bad, though the Winter Gardens in Blackpool was heading towards it!). If you simply apply the same logic you would say that all chess tournaments should be held at seaside resorts out of season. This is clearly not the case. The factors affecting the success of a congress are many and varied.

[Barry Sandercock]

No news of forthcoming Congresses yet ?

[John Upham]

The proposed Easter Sunningdale Congress would seem a direct competitor to anything the Surrey Congress might do, or even the CCF.

The more event organisers that compete at or visit an e2e4 event the merrier: hopefully that will provide ideas for improvement for organiser with an open mind.

If weaker events fall by the wayside in the face of alternatives providing a better playing experience then so be it.

Darwin would be vindicated.

[Barry Sandercock]

That doesn't answer my question.

[Roger de Coverly]

If weaker events fall by the wayside in the face of alternatives providing a better playing experience then so be it. .

It's not in the interests of a stable Congress calendar for organisers to have to worry about an e2e4 event popping up on their doorstep within a week or two of theirs. It's not in the interests of Congress players either, particularly those willing to travel a reasonable distance, not to be able to plan travel and accommodation in advance.

There's no mention (yet?) of a 2014 Surrey Easter Congress.

[John Upham]

That doesn't answer my question.

True but it was a reply to comment raised in this very thread.

I suspect Sean Hewitt is best placed to answer your question.

I'm usually advised to email the person concerned.

[John Upham]

popping up on their doorstep within a week or two of theirs.

Who is to say which organiser has rights to a doorstep? How large should be the radius of that doorstep?

If a new event appears and is more popular than another then legacy events and organisers should consider why it should be so.

If regular Basingstoke 40 minute events were to be resurrected (and run in the style of Dick Boxall) then they too might impact other one day events.

There is a good venue at Basingstoke Bridge and Chess club suitable for a one day event not in London.

Survival of the fittest.

[Roger de Coverly]

Who is to say which organiser has rights to a doorstep? How large should be the radius of that doorstep?

If a new event appears and is more popular than another then legacy events and organisers should consider why it should be so.

The danger with the e2e4 events that they are a "Now you see it, now you don't phenomena". So it forces closure of a local event and disbanding of the organising team, but the following year there isn't a local e2e4 event. The net result is no event at all.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"There's no mention (yet?) of a 2014 Surrey Easter Congress."

It's much too early to expect news of this nature.

[Martin Crichton]

seems to me the weakness of the e2e4 events are they are basically a 1 man band i.e Sean Hewitt.

That said they have lower overheads and can offer cheaper entry fees to players so its a balance / choice for players entering in advance. Sounds like some people want their cake and to eat it also.

e2e4 events should be fine for those players that want to enter and plan their time 6 weeks in advance.

The other type of players that need more notice and security about chess events should basically play in the events that are run by committees and regular annual events in the ECF calendar such as the British championships and various Easter congresses.

There are more than enough chess events in the calendar to cater for all players.