e2e4 English Rapidplay Championships : 29-30 March 2014

[Sean Hewitt]

e2e4 Chess are pleased to announce that we will be running the inaugural English Rapidplay Championships, an 11 round FIDE rated swiss taking place over the last weekend in March at Uplands House, High Wycombe.

There will be three sections - Open, U165 and U130. All three sections will be FIDE rated and ECF graded. The Championships are open to all players, with the highest placed eligible player in each section receiving the title of English Rapidplay Champion from the English Chess Federation.

Full details are available here

Enter online here

Want to play for free? Well, you can! Enter online on or before Sunday 9th March and you'll go into a draw; the winner of which will get their entry fee refunded and, if they've booked a hotel room for the Saturday night, we'll pay the cost of that too!

[Keith Arkell]

Good on you Sean. The title ' British Champion' doesn't mean too much these days in any case, given that the federations have each retreated to their separate corners.

I remember, in 2008, being forced out of bed, after 2 hours sleep, to play some rapid stuff to decide whether I was Just joint English Champion, or British Champion as well. As far as I can remember, the strongest none English player in the whole event was FM Francis Rayner of Wales.

[John McKenna]

Now I am worried that Keith may be a chronic insomniac
Agree about Sean's new event though.
Try to get some kip, Keith.

[Keith Arkell]

Haha good point John, especially as I've got Black against the Egyptian number 1, Bassem Amin, rated 2657, tomorrow.

[John McKenna]

Good luck, Keith.
Everything Egyptian is overrated these days.
The pyramids are still impressive at 3,000 to 4,000 years and still standing.

[Richard Bates]

I'm sure it'll be a very good event, although i do think that calling it the "English Championships" is a bit of a marketing ploy as much as anything (regardless of "official" sanction) - since there are no eligibility restrictions on entry and even no "English only" prizes (beyond the new title). As a general rule i think National Championships should as a minimum only be open to those eligible to win the title (though I accept that some countries, particularly smaller ones, see the attractions of allowing 'external entries' to allow for the possibility of norms etc - especially if this increases the likelihood that the best 'eligible' players will participate and give the title some meaning). I think it is a lot better if the winner of a tournament is also the Champion as there is no potential conflict in pursuing one objective in favour of the other.

[Sean Hewitt]

I'm sure it'll be a very good event, although i do think that calling it the "English Championships" is a bit of a marketing ploy as much as anything (regardless of "official" sanction) - since there are no eligibility restrictions on entry and even no "English only" prizes (beyond the new title). As a general rule i think National Championships should as a minimum only be open to those eligible to win the title (though I accept that some countries, particularly smaller ones, see the attractions of allowing 'external entries' to allow for the possibility of norms etc - especially if this increases the likelihood that the best 'eligible' players will participate and give the title some meaning). I think it is a lot better if the winner of a tournament is also the Champion as there is no potential conflict in pursuing one objective in favour of the other.

Point taken though to be honest, in practical terms, it will make no difference. Participants are almost certainly all going to be either registered ENG or else resident in England (or so I would imagine).

[Sean Hewitt]

Just three days to enter if you want to be included in the draw for free entry and your hotel room paid for. Event details at http://www.e2e4.org.uk/high_wycombe/Mar ... /index.htm

[Barry Sandercock]

Am I right in thinking that in Rapidplay Tournaments, one doesn't have to record the moves ?

[Sean Hewitt]

Am I right in thinking that in Rapidplay Tournaments, one doesn't have to record the moves ?

Yes, you are!

[Matt Mackenzie]

There has been an interesting change there in my 3 decades in chess.

Back in the early 1980s, quite a few people wrote down the moves in quickplay tournaments (myself included) A much smaller number do these days.

[Peter D Williams]

Only 23 entered for the open so far.That does not seem a very high number unless its not including late entries? Who will win it?

Stir fry tonight

[Carl Hibbard]

Only 23 entered for the open so far.That does not seem a very high number unless its not including late entries? Who will win it?

Stir fry tonight

Ghasi.

[Peter D Williams]

Only 23 entered for the open so far.That does not seem a very high number unless its not including late entries? Who will win it?

Stir fry tonight

Ghasi.

I wouldn't write off Danny Gormally and as an outside bet William Jones would be worth a punt – I remember Williams and his brother Victor from Coulsdon - very good chess players, very polite and always willing to stop and chat – very well brought up lads

[David Grobler]

I'd bet on Lee Bullock to win the Minor