Martin is of course correct regarding the increment time control, but personally I think it will happen eventually even if it's years down the line.Re: Chess Arbiters Association AGM
Postby Gareth T Ellis » Thu Dec 10, 2015 2:34 pm
"It was noted that most leagues were still using mechanical clocks and that 10/2 was alive in local league use."
Is this correct ?
The number of digital clocks being sold within the UK would suggest that leagues have mostly moved away from mechanical clocks.
So, is your league all/mostly Digital or Mechanical ?
Postby MartinCarpenter » Thu Dec 10, 2015 3:23 pm
Digital clocks I think getting common - the cheap ones are cheap now - but you really can't assume that digital clocks automatically mean increment time controls.
In the past chess had adjournments/adjudications then congresses introduced quickplay finishes, the rest of the congresses switched fairly quickly but league chess took far longer to adapt and a few possibly still haven't. Congresses are now changing to increment time controls, this will spread quickly as it requires less arbiters/controllers so less expense and there is already a shortage of arbiters in some parts of the country. Some leagues already allow it if agreeable to both players, this was how the quickplay finish started until the majority wanted to switch entirely.
Although digital clocks are now far more common within league chess and in general used in the majority of games, not all of the clocks are capable of incremental timings, something for clubs to consider if purchasing in the future. Players are however getting use to digitals and setting them which is the first step towards what I think will the inevitable switch.