World Youth Championships, Turkey

[Jonathan Rogers]

At the risk of being branded a killjoy, it is only in England that playing at 210 level at 18 years old might seem very impressive. Most of our West European competitors have juniors at that level (and above) in the u-14 and u-16. Actually, even we do, come to think of it .... (i.e they are playing at that level or above, though their Elos are not up there yet)

To Roger - yes, our very best players ever were nearer 2400 at 14. But you can count them on the fingers of one hand, and none of them were born since 1990, whilst other countries are now producing players between 2300-2400 from that age with regularity.

[Alex Holowczak]

At the risk of being branded a killjoy, it is only in England that playing at 210 level at 18 years old might seem very impressive.

I've been informed elsewhere that he didn't start to play the game until aged 11. Given that information, I think his standard of play is very impressive indeed.

[Rob Thompson]

12, actually. It annoyed me quite how quickly he rose up in grade, 'cos when i was an U-13, i was board 2 for the SW U-14 team playing against wales, with the board 1 being U-14, so i thought i was going to be board 1, only to find that James had gone from 62 to 116, where i was only 114 at that stage

[Richard James]

It's not necessarily a disadvantage to start at 11 or 12 rather than 6 or 7. In many cases it can be an advantage. Even Magnus Carlsen found chess too hard when he tried it at the age of 5. He tried again at the age of 8 and the rest is, or will soon become, history.

It's certainly true that the later a kid starts playing chess competitively the more likely s/he is to continue playing as an adult.

[Jonathan Rogers]

That's interesting to know (that late starters are more likely to continue).

To Alex - I was talking in relative terms. At World u-18 level today, playing at 210 strength is not especially impressive no matter how many qualifications might be made. The same is true of the IM title in the adult world (using the word "world" literally)...

But to nip any misunderstanding in the bud - of course we should still send some one instead of no one to these events, at least if the ECF is not picking up the bill.

[Ben Purton]

Its also interesting to know that he most certainly is not "18 years old" . He was 16 at the last 4NCL , he might have changed since then , but only just 17 at the "eldest".

Ben

[Ian Thompson]

Its also interesting to know that he most certainly is not "18 years old" . He was 16 at the last 4NCL , he might have changed since then , but only just 17 at the "eldest".

So recently 17 that he might even have got a Turkish birthday cake.

[Leonard Barden]

Seems White against the Alekhine is Anna's waek point....

[benedgell]

Isn't Anna winning?

[David Shepherd]

Yes looks like her opponent has lost to me

[Matthew Turner]

OMG what an amazing blunder from her opponent and she had played the games so well up to now.

[Matthew Turner]

RxN instead of RxB would have surely won for Black rather quickly

[benedgell]

Gunay Mammadzada's game looks in the balance (she's leading the girl's under 10's), but either way Anna's going to be 2nd= with 2 others at worst.

[benedgell]

Think almost anything bar Rxc2 is winning, but heck if I'm complaining

[Leonard Barden]

Anna caught her easily winning opponent with a one move back rank cheapo. I will be putting that position in my daily Evening Standard coilumn.....