2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

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Chris Rice
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2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Chris Rice » Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:50 am

FIDE Regs on the Rapid & Blitz World Championships to be held in St Petersburg and the prize fund is $700,000 not the hoped for $2 million but does compare reasonably well with pre-Saudi events.

NickFaulks
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by NickFaulks » Wed Dec 05, 2018 7:46 pm

"R&B Tournament 2018". Sounds good.
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Chris Rice
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Chris Rice » Fri Dec 07, 2018 12:23 am

Prize fund is now $1,000,000, Carlsen expected to play, opening ceremony on Christmas Day.

Events:

Open events:

Rapid: Swiss system, 15 rounds (15 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1);
Blitz: Swiss system, 21 rounds (3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1).

Women's events:
Rapid: Swiss system, 12 rounds (15 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1);
Blitz: Swiss system, 17 rounds (3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1).

Roger de Coverly
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Roger de Coverly » Fri Dec 07, 2018 12:28 am

Chris Rice wrote:
Fri Dec 07, 2018 12:23 am
Prize fund is now $1,000,000, Carlsen expected to play, opening ceremony on Christmas Day.
The 1994 Olympiad was also a short notice event, also held in Russia. Contemporary reports implied the organisation left something to be desired.

Mick Norris
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Mick Norris » Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:58 am

Chris Rice wrote:
Wed Dec 05, 2018 9:50 am
FIDE Regs on the Rapid & Blitz World Championships to be held in St Petersburg and the prize fund is $700,000 not the hoped for $2 million but does compare reasonably well with pre-Saudi events.
So is St Petersburg a suitable venue for all potential participants? Ukraine being the obvious but not only question
Any postings on here represent my personal views

NickFaulks
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by NickFaulks » Fri Dec 07, 2018 4:02 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Fri Dec 07, 2018 12:28 am
The 1994 Olympiad was also a short notice event, also held in Russia. Contemporary reports implied the organisation left something to be desired.
It certainly did, but that was a vastly bigger event and Russia was a strange place in 1994.
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Chris Rice
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Chris Rice » Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:58 pm

The registration system is up and running but, assuming you are eligible, you've only got a few days to enter as:

"The registration deadline for all participants of the King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018 is at 23.59 GMT on 15th of December, 2018"

The name of the tournament is repeated a further two times on the web page so one can be left in no doubt this is not a typo. Presumably the only way this could have happened is if FIDE allowed the Saudis to sponsor the event? Is that why there was all this secrecy and delay ending up with everyone being happy with this face saving compromise? Perhaps an important question to ask is should we care?

NickFaulks
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by NickFaulks » Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:27 pm

Chris Rice wrote:
Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:58 pm
Presumably the only way this could have happened is if FIDE allowed the Saudis to sponsor the event?
What do you mean, "allowed"? Don't we wish that the ECF would allow someone to sponsor its national team.

FIDE is clearly very happy to have Saudi Arabia as a sponsor, but the new administration requires the event to be played where everyone can take part in it. I was very much hoping, and in fact expecting, that Riyadh would find a way to manage that, but the conservative forces there seem to be enjoying a resurgence, so the alternative arrangements are a good second best.
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Chris Rice
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Chris Rice » Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:02 pm

Picture of the rather grand venue! Image

"A classical building of Manege was constructed by Giacomo Quarenghi in the beginning of the 19th century for the Imperial Horse Guards. Then it was used for various purposes depending on the epoch. In 1970s, the Saint Petersburg Manege housed the Central exhibition hall. Now Manege is a modern platform which is capable to host all kinds of projects."

Despite the late arrangments the line up is starting to look pretty powerful.

Chris Rice
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Chris Rice » Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:40 pm


Chris Rice
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Chris Rice » Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:22 am

It appears that under the new regime the Dress Code will be just as important as it ever was judging by the latest press release from FIDE. Interesting that "Any requests to wear national or traditional dress must be approved by the Chief Arbiter" is highlighted though.

Roger de Coverly
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Roger de Coverly » Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:42 am

Chris Rice wrote:
Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:22 am
It appears that under the new regime the Dress Code will be just as important as it ever was
Whose pet obsession is it?

Nick Grey
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Nick Grey » Sun Dec 23, 2018 12:54 pm

Think of the practicalities of a jacket sleeve knocking over pieces. Looking forward to all the action replays & disputes (rather than blitz games themselves).

An appropriate plain t-shirt, on plain short sleeve shirt ought to be fine.

Even in football top level you can wear short or long sleeves with the weather conditions.

NickFaulks
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by NickFaulks » Sun Dec 23, 2018 3:44 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote:
Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:42 am
Chris Rice wrote:
Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:22 am
It appears that under the new regime the Dress Code will be just as important as it ever was
Whose pet obsession is it?
There will be cameras, and they just don't want top chess players to look like a bunch of derilects. You and I may question why that matters, but the sponsors have that right.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a QR code stamped on a human face — forever.

Nick Grey
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Nick Grey » Sun Dec 23, 2018 5:17 pm

I have got no issues. More at home we do not want others to bring in food and drink not purchased at our venue. A reminder to dress appropriately.
Perhaps some sound detectors, scanners & big brother observation to those using tablets. And help from care services as some players are not very steady to handle pieces as well as seeming to be deaf or ignorant of the rules and conduct requirements of our so called sport.

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