British Chess Championships 2010

[Adam Raoof]

Entries as at 26th May

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP (18 players)
ADAMS, Michael, 2697g; PERT, Richard G, 2457m; GREET, Andrew N, 2433m; SLAVIN, Alexei, 2368f; LITTLEWOOD, Paul E, 2361m; CONSTANTINOU, Peter, 2302f; RUDD, Jack, 2267m; ADDISON, Brett, 2235; CHAPMAN, Terry PD, 2231; HELBIG, Paul, 2165; GOODGER, Martyn, 2141; JOSSE, Mark, 2096; SENIOR, Gary, 2069; FEGAN, Chris, 2055; MACKLE, Dominic, 2021; VRUBL, Jaroslav, 2019; COMBIE, Alexander, 1983; DINES, Sheila J, 1931;

Is that right? Only 18 entrants, and no GMs apart from Mickey?

This is out of date (see date) and at least Peter Wells to be added to that list.

[Carl Hibbard]

No Keith Arkell or Mark Hebden at this point - you going?

[Gareth Harley-Yeo]

There seem to me more GM's coming to Wales than playing in the British!

The 7th SOUTH WALES INTERNATIONAL OPEN
10th – 15th July 2010

Titled Entrants so far:

GM K.Arkell ENG
GM P.Wells ENG
GM K.Rusev BUL
GM V.Georgiev MAC
IM J.Rudd ENG
IM P.Marusenko UKR

[benedgell]

There are a couple more people who have entered who aren't included on that list (I'm assuming Phil has either entered now, or is about to enter, and Alan Pleasants from Weymouth has entered). I'd also be surprised if there weren't a few late entries.

That being said it's only natural that if the British isn't able to offer conditions to titled players then they'll go to other tournaments where they can get them. And as Matthew said above, hopefully the work CJ has put into next year's Championships will attract some sponsors so that its possible to offer conditions.

[Matthew Turner]

Carl,
If that question is for me, then I am going back to the Arctic Circle. That is not based on a financial consideration, but it is probably a better financial option than playing at the British. I would expect Keith Arkell not to play in Canterbury, after all he travelled to the British in Nottingham most days, but didn't play, because there were no conditions. Mark Hebden is a different matter because he would dearly love to win the British and perversely he might see Mickey's participation as an advantage if it scares off a lot of leading players.

[Adam Raoof]

No Keith Arkell or Mark Hebden at this point - you going?

And if the question is for me - I will be going, but only on the Saturday 31st for the ECF meeting. That usually takes all day ;-(

Some GMs were under the impression that there was money available for conditions, and that it had all been spent on Mickey. Now I have categorically assured them that is not the case, I hope they will enter.

[Phil Makepeace]

Phil I'm not 100% sure how available these are but would assume there will be a charge. I know there will be a charge on the control team for a wifi connection.

Thanks for the response -obviously I'll wait for further news on this. If the cluster rooms are available at a lowish price over the fortnight, I'll probably get involved. I'd rather avoid bringing a laptop, it's just something else to worry about. The only other time I played in the main Championship in 2007 I was staying at a friend's house, so this wasn't an issue. Of course, I could just not prepare...

MiFi (look at three.co.uk for offers) is my favourite wireless wifi hub, though not the cheapest - it means that several people can share the wifi and share the cost!

I'm on 3 and get calls asking me to consider purchasing a dongle roughly once a month. Perhaps I'll actually oblige them this time, though it's likely I'd only ever use it at Canterbury and the 4NCL; all of the libraries, coffee shops and lecture theatres I use for academic stuff tend to have free Wi-Fi.

[Carl Hibbard]

I know there will be a charge on the control team for a wifi connection.

A tad naughty to charge for that given the venue in question, if I go I will "encourage" it to work whilst there

[David Gilbert]

The entry list for Canterbury is a tad slow refreshing. The latest update is still for 26 May 2010 and 208 entries. Surely the postman has delivered a few more entries in the meantime? If this was e2e4 website updates would occur instantaneously. Can things move a bit faster?

I’d be interested to hear from people who know about grading how ungraded players should be assessed for British Championship events. Is it okay for a player who’s latest published ECF grade was 176 in 2006 to enter the U150 Soanes weekender with an estimated grade of 145? And whether a 2007 old money grade of 131 should be eligible to enter the U140 (formerly U-125) graded event with an estimated grade of 131? How does it work? Is their any guidance?

[Alex Holowczak]

I’d be interested to hear from people who know about grading how ungraded players should be assessed for British Championship events. Is it okay for a player who’s latest published ECF grade was 176 in 2006 to enter the U150 Soanes weekender with an estimated grade of 145? And whether a 2007 old money grade of 131 should be eligible to enter the U140 (formerly U-125) graded event with an estimated grade of 131? How does it work? Is their any guidance?

As someone who has lost that many games this season that he can hope to play in the U150 Soanes weekender - no!

Seriously, there is a formula on the ECF website for old/new conversion: new = 0.81 x old + 43 -> http://grading.bcfservices.org.uk/newgrades.php

If your old grade was 176, then: 176*0.81 + 43 = 185

So I'd say there was absolutely no way at all you can get into the U150.

Similarly, 131*0.81 + 43 = 149

So again, probably not. More likely to get in with this one though.

[Jon Mahony]

According to the latest ECF newsletter the BBC are making an hour long film about this years championships, to be broadcast early next year.

Unfortunately they are focusing it on junior players (not that there’s anything wrong with them per-say!) I suppose because it appeals to the mainstream more, but personally I’d sooner see more time given to the build up for the established Masters who will be there.

[Alex Holowczak]

Unfortunately they are focusing it on junior players (not that there’s anything wrong with them per-say!) I suppose because it appeals to the mainstream more, but personally I’d sooner see more time given to the build up for the established Masters who will be there.

Focussing on juniors is a good thing. Juniors watching other juniors will potentially inspire juniors to take part. Even slightly older players will be impressed. Seeing established masters will not. (Of course, David Howell is ideal as he fits in both categories.)

[Jon Mahony]

Unfortunately they are focusing it on junior players (not that there’s anything wrong with them per-say!) I suppose because it appeals to the mainstream more, but personally I’d sooner see more time given to the build up for the established Masters who will be there.

Focussing on juniors is a good thing. Juniors watching other juniors will potentially inspire juniors to take part. Even slightly older players will be impressed. Seeing established masters will not. (Of course, David Howell is ideal as he fits in both categories.)

Seeing GM’s always impresses me But yes I see what your saying - watching juniors playing will inspire other kids to take Chess up and Britain gets more players, which is always a good thing.

I’d be very surprised if David Howell doesn’t get any screen time, he is quite charismatic (for a Chess player!) and as you say fits both categories.

[Stewart Reuben]

Let us postulate as an approximation there will be 400 tournament entries for the British Chess Championships by 28 June. Then it will rise to 600-800 by 5 June (the first penalty fee date) and then to 700-900 by 19 July (the second penalty fee date) and 800-1000 including all entrants at the event. I guess there will be 900+ entrants.
Neville Belinfante would have more accurate demographics (I was somewhat busy last year and my memory is fallible).
I expect David Howell to defend his title.

Stewart Reuben

[Sean Hewitt]

Entries as at 26th May

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP (18 players)
ADAMS, Michael, 2697g; PERT, Richard G, 2457m; GREET, Andrew N, 2433m; SLAVIN, Alexei, 2368f; LITTLEWOOD, Paul E, 2361m; CONSTANTINOU, Peter, 2302f; RUDD, Jack, 2267m; ADDISON, Brett, 2235; CHAPMAN, Terry PD, 2231; HELBIG, Paul, 2165; GOODGER, Martyn, 2141; JOSSE, Mark, 2096; SENIOR, Gary, 2069; FEGAN, Chris, 2055; MACKLE, Dominic, 2021; VRUBL, Jaroslav, 2019; COMBIE, Alexander, 1983; DINES, Sheila J, 1931;

Is that right? Only 18 entrants, and no GMs apart from Mickey?

This is out of date (see date) and at least Peter Wells to be added to that list.

Not according to the official website Adam

Entrants

225 @ 8th June. Ratings from FIDE 1st March 2010.

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP (19 players)
ADAMS, Michael, 2697g; PERT, Richard G, 2457m; GREET, Andrew N, 2433m; SLAVIN, Alexei, 2368f; LITTLEWOOD, Paul E, 2361m; CONSTANTINOU, Peter, 2302f; RUDD, Jack, 2267m; ADDISON, Brett, 2235; CHAPMAN, Terry PD, 2231; HELBIG, Paul, 2165; RICH, Mark C, 2151; GOODGER, Martyn, 2141; JOSSE, Mark, 2096; SENIOR, Gary, 2069; FEGAN, Chris, 2055; MACKLE, Dominic, 2021; VRUBL, Jaroslav, 2019; COMBIE, Alexander, 1983; DINES, Sheila J, 1931;