Hastings International Chess Congress 2010-11

[Simon Ansell]

That might well be true, I didn't look at it in any detail. It's a pretty amazing defence in any case. Probably Black had something cleaner some moves before.

[LozCooper]

Round 6 results:

Table White Score Fed. Rating Black Score Fed. Rating Result

1 GM HOWELL, David W L 5.0 ENG 2611 GM EDOUARD, Romain 4.0 FRA 2636 0-1
2 GM GORMALLY, Daniel W 4.0 ENG 2470 GM ISTRATESCU, Andrei 4.0 ROU 2616 ½-½
3 GM HEBDEN, Mark L 4.0 ENG 2560 IM SHYAM, Sundar M 4.0 IND 2439 0-1
4 IM PRASANNA, Rao 4.0 IND 2400 IM BATES, Richard A 4.0 ENG 2370 1-0
5 FM DRUCKENTHANER, Andreas 3.5 AUT 2306 GM KOTRONIAS, Vasilios 3.5 GRE 2591 0-1
6 GRIFFITHS, Ryan Rhys 3.5 IRL 2267 GM NEVEROV, Valeriy 3.5 UKR 2522 ½-½
7 IM DAS Arghyadip 3.5 IND 2476 FM ASHTON, Adam G 3.5 ENG 2330 ½-½
8 CHKARTINA, Gerhana 3.5 INA 2014 IM RENDLE, Thomas E 3.5 ENG 2400 0-1
9 IM BELLIN, Robert 3.5 ENG 2367 FM EGGLESTON, David J 3.5 ENG 2307 ½-½
10 IM RUDD, Jack 3.0 ENG 2253 GM SENGUPTA, Deep 3.0 IND 2558 0-1
11 IM PERT, Richard G 3.0 ENG 2464 SNAPE, Ian L 3.0 ENG 2228 ½-½
12 FM FURMAN, Boris 3.0 RUS 2253 IM RAMNATH, Bhuvanesh R 3.0 IND 2427 ½-½
13 ANWESH, Upadhyaya 3.0 IND 2426 IM MARUSENKO, Petr 3.0 UKR 2206 1-0
14 FM RAMONDINO, Renzo 3.0 ITA 2257 IM WOHL, Aleksandar H 3.0 AUS 2424 0-1
15 GRANT, Alan G 3.0 SCO 2219 IM SWAPNIL, S Dhopade 3.0 IND 2409 ½-½
16 LOCK, Gavin R 3.0 ENG 2182 IM KNOTT, Simon J B 3.0 ENG 2333 ½-½
17 FM ZHOU, Yang-Fan 3.0 ENG 2326 HANSSEN, Gunnar Berg 3.0 NOR 2218 0-1
18 FM RADOVANOVIC, Jovica 3.0 SRB 2276 ROYSET, Paal 3.0 NOR 2171 1-0
19 ROLVAG, Mikael 3.0 NOR 2179 FM KAUFELD, Juergen 3.0 GER 2270 ½-½
20 SERGIENKO, Vladislav 3.0 UKR 2133 FM LEDGER, Dave J 3.0 ENG 2261 1-0
21 DE COVERLY, Roger D 2.5 ENG 2091 IM SALOV, Sergej 2.5 GER 2294 0-1
22 ROLVAAG, Birk Anders 2.5 NOR 1917 FM EAMES, Robert S 2.5 ENG 2275 0-1
23 KULKARNI, Chinmay 2.5 IND 2275 WFM HEGARTY, Sarah N 2.5 ENG 2080 ½-½
24 COATES, David H 2.5 ENG 2067 CM KWIATKOWSKI, Feliks J 2.5 ENG 2246 ½-½
25 MALHOTRA, Tarun 2.5 ENG 1913 SPENCE, David J 2.5 ENG 2237 ½-½
26 FM BRITTON, Richard L 2.5 ENG 2229 LENIER, Jude 2.5 ENG 2006 1-0
27 JAUNOOBY, Ali R 2.5 ENG 2207 SREEVES, Clement 2.5 SCO 2104 0-1
28 FRANKLIN, Samuel G A 2.5 ENG 2185 ZHU, Yao Yao 2.5 CHN 1994 * ½-½
29 JACKSON, James P 2.5 ENG 2146 BREMNER, Adam 2.5 SCO 1912 * 1-0
30 ALMOND, Richard J 2.5 ENG 2145 KELLY, Paul J 2.5 WLS 1946 * ½-½
31 HELBIG, Paul D 2.5 ENG 2115 BARTON, R Alan 2.0 ENG 2103 ½-½
32 ATAKO, Chino 2.0 ENG 2039 IM PROSVIRIAKOV, Vladimir 2.0 USA 2280 ½-½
33 WEBSTER, Richard J 2.0 ENG 1986 FM WHITE, Michael J R 2.0 ENG 2247 0-1
34 ANDERSON, John 2.0 ENG 2195 FLYNN, David 2.0 ENG 2061 1-0
35 GIBSON, Christopher A 2.0 ENG 1984 SUGDEN, John N 2.0 ENG 2193 ½-½
36 WILLIAMS, Peter A 2.0 ENG 2179 ARMSTRONG, Malcolm J 2.0 ENG 1957 1-0
37 MARZANO, Carlo 2.0 ITA 2160 JELSEN, Yemi 2.0 INA 1967 1-0
38 SIMON, Thomas 2.0 GER 1971 CM RICH, Mark C 2.0 ENG 2145 1-0
39 RAYNER, Francis 2.0 WLS 2141 MESSAM-SPARKS, Lateefah 2.0 ENG 1917 1-0
40 CAMPBELL, Eoin 2.0 SCO 1950 FM CAFFERTY, Bernard 2.0 ENG 2133 0-1
41 GREEN, Andrew D 1.5 SCO 2141 YOUNG, Mel J 1.5 ENG 1938 1-0
42 GIBBS, Dominic V 1.5 ENG 1941 KURKA, Dieter 1.5 GER 2040 0-1
43 WFM NORINKEVICIUTE, Rasa 1.5 LTU 2028 HARIA, Ravi 1.5 ENG 1952 ½-½
44 PICKERSGILL, Adrian O 1.5 ENG 2026 HOARE, Amy 1.5 ENG 1921 1-0
45 RAMSTAD, Havard 1.5 NOR 1793 * CALVERT, D Ian 1.5 ENG 1981 ½-½
46 CLAYTON, Tristan 1.0 ENG 1791 STEWART, Ashley 1.5 ENG 1980 ½-½
47 POOLEY, Mark 1.0 ENG 1778 * SPANTON, Tim R 1.0 ENG 2030 0-1
48 PLEININGER, Rudolf 1.0 SUI 1998 MACRAE, James S 1.0 SCO 1763 1-0
49 DUNLOP, Neil J 1.0 ENG 1923 SARGENT, John 1.0 HKG 1770 * 1-0
50 BRYANT, Mark 0.0 0 * TORGERSEN, Markus 0.5 NOR 1741 1-0

Draw by default QUINN, Joseph R; DALE, Hannah

[John R Moore]

Should 8 move draws be allowed as on board 2 today at Hastings??

[Alan Walton]

Unless you have the "Sofia" rules, then yes they can be allowed

The reason players do these things is to take the opportunity of a rest day, they now can come back for the last 3 games slightly rejuvenated, and able to battle harder for the more key games in the latter part of the tournament

[LozCooper]

Unless you have the "Sofia" rules, then yes they can be allowed

The reason players do these things is to take the opportunity of a rest day, they now can come back for the last 3 games slightly rejuvenated, and able to battle harder for the more key games in the latter part of the tournament

I'm sure David Howell is content to see the other 2600 halve out to move to 4.5/6

[John R Moore]

I can undestand the reasons for having a "rest day" but I just don't think it good for the image of chess to have these very short draws

[Alex Holowczak]

I can undestand the reasons for having a "rest day" but I just don't think it good for the image of chess to have these very short draws

If they're receiving conditions for their appearance, then I agree. The other way to solve the problem is not to invite them back next year.

On the other hand, if I'm the one who has to input the game into the computer, feel free to agree as many short draws as you like.

[Keith Arkell]

I can undestand the reasons for having a "rest day" but I just don't think it good for the image of chess to have these very short draws

In a perfect world I'm sure that you're right John.Let us imagine for instance that chess professionals were paid a good wage by the state (like for instance in Iceland or Sweden),or there was some system of patronage in place whereby GMs didn't have to worry where the next penny was coming from;or alternatively appearance fees and prizes were sufficiently high to guarantee a good living to people who are amongst the best in their country at what they do,then everyone could fight every game to the death and enjoy doing so because chess is such an enjoyable game to play.
In the real world unfortunately chess players are very underpaid compared to their counterparts in other activities,and so must try to optimise their chances of getting a reasonable pay day to make ends meet.From this point of view a quick draw on board 2 makes a lot of sense from both player's perspectives,given the colours and respective ratings of the players.
What I find harder to understand are the equally high number of quick draws between more modest strength players,who you would think are only there for the love of the game,and don't need to concern themselves with economics!

[John R Moore]

Hi Keith, many thanks for your comments on this issue

[LozCooper]

Pairings round 7 (Tuesday, 01 February 2011)

Table White Score Fed. Rating Black Score Fed. Rating Result

1 GM EDOUARD, Romain 5.0 FRA 2636 IM PRASANNA, Rao 5.0 IND 2400 1-0
2 IM SHYAM, Sundar M 5.0 IND 2439 GM HOWELL, David W L 5.0 ENG 2611 0.5-0.5
3 GM ISTRATESCU, Andrei 4.5 ROU 2616 GM KOTRONIAS, Vasilios 4.5 GRE 2591 1-0
4 IM RENDLE, Thomas E 4.5 ENG 2400 GM GORMALLY, Daniel W 4.5 ENG 2470 0-1
5 FM ASHTON, Adam G 4.0 ENG 2330 GM HEBDEN, Mark L 4.0 ENG 2560 0.5-0.5
6 GM SENGUPTA, Deep 4.0 IND 2558 IM BELLIN, Robert 4.0 ENG 2367 1-0
7 GM NEVEROV, Valeriy 4.0 UKR 2522 FM RADOVANOVIC, Jovica 4.0 SRB 2276 0.5-0.5
8 HANSSEN, Gunnar Berg 4.0 NOR 2218 IM DAS Arghyadip 4.0 IND 2476 0-1
9 FM EGGLESTON, David J 4.0 ENG 2307 ANWESH, Upadhyaya 4.0 IND 2426 0-1
10 IM WOHL, Aleksandar H 4.0 AUS 2424 GRIFFITHS, Ryan Rhys 4.0 IRL 2267 0-1
11 IM BATES, Richard A 4.0 ENG 2370 SERGIENKO, Vladislav 4.0 UKR 2133 1-0
12 IM RAMNATH, Bhuvanesh R 3.5 IND 2427 FM BRITTON, Richard L 3.5 ENG 2229 0.5-0.5
13 IM SWAPNIL, S Dhopade 3.5 IND 2409 LOCK, Gavin R 3.5 ENG 2182 1-0
14 IM KNOTT, Simon J B 3.5 ENG 2333 GRANT, Alan G 3.5 SCO 2219 0.5-0.5
15 SNAPE, Ian L 3.5 ENG 2228 FM DRUCKENTHANER, Andreas 3.5 AUT 2306 0-1
16 IM SALOV, Sergej 3.5 GER 2294 ROLVAG, Mikael 3.5 NOR 2179 0.5-0.5
17 FM EAMES, Robert S 3.5 ENG 2275 JACKSON, James P 3.5 ENG 2146 0-1
18 FM KAUFELD, Juergen 3.5 GER 2270 CHKARTINA, Gerhana 3.5 INA 2014 0.5-0.5
19 SREEVES, Clement 3.5 SCO 2104 FM FURMAN, Boris 3.5 RUS 2253 0.5-0.5
20 ROYSET, Paal 3.0 NOR 2171 FM ZHOU, Yang-Fan 3.0 ENG 2326 0-1
21 ALMOND, Richard J 3.0 ENG 2145 KULKARNI, Chinmay 3.0 IND 2275 0-1
22 FM LEDGER, Dave J 3.0 ENG 2261 RAYNER, Francis 3.0 WLS 2141
23 FM CAFFERTY, Bernard 3.0 ENG 2133 FM RAMONDINO, Renzo 3.0 ITA 2257
24 WFM HEGARTY, Sarah N 3.0 ENG 2080 IM RUDD, Jack 3.0 ENG 2253 0-1
25 FM WHITE, Michael J R 3.0 ENG 2247 HELBIG, Paul D 3.0 ENG 2115
26 CM KWIATKOWSKI, Feliks J 3.0 ENG 2246 SIMON, Thomas 3.0 GER 1971
27 SPENCE, David J 3.0 ENG 2237 COATES, David H 3.0 ENG 2067
28 IM MARUSENKO, Petr 3.0 UKR 2206 MALHOTRA, Tarun 3.0 ENG 1913
29 ZHU, Yao Yao 3.0 CHN 1994 * ANDERSON, John 3.0 ENG 2195
30 KELLY, Paul J 3.0 WLS 1946 * FRANKLIN, Samuel G A 3.0 ENG 2185
31 KURKA, Dieter 2.5 GER 2040 MARZANO, Carlo 3.0 ITA 2160
32 IM PROSVIRIAKOV, Vladimir 2.5 USA 2280 PICKERSGILL, Adrian O 2.5 ENG 2026
33 ATAKO, Chino 2.5 ENG 2039 JAUNOOBY, Ali R 2.5 ENG 2207
34 SUGDEN, John N 2.5 ENG 2193 QUINN, Joseph R 2.5 ENG 1815
35 LENIER, Jude 2.5 ENG 2006 GREEN, Andrew D 2.5 SCO 2141
36 BARTON, R Alan 2.5 ENG 2103 GIBSON, Christopher A 2.5 ENG 1984
37 BREMNER, Adam 2.5 SCO 1912 * DE COVERLY, Roger D 2.5 ENG 2091
38 CM RICH, Mark C 2.0 ENG 2145 STEWART, Ashley 2.0 ENG 1980
39 FLYNN, David 2.0 ENG 2061 CAMPBELL, Eoin 2.0 SCO 1950
40 SPANTON, Tim R 2.0 ENG 2030 DUNLOP, Neil J 2.0 ENG 1923
41 ARMSTRONG, Malcolm J 2.0 ENG 1957 WFM NORINKEVICIUTE, Rasa 2.0 LTU 2028
42 HARIA, Ravi 2.0 ENG 1952 PLEININGER, Rudolf 2.0 SUI 1998
43 MESSAM-SPARKS, Lateefah 2.0 ENG 1917 WEBSTER, Richard J 2.0 ENG 1986
44 JELSEN, Yemi 2.0 INA 1967 RAMSTAD, Havard 2.0 NOR 1793 *
45 CALVERT, D Ian 2.0 ENG 1981 DALE, Hannah 2.0 ENG 1790
46 YOUNG, Mel J 1.5 ENG 1938 CLAYTON, Tristan 1.5 ENG 1791
47 HOARE, Amy 1.5 ENG 1921 POOLEY, Mark 1.0 ENG 1778 *
48 MACRAE, James S 1.0 SCO 1763 SARGENT, John 1.0 HKG 1770 *

[Richard Bates]

I suspect that Istratrescu wasn't particularly happy with a draw, but had no real option but to acquiesce in the circumstances on principle. A professional player can't really go about playing inferior moves just for the sake of avoiding a draw, especially with black, unless in an absolutely must win situation. And he had no particular reason to anticipate Danny playing Nh4, which might have caused him to play a different opening ...

[Keith Arkell]

Hi John,you're welcome.

Hi Rich,in a round about way it looks like you are agreeing with some of my points. There are many interesting continuations at Black's disposal if he wants to continue the game.I have had some fascinating games(including some crushing defeats) on the White side of all of the following replies: 6...Bd7,6...Be6,6...Bg4(very unclear!),6...Bg6 and Sadler's favourite 6...e6.It can be interesting to repeat once in any case just to see what happens,but I'm not sure White stands better after at least some of these replies;and I'm certain that had Danny been a weaker player then Istratescu would have punted one of them.

[John R Moore]

Keith, as I said yesterday, I appreicate your comments and while I agree that "points make prizes" and the prize funds are really pretty poor. Being a a professional player you need to earn a living, but would you have really done the same thing and agree to an 8 move draw, bearing in mind you have a huge reputation of playing to the death and grinding out wins in long endgames.

I am only a poor lowly rated player, so your thoughts on this will be most welcome.

[Keith Arkell]

Keith, as I said yesterday, I appreicate your comments and while I agree that "points make prizes" and the prize funds are really pretty poor. Being a a professional player you need to earn a living, but would you have really done the same thing and agree to an 8 move draw, bearing in mind you have a huge reputation of playing to the death and grinding out wins in long endgames.

I am only a poor lowly rated player, so your thoughts on this will be most welcome.

I think this is a very interesting topic John (and thanks for the compliment by the way[and furthermore,though you describe yourself as a ''poor'' lowly rated player,still IMHO it's better to be ''low rated'' and enjoy chess than high rated and disillusioned with the game,as happens to some people]).

The problem,for myself and others who try hard to wring every drop of play out of every position,is one of stamina.With a game every day( and often 2 games a day these days) it is impossible to do yourself justice if you fight like this in every single game. It is therefore an unfortunate necessity to make a few quick draws,and therefore obviously it is best to make these quick draws against the players who you are least likely to be able to grind down.

In my experience,organisers are wise enough to understand this,and I certainly can't complain about the number of invitations I receive. They know that even though I may need to make some quick draws,there is still a likelihood that I will play more moves than anyone else in the tournament. A case in point was the 2010 British Championship,where despite an 11 move draw with Paul Littlewood,still I smashed the record for total moves played(over 700).

[Alex Holowczak]

In my experience,organisers are wise enough to understand this,and I certainly can't complain about the number of invitations I receive.

If this isn't too personal, what would you say your average "wage" as a chess professional was?

I assume you are paid by someone - not necessarily the organisers - for entering events like the British, along with associated prizes you win. How important are other aspects, e.g. coaching, book writing, simuls? Are they, for instance, more profitable than simply playing in lots of tournaments?