I suggested that two or three years ago. However, the schedule is very tight, as the playing room has to be cleared and prepared for the dinner (which takes place in the same room). The organisers are concerned that a very long game (such as you've occasionally had at the e2e4 events) could give rise to problems.Sean Hewitt wrote:Maybe they should use increments?
I can endorse all of the above; at Warwick we struggled to find four or five competent organisers, never mind 22. The then Cambridge president was enthusiastic about entering the 2007 BUCA tournament, but unfortunately couldn't find enough players who shared his enthusiasm; as you say, this is a problem common to most universities, and Cambridge was one of a dozen or so which went the same way. They were at least an improvement on Oxford that year, who didn't respond to my emails at all. As far as I can find the last time Cambridge did play in a national university tournament (not strictly BUCA, since the organisation was defunct at that point and tournaments were organised informally) was in 2002, when they came fourth.Alex Holowczak wrote:Cambridge were not being arrogant. I asked them about their internal chess league. They explained that they had 22 teams playing in three divisions, and that despite the best efforts of the main organisers, it had basically fallen apart. Boards being defaulted, matches being defaulted. Whilst being 22 teams, there aren't 22 competent organisers. In my experience of University-level chess, this isn't very surprising. So essentially, they'd been far more concerned about that not being rubbish, and getting it on track. They were very aware of the BUCA tournament - just too late to do anything about it. They tried to get a team together, but students couldn't commit to the dates. (Strangely, they could commit to the Varsity event...) This isn't Cambridge-specific though; every Uni has that problem. "That's a really good idea/competition ... wait, you want us to play in it?"
Not sure where you get that idea from (about 4NCL participation). It depends what you mean by "contemporary", I suppose.Jonathan Rogers wrote:Don't know about that. A grand total of one member of their team (their top board) actually plays for Cambridge in 4NCL! There is a genuine (contemporary) link between the Oxford 4NCL team and their University side, though.
Thanks for the report, John. It was good to see the college of each participant listed, and I learnt something today about the graduate colleges of Oxford!John Saunders wrote:Match finished 4.5-3.5 to Oxford.
Go to http://www.bcmchess.co.uk/news/varsity2011.html for results and a link to the games.
Can I ask where you are getting this information from? The bit I snipped (about the internal league) was interesting to hear, and it is good to hear that they are concentrating on getting that sorted. The numbers of current students and alumni is something that can't really be commented on without actually looking at the numbers involved and asking players from both teams when they were at either university (or in some cases, never at either university). You would also need to ask the captains of each team how things actually work.Alex Holowczak wrote:As for their 4NCL team, it is true that most of them are alumni. Not that there's anything stopping that, of course! Some current students play in their lower team. Cambridge University funds all of that though, despite very few of them being students. I dread to think what would happen if they lost their funding.
Yes, you can ask. I spoke to the Cambridge President (Alexander Gordon-Brown), and that was what he told me.Christopher Kreuzer wrote:Can I ask where you are getting this information from?Alex Holowczak wrote:As for their 4NCL team, it is true that most of them are alumni. Not that there's anything stopping that, of course! Some current students play in their lower team. Cambridge University funds all of that though, despite very few of them being students. I dread to think what would happen if they lost their funding.
Cambridge University funds all of the entry fee, and puts some other contribution towards the team. This was discussed in the same conversation I had with the Cambridge President.Christopher Kreuzer wrote:One thing I can say is wrong in Alex's post is the comment that "Cambridge University funds all of that".
and following from last Monday my number of simuls there must be approaching double figures. Each time lavishly wined and dined and each time great fun. I still have a tatty piece of paper, dating back to the days of Kieran Smallbone, which says I'm an honorary member of the club. Wonder if I could use it to get cheap drinks in the Student Union Bar?Just as long as you don't play for them in the Oxfordshire League tonight. I was supposed to be playing against Oxford University last Monday as well but my opponent didn't turn up - I wonder if he decided to play in your simul instead?Keith Arkell wrote:Congrats to Oxford!
I don't just give my simuls at any old university
Ray grew up in Lancashire (in fact he played for them in a county final against Yorkshire in 2009), but he's never mentioned being a teacher there. He's not one now. He's about 55 years old, if that helps.Mick Norris wrote:Did your board 4 used to teach maths in Preston?
Clearly you chose the right place for your simul.Keith Arkell wrote:I don't just give my simuls at any old university
Well you've got more proof of your club membership than I have, then!Keith Arkell wrote:I still have a tatty piece of paper, dating back to the days of Kieran Smallbone, which says I'm an honorary member of the club. Wonder if I could use it to get cheap drinks in the Student Union Bar?
Given that we were missing three of our regular top four (Ravi, Robbie and Ed) for that match, I think we could have done with Keith turning out for us in that fixture. Probably still would have lost it, though!Jon D'Souza-Eva wrote:Just as long as you don't play for them in the Oxfordshire League tonight. I was supposed to be playing against Oxford University last Monday as well but my opponent didn't turn up - I wonder if he decided to play in your simul instead?
Your opponent, as I gather it, was late and missed the bus down to the venue. He did not then decide to come and play in the simul!It's a well known rule that if you ask four (or more) student chess players to take public transport to an away match, then no matter how clear your directions as to the time and place of departure, at least one of them will miss it! I must admit that on one occasion the one in question was meEoin Devane wrote:Your opponent, as I gather it, was late and missed the bus down to the venue. He did not then decide to come and play in the simul!
Why are students so bad at this sort of thing? After all, these people are meant to be the highly-skilled elite of the next generation. Particularly at Oxford! Yet they don't have the practical skills to get to a bus stop on time?Michael Jones wrote:It's a well known rule that if you ask four (or more) student chess players to take public transport to an away match, then no matter how clear your directions as to the time and place of departure, at least one of them will miss it! I must admit that on one occasion the one in question was meEoin Devane wrote:Your opponent, as I gather it, was late and missed the bus down to the venue. He did not then decide to come and play in the simul!
