British Chess Championships 2011

[Justin Hadi]

Good to see Chessbase getting in on the act. Has there been any coverage on TV/radio?

[Carl Hibbard]

A quick draw tomorrow on one do we think?

[LozCooper]

Players in contention for norms:

GM norm possibles (2600 perf):

Jonathan Hawkins 2526 Probably needs 2/2

IM norms (2450 perf):

Ryan Rhys Griffiths 2391 prob needs 2/2
James Adair 2390 prob 2/2

WIM norm (2250 perf):

Maria Yurenok 2208 prob needs 1.5/2

[LozCooper]

A quick draw tomorrow on one do we think?

I'd be very surprised if it's a quick draw but I expect a draw based on previous results.

[Peter Sharpe]

The first time I played in a BCF tournament was in the week two (morning) that was won by Robert Willmoth at Brighton in 1984. I also played at Edinburgh in 1985 and at Plymouth in 1989. I would watch the second week of the British Chess Championships with interest during the afternoons (less so at Plymouth as I was staying over at a friend's who doesn't play chess). I attended some days watching the 1996 BCC at Nottingham and played in the Rapidplay. Living near Sheffield, I was able to watch this year's BCC every day (in the evening for the first week and in the afternoons this week as I am on holiday from work) except last Wednesday (my son's football training evening). I always find watching BCC games enjoyable. I have noticed some similarities and differences between the 1984 BCC and this year's. Peter Wells and Stuart Conquest always seem to fall into time trouble (with mixed results at the end) but no Will Watson this year - as I remember, he usually had 20 moves left to make with only about two or three minutes left in his clock (but he would often find brilliant moves or a mating combination with so little time left!). Mark Hebden still plays quickly and never seems to fall into time trouble (Julian Hodgson was another player that played fast too). What about the differences? I think there were more BCC participants that dressed scruffily or wore loud T shirts in 1984 and 1985 and this year there are more players who dress smartly (a few wear suits - I can't remember which players wore suits in 1984 or 1985) or dressed in a reasonably fashionable sense. I wonder how many players have played in every BCC since I saw my first one in 1984? Is Kevin of the Teachers still playing chess? I don't know him personally but I do remember what he looked like (he played in supporting events in 84,85 and 96) and his name on the list of participants probably attracted attention to the readers (who were puzzled as to why he had a name like that)

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Is Kevin of the Teachers still playing chess? I don't know him personally but I do remember what he looked like (he played in supporting events in 84,85 and 96) and his name on the list of participants probably attracted attention to the readers (who were puzzled as to why he had a name like that)"

He has kept quite a low profile since this.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/se ... 61944.html

[Andrew Camp]

Chessbase mid-way report:

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7425

Looks like there's an Under 8 who is barely big enough to see the pieces playing the Sniper! Anyone know who he is (not that I know who any Under 8's are) ?

Tai Remus Elliot.

I played him in a tournament last year and he terrified the life out of me.

[James Byrne]

...

[PaulTalbot]

If the Bobby Fischer of 39 years ago was playing in this years British Chess Championships, how many points do people think he would finish on, and who, if anyone, would he drop points to?

[Mick Norris]

If the Bobby Fischer of 39 years ago was playing in this years British Chess Championships, how many points do people think he would finish on, and who, if anyone, would he drop points to?

Nil - he'd walk out over the pairing system, lighting, sharing the building with the swimmers, distance from the spectators or something like that

[Andrew Stone]

If there's anyone involved with organising the event here, can you please try and make sure the sound is working today. Adams vs Short is the 1 game in the tournament I'd really like to be able to hear commentary on. Thanks.

I'd second that. I know it's free and there is a limited budget but when sound got fixed yesterday it seemed a relatively simple (for a techie) operation.

[Peter Sharpe]

"Is Kevin of the Teachers still playing chess? I don't know him personally but I do remember what he looked like (he played in supporting events in 84,85 and 96) and his name on the list of participants probably attracted attention to the readers (who were puzzled as to why he had a name like that)"

He has kept quite a low profile since this.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/se ... 61944.html

Thanks for the link, Kevin. I now understand why he had that name. Not surprised he has been keeping a low profile since. I played a match against Brian Eley in the late 1980s in the Doncaster Chess League (the game ended in a draw- my claim to my chess fame is that I drew in a match against the 1972 British Champion).Brian has "disappeared" for some years

[PaulTalbot]

If the Bobby Fischer of 39 years ago was playing in this years British Chess Championships, how many points do people think he would finish on, and who, if anyone, would he drop points to?

Nil - he'd walk out over the pairing system, lighting, sharing the building with the swimmers, distance from the spectators or something like that

Yes you're probably right but I was meaning if he actually played. How do you think he would actually fare against the likes of Adams, Short & Howell? My personal opinion is he'd get 11/11

[Matthew Turner]

If we assume Fischer's rating was 2800 then statistically he would expect to get 2.75 against the top 4. Could anybody else take points off him? Well I suspect that the effect of computers and the development of theory would mean that he could could drop further points. I think 9 or perhaps 9.5 would be a more realistic prediction.

[PaulTalbot]

If the Bobby Fischer of 39 years ago was playing in this years British Chess Championships, how many points do people think he would finish on, and who, if anyone, would he drop points to?

Nil - he'd walk out over the pairing system, lighting, sharing the building with the swimmers, distance from the spectators or something like that

A lot of Fischerites think he would win now, while he is dead, he was that good.

I've just remembered: about 7 or 8 years ago a rumour went round the Atherton Chess Club that Nigel Short had played Fischer on the Internet Chess Club and got absolutely trounced. I don't know how much truth there was in the rumour but apparently Short didn't win a game, and the score when this illusive opponent left was 6-0. Perhaps if Nigel reads this he might be kind enough to enlighten us.