SO WHO'S GOING TO SHEFFIELD? I AM!

[Alex McFarlane]

The final round of the Championship taking place on the last Saturday has been considered for the reasons stated.

I have long thought that the Sunday rest day was a little odd. Having said that, if you want weekend events (rapidplay in particular) then there are logistical problems.

Like most things there is no simple answer.

[cjdemooi]

Mickey is up to 2729.4 (world #17) on the live ratings list and Nigel is about 2697.5 (#48) so today's result could be huge for both of them. However, I also expect a draw unless an uncontrollable blood lust takes over...

[Jonathan Bryant]

Like most things there is no simple answer.

Oh for sure, and I also appreciate there are also financial implications of changing the main event that can't just be ignored.

Essentially, though, what I'd like to see is making the main event as good as possible given a priority that it doesn't currently have. At the moment it seems to be bent this way and that to make the rest of the festival work (or to please congresses as you mentioned in another post). I understand why the situation arose, but it does rather feel to me as if the tail has come to wag the dog.

Especially this year, we have a very good product to 'sell'. Why not capitalise on that as much as possible?

[Alex McFarlane]

I know this sounds like the tail wagging the dog even more but I believe that if the Major Open was a more attractive event then some of the players currently in the Championship would prefer the option of playing there.

For next year the restriction on players who have qualified for the British being banned from the Major Open will be relaxed. We are also trying to encourage a greater number of foreign players to compete in the MO. The venue next year means that Dutch players will have easy access. I am looking at one or two other possibilities to attract a wider participation.

[Mick Norris]

I know this sounds like the tail wagging the dog even more but I believe that if the Major Open was a more attractive event then some of the players currently in the Championship would prefer the option of playing there.

For next year the restriction on players who have qualified for the British being banned from the Major Open will be relaxed. We are also trying to encourage a greater number of foreign players to compete in the MO. The venue next year means that Dutch players will have easy access. I am looking at one or two other possibilities to attract a wider participation.

Alex

Is the format fixed for 2012 - I assume the venue has been booked for the usual period, but wondered if we were wasting time discussing changes for then?

[Mick Norris]

Personally I would recommend there be no major structural change until after 2013, which will be the 100th British Chess Championships.

No change until 2014 then? Celebrate the 100th by having, er, exactly the same format as the last x years?

How about making the 100th special by changing the format? A one-off British where entry is restricted to previous winners only, with everyone else shipped into a ramped up Major Open

No idea how many would play, but maybe there could be APA groups like the US Championships followed by semis and a final (better formats are available, no doubt)

[Alex McFarlane]

The idea of allowing all previous Champions to take part in 2013 is on the table. Obviously trying to do something special in 2013 is being considered but I would think that any major reforms will not take place until 2014.

There is also the possibility that 2014 could be something different entirely with major restructuring in 2015. Sorry I can't be more specific at the moment.

[Alex Holowczak]

The idea of allowing all previous Champions to take part in 2013 is on the table.

Does that include the winners from the Commonwealth?

[Alex McFarlane]

Probably Not

[Paul Cooksey]

The idea of allowing all previous Champions to take part in 2013 is on the table.

Does that include the winners from the Commonwealth?

Probably Not

Subset issue

[Mark Howitt]

The Commonwealth players have leached enough from British chess- it was clear for years beforehand via petition that they should be banned.

[IM Jack Rudd]

The Commonwealth players have leached enough from British chess- it was clear for years beforehand via petition that they should be banned.

I remember that petition. As I recall, I Declared An Interest.

[Mark Howitt]

Mhm- hundreds of British players declared an interest in having Commonwealth players banned yet it still took the then BCF years to do anything about it. Maybe they should go chasing the Indians for some membership fees to make up for the prizes they took away?

[IM Jack Rudd]

Mhm- hundreds of British players declared an interest in having Commonwealth players banned...

Not that sort of declaration of interest; I used the term as it is used in a political sense - I stated that I had something to gain or lose from this proposition's passing, and I therefore felt it inappropriate to vote on it.

[Matt Mackenzie]

So what was the "final score" in terms of entries??