e2e4 Maximum Bonus

[Sean Hewitt]

I've decided to introduce this special prize in recognition of how difficult and unusual scoring maximum points at an e2e4 event is. Therefore:-

Any player scoring 5/5 in an e2e4 event will share the e2e4 maximum bonus. This will start as £100 at Brighton and will increase by £100 per event until it is won. It will then revert to £100 for the next event and so on.

[Sean Hewitt]

Both players on 4/4 have drawn this afternoon, so this will roll over and £200 will be on offer at High Wycombe in March.

[Tristan Clayton]

When I saw this prize announced earlier it got me thinking...

If this jackpot rolls over enough times, might there be an incentive for two players on 4/4 to collude and produce a decisive result, having agreed to split the prize? Perhaps the risk of the 'winner' reneging on the deal would prevent such an agreement, and I doubt it would be legally enforceable should that happen.

(I was also wondering if there are any "theoretical losses' - plausible losing lines that could be wheeled out for such an occasion in the same way 'grandmaster draws' frequently are?)

Great weekend of chess, as usual, Sean. Please never stop coming to Brighton!

[Sean Hewitt]

When I saw this prize announced earlier it got me thinking...

If this jackpot rolls over enough times, might there be an incentive for two players on 4/4 to collude and produce a decisive result, having agreed to split the prize? Perhaps the risk of the 'winner' reneging on the deal would prevent such an agreement, and I doubt it would be legally enforceable should that happen.

(I was also wondering if there are any "theoretical losses' - plausible losing lines that could be wheeled out for such an occasion in the same way 'grandmaster draws' frequently are?)

Great weekend of chess, as usual, Sean. Please never stop coming to Brighton!

That's always possible even now, where outright first for one may be better than a multiple tie for both. Whilst the possibility you suggest is there, from my point of view a £500 / £600 payout on top of first prize is great publicity! However, I don't want things to get silly and so, if the prize is not won by the time Brighton comes around next year it will be rolled into the prize money available there which will hopefully make the Brighton weekend even more popular!

[Kevin Thurlow]

"If this jackpot rolls over enough times, might there be an incentive for two players on 4/4 to collude and produce a decisive result, having agreed to split the prize?"

My sources inform me that the above scenario has happened a number of times before. However, in one event (20+ years ago) a father and son had to play on top board in the last round, and the winner was so worried that people would think it a fix that he handed his score sheet to the arbiter so that they could see it was a proper game! Now that many tournament games are published, it might be more noticeable if someone throws a game - of course anyone can blunder.

[Paolo Casaschi]

I've decided to introduce this special prize in recognition of how difficult and unusual scoring maximum points at an e2e4 event is. Therefore:-

Any player scoring 5/5 in an e2e4 event will share the e2e4 maximum bonus. This will start as £100 at Brighton and will increase by £100 per event until it is won. It will then revert to £100 for the next event and so on.

Excellent idea, I would have used the "e2e4 Jackpot Rollover" label though, it makes you think about becoming a millionaire

[Ian Kingston]

I've decided to introduce this special prize in recognition of how difficult and unusual scoring maximum points at an e2e4 event is. Therefore:-

Any player scoring 5/5 in an e2e4 event will share the e2e4 maximum bonus. This will start as £100 at Brighton and will increase by £100 per event until it is won. It will then revert to £100 for the next event and so on.

Excellent idea, I would have used the "e2e4 Jackpot Rollover" label though, it makes you think about becoming a millionaire

Only 9999 more events to go then.

More seriously: what about the seven-round (or longer) events? Can the prize be won by someone who scores five points from the first five rounds of a longer event?

[kishanpattni]

Just when I was giving up on prize money by playing in opens to improve my chess!!!