London Chess Classic 2011

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Was looking through the list of entries for the London Chess Classic tournaments:

http://www.londonchessclassic.com/festival_entries.htm

The FIDE Open has 200 entries at the moment (13 GMs, 22 IMs, 16 FMs).

Looking at last year's list:

http://www.londonchessclassic.com/2010/ ... ntries.htm

That says "@ 6th December", but I'm assuming it is the complete list of those who entered, there were 166 players in the FIDE Open last year, so looks like this year is going to be bigger than last year.

I also noticed a "Sir Ralph Kohn" listed in those registered to play in the Korchnoi simuls, presumably this Ralph Kohn:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Kohn

Was also wondering how many people from this forum are likely to be there? I'll be there most days (when not doing other things) and am playing in the weekend tournament on the second weekend (I only entered yesterday, so my name isn't up there yet).

[Roger de Coverly]

The FIDE Open has 200 entries at the moment (13 GMs, 22 IMs, 16 FMs).

It's a better tournament this year.

Points in favour
(1) No double round day
(2) The same schedule (almost) every day
(3) Saturday to Sunday format means you can use a weekly season ticket for seven of the nine rounds.

Although standard elsewhere, many of the British players will have no experience of the 90/40 + 30 format combined with the thirty second increment.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Was also wondering how many people from this forum are likely to be there?

I'm playing.

[Paolo Casaschi]

Was also wondering how many people from this forum are likely to be there? I'll be there most days (when not doing other things) and am playing in the weekend tournament on the second weekend (I only entered yesterday, so my name isn't up there yet).

I'll play the FIDE Open (I registered late last week and my name is not yet in the participant list).

Paolo

[Adam Raoof]

I will be co-ordinating the 'side events' with Alex McFarlane and Lara Barnes....

[Alex Holowczak]

I will be co-ordinating the 'side events' with Alex McFarlane and Lara Barnes....

Really? I thought you were the Organiser of those events, and they were two of your team of Arbiters? I didn't realise they were also Organisers?

[Adam Raoof]

I will be co-ordinating the 'side events' with Alex McFarlane and Lara Barnes....

Really? I thought you were the Organiser of those events, and they were two of your team of Arbiters? I didn't realise they were also Organisers?

If it makes you happier, I will be organising the 'side events' with a team of arbiters including Alex McFarlane and Lara Barnes.... (!)

[Alex McFarlane]

And I will be doing the best I can to ensure a good event despite my line manager being unwilling to express faith in me on a public forum!!

[Alex Holowczak]

I will be co-ordinating the 'side events' with Alex McFarlane and Lara Barnes....

Really? I thought you were the Organiser of those events, and they were two of your team of Arbiters? I didn't realise they were also Organisers?

If it makes you happier, I will be organising the 'side events' with a team of arbiters including Alex McFarlane and Lara Barnes.... (!)

The word "co-ordinating" confused me; it doesn't take much...

I will be there in my regular role of part-arbiter, part-inputter, part-ne'erdowell...

[Carl Hibbard]

And I will be doing the best I can to ensure a good event despite my line manager being unwilling to express faith in me on a public forum!!

This is pushing both your point and your luck a little too far Alex

[Tristan Clayton]

I'll be there, for the first time for the whole tournament. My objectives, in decreasing order of likelihood are:

1. To avoid disgracing myself in the Open
2. To stop dropping rating points like cut-price confetti
3. To qualify for next year's main event

Frankly I wouldn't rush down Ladbrokes to put money on any of them.

[Steve Veasey]

I am probably reading this completely wrong, but on the website it appears that the Classic is played over 9 rounds, but there are only 9 players...Is there a surprise last minute entrant?

Edit: Doh, obviously only 4 pairings play on each day, I'm used to even numbered events!

[Roger de Coverly]

The FIDE Open has 200 entries at the moment (13 GMs, 22 IMs, 16 FMs).

With the field widely spread by rating and probably more entries to come, are we looking at accelerated pairings?

[Alex McFarlane]

Not to my knowledge. All draws done by SwissMaster.

[John McKenna]

I think the idea is to have one elite player free each day, perhaps in order to join the commentary team.
International tournaments are often an odd number of rounds but the origin of that escapes me. Except to say an even no. player all-play-all (or 'round robin', and where did that expression come from?) is bound to be an odd no. of rounds.
PS For prompt answers to questions on the Classic it may be better to post in the 'London Chess Classic 2011' thread (in General Chat).