Blackpool Chess Conference

[Roger de Coverly]

I don't have any connection with this event other than as a player a couple of times.

The website and entry form are here

http://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/

from which you will see that unlike previous years, the 2009 tournaments will not be FIDE rated.

Does anybody know why?

[Matthew Turner]

I have no connection with Blackpool either. However, I think I can offer a partial explanation on the FIDE rating situation. The impetus for the event (Open + Challengers) to be FIDE rating came from David Welch. However, it created a lot of problems for the people who actually did the work! What grades should we put on wallcharts, how do we set rating bands for sections/grading prizes, what conversion factors do we use, do we treat FIDE rating differently from Scottish/Welsh rating. I assume the organisers have decided that any perceived benefits do not outweigh the considerable logistical problems.

[Tim Spanton]

I have no connection with Blackpool either. However, I think I can offer a partial explanation on the FIDE rating situation. The impetus for the event (Open + Challengers) to be FIDE rating came from David Welch. However, it created a lot of problems for the people who actually did the work! What grades should we put on wallcharts, how do we set rating bands for sections/grading prizes, what conversion factors do we use, do we treat FIDE rating differently from Scottish/Welsh rating. I assume the organisers have decided that any perceived benefits do not outweigh the considerable logistical problems.

Either that or they want to avoid encouraging people to join the ECF

[Sean Hewitt]

I think Tim's probably hit the nail on the head. As an organiser of FIDE rated weekenders I can say that none of the problems Matthew raises are issues at all.

Mind you, in my experience (surprisingly) neither is ECF membership. I get one or two entrants per event who are not members. When they are told they need to be members to play, they join. Only once has a player opted for a refund of his entry fee and withdrawn instead.

[Matthew Turner]

Sean,
The tournaments you organise are completely different to Blackpool. Imagine a section is U160. A player is ECF 155 on a D code, FIDE 1955 and Scottish grade 1850 can they enter? It can get very complicated.

[Sean Hewitt]

Sean,
The tournaments you organise are completely different to Blackpool. Imagine a section is U160. A player is ECF 155 on a D code, FIDE 1955 and Scottish grade 1850 can they enter? It can get very complicated.

Matthew - It should not be complicated at all. If you FIDE rate your major (and you're right, I don't yet) then you say it's under 2000 (for example). You then say that for unrated players, they must be under ECF 150 (or whatever) or the National Equivalent. Simple. Of course, this is a red herring because this cannot the issue in Blackpool. If it were, they would ditch the Major but still FIDE rate the Open.

[Roger de Coverly]

The 2008 Blackpool second section used a hybrid eligibility. Although FIDE rated, you could play if you were either under ECF 175 or under FIDE 2000. As a consequence the highest FIDE rated players were in the 2100s. I could believe that this was regarded as a failed experiment and dropped for 2009 but it doesn't explain why the Open has gone unrated.

[David Clayton]

Just a bit of history on this topic.

I made the open FIDE rated when I ran the congress several years ago, Geoff Jones had thought about it a few years earlier. I though it would attract more entries and add to the prestige of the event, as well as allowing local players to gain FIDE ratings.

Although there were issues with ratings, they didn't cause us any problems. Certainly not ones to discourage us from not making it FIDE rated again.

Most players are already ECF members, either direct or via member organisations because of the reduction in entry fees available at congresses. There were very few people who had to join the ECF, those that did mainly did so through the NCCU MO.

I am not involved in Blackpool now, so I do not know the reasons for it not being FIDE rated. But you have to remember this year's event has a limitation on players because of the size of the venue, so no need to attract additional players, also not being FIDE rated cuts down on cost.

David

[Steve Lloyd]

Can anyone explain the change of venue? The winter gardens was most convenient and very easy to find accommodation. Finding somewhere within walking distance of the football club hasn't been as easy. I'm sure it'll be nice though.

[Matthew Turner]

The Winter Gardens was not available, despite the Conference having booked it, it was then booked out to someone else. It is a shame for the chess, because it was a great venue and perhaps a bit shortsighted of the Winter Gardens. because the Conference have been a long-term customer.