English Chess Forum

Slightly off topic - but I know of someone else, who I had thrown out of the playing area when they provided advice to their partner who was playing against me. Also on other occasions, I had witnessed the same person storm out when losing and leave their opponent waiting for the clock run down, an...

In a local league match a player attempted to consume KP Nuts at the board. His opponent picked up the packet and threw it into the corridor next to the playing room. The two players departed to the corridor and we found the thrower with their hands around the neck of the peanut consumer. The pair ...

Might as well just ban him for life. Obviously just an irredeemable case. It's not always the child's fault fully. Again last millennium I played against a junior who, before the game, was told by his father to manage his time better and to make x moves in y minutes. Which he did - exactly. x-1 ins...

I was a victim of this scenario back last millennium (always wanted to say that!). My opponent blundered in a won position and... vanished. I was dependent on a lift home. Can't remember if it was a parent or a long-finished player but they didn't want to wait - 30 minutes having already passed - an...

I just think it can actually be done if the 1st division 4NCL captains agree to let them compete as they wish to next season. What can go wrong if the league allows captains to agree to ignore the rules? Well... As this is a critique of your recommendation I'll use the hypothetical Team A. Team A i...

Peter Ackley - Your post is most bizarre to put it frankly. The incident at Newark was over 2 years ago now, and I got defaulted in the county final for walking into the town centre for 50 minutes (losing time) when I was previously up on the clock to look round a town I had never been to before. T...

Chris (Briscoe) - are you seriously suggesting that the solution to the problem with the rules of chess is that the 4NCL allows teams to come to handshake agreements? You're an experienced player and organiser - can you not see the issues (hint: look at the bigger picture). This is like your "walkin...

There's a reason why so few people at maximum have ever viewed this ECF Forum, it seems = either too much arrogance, officiousness or possibly even under-education, or lack of desire to do much research independently at all in our spoon-fed era, even by so-called investigative journalists in many p...

I admire Carl's patience and tolerance in allowing this thread to continue. I suppose there is freedom of speech, the fact that the whilst the post (to me) appears difficult to comprehend it's not offensive. It's one person's opinion, not being explained in a way that a layperson can easily follow....

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 23, 2026 10:40 am

What the blazes is this all about?

I wonder if this is going to be one of those rare occurrences where, despite the frequent discord on the forum, 99% of members become united in wondering what the hell one bloke is on about.

I think Joey oversimplifies many factors in organising an event. 1. Don't bother with free/reduced rates or appearance fees- it's a Weekender with no norm opportunities which is the only reason to financially incentivise masters to play. Some tournaments do that. Those that offer discounts do so be...

The British always seems reasonably well funded for a national competition, it's the weekenders with £100-200 prizes that are really stuck in the past especially now the costs of an average player more or less guarantees a financial loss whether you win a prize or not. I'm sure I posted on this bef...

Having been a captain on-and-off it's not always that easy: -who is available? -are players needed for other reasons (eg driving)? -which players perform well as a team? -do players have any special requests or requirements? Theoretically a 1st team should always be the strongest (available) players...

Sometimes intervention in other games is required. At Yorkshire-Greater Manchester, U2050, last season when looking at the board next to me I noticed that there was a discrepancy in clock times (total) between my board and theirs. Even taking into account increments and different numbers of moves pl...

Sadly I must report the passing of Janos Wagenbach last night. Janos was a stalwart of Mansfield chess club and of the Nottinghamshire chess scene. Although not a elite-strength player Janos was, in the past, a frequent participant on the congress scene, winning many a grading-limited section. Even ...