English Chess Forum

See https://www.englishchess.org.uk/hampshi ... n-wheeler/

Times have changed... I was announcing the time limits as 40 moves in 100 minutes, then turn the clocks back 20 minutes after black's 40th move. I then mentioned Appendix G4 and explained it was the old two-minute rule. Everyone got that? A junior then asked a perfectly polite, sensible question. We started the round, then he followed to ask more and I then realised he had never used an analogue clock before or experienced a QP finish! There weren't any draw claims in the entire event.

And at other events, I am persuading older players that Fischer-timing is not the spawn of Satan.

Ha ha! I must admit I was surprised to be confronted with analogue clocks when I played the Hampshire Congress last year. One wonders how many other congresses continue to use them, if any. As for Fischer time, we have used it for several years at the Thanet Congress as you know, Kevin, with few problems and no complaints so far as I am aware. We have also adopted it for our club championship from this year. You may well be right in claiming that older players are less keen but I think it is becoming more popular and for that, of course, you need digital clocks.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 9:05 am

And at other events, I am persuading older players that Fischer-timing is not the spawn of Satan.

I think the problem is that over the decades they have built up formidable skills in clockbashing finishes and are sorry to see these go to waste.

"As for Fischer time, we have used it for several years at the Thanet Congress as you know, Kevin, with few problems and no complaints so far as I am aware"

Apart from the half dozen players in round 1 this year who approached me with the clock, saying, "It's not working - the time is going up."

Hampshire clubs provide the clocks for their congress, so I assume they're in common use. I would be a bit wary about using Fischer timing for an event where there are three games on Saturday, although about 30 % take Saturday evening off. Many people want to play 6 games.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:54 am

I would be a bit wary about using Fischer timing for an event where there are three games on Saturday

Why?

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:54 am

I would be a bit wary about using Fischer timing for an event where there are three games on Saturday

The schedule is

Rd 2: Sat 0900-1300 Rd 3: Sat 1400-1800 Rd 4: Sat 1900-2300

with a move rate

RATE OF PLAY: 40 moves in 100 minutes followed by a 20-minute quickplay finish.

If they adopted 90 minutes with 30 second increments, there's a finite possibility that a game would overrun by an hour or longer. 11pm finishes are late enough already, without long games or postponed starts to be concerned about.

There's less overrun possibility with 110 minutes 10 second increments or 105 minutes 15 second increments.

It's a long schedule anyway, but three rounds with Game/80 + 10' or equivalent would be fine.

It's not my decision anyway, I just turn up and try to help!

Interesting pairings in the Minor to produce two players on 5/5 from 27 players over 5 rounds.

"Interesting pairings in the Minor to produce two players on 5/5 from 27 players over 5 rounds."

My blood ran cold momentarily (and I use the word in the correct, not American, sense). Happily I then realized it is actually 5/6. I'm not saying the pairings were definitely right of course.

My apologies, I should have read the post on the schedule more thoroughly.