Joseph Conlon wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 11:39 am
Is there a particular reason for DGT 3000s rather than DGT 2010s? I ask as I am using receipts from the junior rapid plays I am running currently to build up an equipment stock to avoid having to borrow too much, and I am wondering if there is a reason to justify the extra £20 a time for a DGT 3000.
DGT 2010s are fine clocks, they provide all the time controls used in current English and FIDE competition, operate to FIDE standards and are a FIDE approved model. Not only do they provide the necessary functionality for most purposes, but they are relatively robust, too. They aren't cheap, but you should get at least 10 years from them before needing repaired or replaced.
However, DGT 2010s do not support use with an electronic board. If you have any plans to provide real-time displays for boards during tournaments that you hold, then you will need to equip that number of boards with DGT 3000s instead.
At Richmond Juniors, we have about 50 DGT EasyPlus clocks and 140 DGT 2010s. Of the EasyPlus clocks, about 40 currently work, which seems quite a high mortality rate, but they have had fairly constant use and abuse by kids for about six or seven years. It would be interesting to hear from others of their attrition rates.
Before the lockdown we had purchased 10 DGT 3000s, which is based on our plans to purchase those and 10 DGT USB Smart Boards, with the necessary cabling kits, for the next few years, so that we can broadcast live games starting in the top sections of our tournaments. Our current planning for equipment is to hand out working EasyPlus clocks to various schools, whilst keeping some for everyday club use by our Beginners & Novices and our Intermediate players, and replacing the EasyPlus clocks in use by our Advanced students with 2010s. Our adult tournaments will use the 2010s exclusively, whilst in our junior tournaments we will continue to use our dwindling stock of EasyPlus clocks in the youngest sections only. The 3000s and Smartboards will get rolled out from the top boards of our tournaments, and then on downwards over time.
Budgeting for equipment is one of the big expenses of any large chess organisation, as I am sure you are aware. And the insurance hurts, too.