British Championship Congress 2021

[LawrenceCooper]

And before anyone asks when is Scotland going to hold the British, under the current FIDE title regulations it is extremely unlikely to ever happen. (Players would need to declare the British as their national championship in place of the Scottish. Chess Scotland is unlikely to devalue its own championship.)

2003 was in Edinburgh and one of the 1990s Championships was in Dundee. Have FIDE changed the rules since then?

Yes, as Alex explains above.

The change was made at Baku Congress 2016, so it took effect from 1st July 2017.

Was it this change that meant that what was initially thought to be Justin Tan's final GM norm in the 4NCL 2017-18 was no longer valid?

[Chris Goodall]

Why would Chess Scotland therefore allow an event which could potentially disadvantage its own event?

Because it's the British Championship and the winners get to be British Champions.

[David Sedgwick]

Was it this change that meant that what was initially thought to be Justin Tan's final GM norm in the 4NCL 2017-18 was no longer valid?

Yes, although I am not sure whether a final decision was ever made regarding the validity of that norm.

Fortunately, Justin T got another norm soon afterwards, so the issue ceased to be relevant in his case.

[David Shepherd]

If the Scot chose the British as their national championship then they are much less likely to play in the Scottish as no norm is likely from it. Why would Chess Scotland therefore allow an event which could potentially disadvantage its own event?

Maybe they might allow it to enable the players based in Scotland a chance to play in the British Championships without having to travel such a large distance, it would be nice for it to go there sometimes. I think last time I spoke to a Scottish player they used the word disgrace in relation to the failure in recent years to hold the Championship in Scotland.

[JustinHorton]

Could somebody amend the title of this thread to insert the missing t?

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Maybe they might allow it to enable the players based in Scotland a chance to play in the British Championships without having to travel such a large distance, it would be nice for it to go there sometimes."

Well, yes. It is a British Championship. But wherever it is, there's likely to be travel involved. I recall some players from South London clubs moaning that they had to travel to Redhill (in Surrey) to play a Surrey League match. Transport in Surrey is easier than Essex say...

I've played tournaments in Lewis and Benbecula, both of which start with a flight to Glasgow, then a more expensive one to the island. If you live in Edinburgh, you might still grumble about a tournament in Inverness.

[Simon Rogers]

Could somebody amend the title of this thread to insert the missing t?

I think the person who started the thread wanted it separate from the other British Chess Championships 2021 topic and to talk about sunny Blackpool and what it has to offer.

[Simon Rogers]

Will be sunny tomorrow in Blackpool; Simon will no doubt tell you the sun shines every day

The new trams are very good; interesting purple colour

It was sunny all last week on the Fylde coast and quite warm while the rest of the country had gloomy, foggy and cold weather. Although we have got some light rain today.

[Roger Lancaster]

If the Scot chose the British as their national championship then they are much less likely to play in the Scottish as no norm is likely from it. Why would Chess Scotland therefore allow an event which could potentially disadvantage its own event?

Maybe they might allow it to enable the players based in Scotland a chance to play in the British Championships without having to travel such a large distance, it would be nice for it to go there sometimes. I think last time I spoke to a Scottish player they used the word disgrace in relation to the failure in recent years to hold the Championship in Scotland.

Well, yes, I understand the argument for equality but perhaps you could remind me of the last time the BCC was held in or near Belfast.

[Simon Rogers]

Let's hope there is a British Chess Championship this year, even if it is in some reduced form.

[Paul Bloom]

I see no reason to postpone for another year but Dave sedgwick seems to think there will not be any OTB British this year

[Chris Goodall]

I see no reason to postpone for another year but Dave sedgwick seems to think there will not be any OTB British this year

Do you know why?

Surely an organisation fretting about non-renewing members would have an extra incentive to run a FIDE-rated tournament in the 2020-2021 membership year.

[Paul Habershon]

I see no reason to postpone for another year but Dave sedgwick seems to think there will not be any OTB British this year

I recently had an email from the Torquay hotel I had booked for 2020, and then had my deposit held over for 2021. I had to reply that it's already unlikely that the chess will be going ahead this year and could I move the deposit on again for 2022.

Very generously the owner is willing to do this and says he will hold the room until the 2021 cancellation is certain. He opens on May 17th and has had two months business in the last twelve.

It's not even certain that Torquay will be the 2022 venue, but let's hope the ECF will go firm on dates asap. For 2022 it would be good to know the various tournament schedules within the congress, but I guess we don't know those until after Christmas even in normal times.

[JustinHorton]

2005, about sixty miles away

[Joseph Conlon]

The ECF have a post up saying that there will not be a large-scale OTB British in Torquay in summer 2021 but that there will be an OTB British championships, spread out in various ways, in October 2021.

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/british ... hips-2021/

To me they have got this perfectly right - with the best will in the world towards organising OTB chess at current times (and I am as keen on this as anyone) - a full-scale summer British is logistically unreasonable, in terms of risks and finances. On the other hand not running any form of OTB British Championships would seem defeatist - the British used to be an invited all-play-all, and it would not be unreasonable to run it on the same format.

Likewise with junior events, which - if necessary - could also operate on restricted entry.

None of this is ideal but half a loaf is better than no bread.