English Chess Forum

John Swain wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:32 am

The Board's minutes for the meeting held on 22 January 2021 have been published:

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-cont ... .3.2-1.pdf

The Board agreed nem con that the British Chess Championships would not go ahead in 2021 in an over-the-board format unless NT recommended to the contrary and brought that recommendation back to the Board.In that event the Board was in unanimous agreement that an online equivalent should if at all possible be held as official British Championships.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 1:57 pm

It seems as if the ECF Board more or less decided to give up the idea of a Torquay British before anyone knew the Government's supposed timetable for lifting restrictions.

Roger Lancaster wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:01 pm

Simon Rogers wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:54 am

The 2005 British Chess Championships was held on the Isle of Man.
Since 1904, the British Chess Championships have not been held in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Wight.

In response to posters who felt that the British Chess Championships took place too infrequently in their countries or regions, I wished merely to point out that - in one of the four countries of the United Kingdom, ie. Northern Ireland - they had never taken place.

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:39 pm

Carl Hibbard wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 10:33 am

Why are there two threads with the same name I am confused?

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:23 pm

They were started at different times, the first pre-lockdown. They may as well be merged if that's straightforward.

Carl. perhaps you could contact a moderator and ask him to merge them .

Continued thanks for everything you do.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:57 pm

Anyway I am deferred until 2022 so I hope to see many of you then and there.

Paul Bloom wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:32 pm

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:57 pm

Anyway I am deferred until 2022 so I hope to see many of you then and there.

Don't worry I am sure the ECF will find some why in 2022 of saying its unsafe I think we are in danger of losing a whole generation of young players this decision is farcical . Most of us cant wait o get back to playing OTB and socialising with long lost friends . Nearly everyone will have had two Jabs by end of July . so schools can go back beginning of march but we cant play chess at the end of July . We could shown we have had vaccines take a test 3 days prior wash hands sanitize pieces and sets in between rounds reduce numbers in each section even use the Blind system of 2 boards 2 sets allowing players to sit 2 metres apart but no none of this good enough to consider letting the players play , .

Paul Bloom wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:32 pm

Don't worry I am sure the ECF will find some why in 2022 of saying its unsafe I think we are in danger of losing a whole generation of young players this decision is farcical . Most of us cant wait o get back to playing OTB and socialising with long lost friends . Nearly everyone will have had two Jabs by end of July . so schools can go back beginning of march but we cant play chess at the end of July . We could shown we have had vaccines take a test 3 days prior wash hands sanitize pieces and sets in between rounds reduce numbers in each section even use the Blind system of 2 boards 2 sets allowing players to sit 2 metres apart but no none of this good enough to consider letting the players play , .

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:20 pm

Paul Bloom wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:32 pm

Don't worry I am sure the ECF will find some why in 2022 of saying its unsafe I think we are in danger of losing a whole generation of young players this decision is farcical . Most of us cant wait o get back to playing OTB and socialising with long lost friends . Nearly everyone will have had two Jabs by end of July . so schools can go back beginning of march but we cant play chess at the end of July . We could shown we have had vaccines take a test 3 days prior wash hands sanitize pieces and sets in between rounds reduce numbers in each section even use the Blind system of 2 boards 2 sets allowing players to sit 2 metres apart but no none of this good enough to consider letting the players play , .

With respect this is unfair. The championship can't legally be held before the 21st of June anyway and all it would take is for a spike in cases forcing the government to delay that by five weeks and it would have to be cancelled. There is also the question mark as to what the take up would be; while some players are keen to return others may be a bit jittery about their safety. Another factor is that some schools may choose to continue over the summer holidays, even if it isn't made obligatory, and this will affect junior participation.

The ECF have only cancelled their flagship event. They are not preventing people from playing chess and indeed you would be free to set up your own event.

I'd also push back on the suggestion of losing a generation of young players. Having played in a few 4NCL online congresses it's noticeable that there is relatively little overlap with congress regulars and the average age seems to be a lot lower. These are likely players who don't have the time and/ or the money to go to weekenders and I think there will be a case for keeping online events going in tandem with returning otb events.

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:20 pm

I'd also push back on the suggestion of losing a generation of young players. Having played in a few 4NCL online congresses it's noticeable that there is relatively little overlap with congress regulars and the average age seems to be a lot lower. These are likely players who don't have the time and/ or the money to go to weekenders and I think there will be a case for keeping online events going in tandem with returning OTB events.

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:20 pm

Paul Bloom wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:32 pm

Don't worry I am sure the ECF will find some why in 2022 of saying its unsafe I think we are in danger of losing a whole generation of young players this decision is farcical . Most of us cant wait o get back to playing OTB and socialising with long lost friends . Nearly everyone will have had two Jabs by end of July . so schools can go back beginning of march but we cant play chess at the end of July . We could shown we have had vaccines take a test 3 days prior wash hands sanitize pieces and sets in between rounds reduce numbers in each section even use the Blind system of 2 boards 2 sets allowing players to sit 2 metres apart but no none of this good enough to consider letting the players play , .

With respect this is unfair. The championship can't legally be held before the 21st of June anyway and all it would take is for a spike in cases forcing the government to delay that by five weeks and it would have to be cancelled. There is also the question mark as to what the take up would be; while some players are keen to return others may be a bit jittery about their safety. Another factor is that some schools may choose to continue over the summer holidays, even if it isn't made obligatory, and this will affect junior participation.

The ECF have only cancelled their flagship event. They are not preventing people from playing chess and indeed you would be free to set up your own event.

I'd also push back on the suggestion of losing a generation of young players. Having played in a few 4NCL online congresses it's noticeable that there is relatively little overlap with congress regulars and the average age seems to be a lot lower. These are likely players who don't have the time and/ or the money to go to weekenders and I think there will be a case for keeping online events going in tandem with returning otb events.

Roger Lancaster wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 10, 2021 4:53 am

I agree with Andrew. While it's obviously disappointing that the July/August BCC has been cancelled, I don't know [although, having had some experience of setting up events, I can make a very rough guess] how many contractual and other uncertainties would have arisen if the ECF had decided to go ahead. In hindsight, it may prove that the ECF was over-cautious but reasonably well-founded aversion to risk isn't "farcical".

Paul Robert Jackson wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:32 am

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:20 pm

I'd also push back on the suggestion of losing a generation of young players. Having played in a few 4NCL online congresses it's noticeable that there is relatively little overlap with congress regulars and the average age seems to be a lot lower. These are likely players who don't have the time and/ or the money to go to weekenders and I think there will be a case for keeping online events going in tandem with returning OTB events.

I am not opposed to Online Chess but the increase in online events will be similar to
.....Online Banking & the closure of local branches,
.....Online Shopping & the demise of the high street & local town centres.
.....Contactless payments & the refusal of cash.
etc. etc.

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 10, 2021 11:31 am

We should be showing our appreciation for those who will be giving up many hours of there time, for little or no reward, to put on the British Online Championships in August and the OTB British Championship events in October.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:15 pm

Paul Robert Jackson wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 10, 2021 9:32 am

Andrew Zigmond wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:20 pm

I'd also push back on the suggestion of losing a generation of young players. Having played in a few 4NCL online congresses it's noticeable that there is relatively little overlap with congress regulars and the average age seems to be a lot lower. These are likely players who don't have the time and/ or the money to go to weekenders and I think there will be a case for keeping online events going in tandem with returning OTB events.

I am not opposed to Online Chess but the increase in online events will be similar to
.....Online Banking & the closure of local branches,
.....Online Shopping & the demise of the high street & local town centres.
.....Contactless payments & the refusal of cash.
etc. etc.

Well maybe, but it's perhaps more likely that those aren't good comparisons. If you make an online bank transfer you don't think oh I enjoyed that, I'd like to do some bank transfers in person at the weekend.