English Chess Forum

who will be going in person or by Zoom?

I will be there in person around 12:30 at Euston train station


English Chess Federation AGM October 2021
This year’s AGM takes place on Saturday October 16th starting at 1.30pm at the Hellenic Centre, 16-18 Paddington Street, Marylebone,
London W1U 5AS; also with access for representatives via Zoom

It should be an interesting AGM. Especially with how we react to all these new players coming in post lockdown. Suggest this is very high on the agenda!

Stephen Westmoreland wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 13, 2021 11:30 pm

Especially with how we react to all these new players coming in post lockdown.

OTB tournaments seem particularly top heavy.

Scarborough has five sections
As of writing
Open 79
Major 36
Intermediate 53
Minor 34
Foundation 14

Only a handful of players without ratings.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 2:02 am

OTB tournaments seem particularly top heavy.

Scarborough has five sections
As of writing
Open 79
Major 36
Intermediate 53
Minor 34
Foundation 14

Perhaps it's time to put lower rating limits on sections as well as upper limits. If everyone had to play in the lowest section for which they were eligible, the numbers would be:

Open 51
Major 57

for the top two sections.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:57 am

Perhaps it's time to put lower rating limits on sections as well as upper limits. If everyone had to play in the lowest section for which they were eligible, the numbers would be:

Open 51
Major 57

for the top two sections.

That would certainly help with overcrowding issues.

Preventing young or new players from playing up would hamper their development.

The numbers entering Scarborough have exceeded expectations especially in the top section where it was predicted that the return to chess would be slowest. Having said that, it was thought that a number of new players would be attracted to the Foundation. Perhaps the event is too soon for the players new to club chess to enter.

The reason behind the top heavy open section is not due to players choosing to play up, but that players rated over 1851 have no choice but to play in the open.

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:48 am

The reason behind the top heavy open section is not due to players choosing to play up, but that players rated over 1851 have no choice but to play in the open.

My numbers above do not support that. If everyone who was eligible to play in the Major did so there would be more entrants than in the Open.

Alex McFarlane wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 9:46 am

The numbers entering Scarborough have exceeded expectations especially in the top section where it was predicted that the return to chess would be slowest.

There are a number of players nationally who seemingly play every event. I'd expect that's an exaggeration, but an absence of some popular events is likely to concentrate entries on those actually taking place. That may be particularly true of places like Scarborough which have credentials as somewhere to visit for a weekend regardless.

Events usually running within a couple of weeks as Scarborough which are not taking place this year are Torquay, Guernsey, Beacon Seniors and the British rapidplay. Bury St Edmunds is restricted to 90 whereas in earlier years it has approached double that.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 12:15 pm

Nick Burrows wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:48 am

The reason behind the top heavy open section is not due to players choosing to play up, but that players rated over 1851 have no choice but to play in the open.

My numbers above do not support that. If everyone who was eligible to play in the Major did so there would be more entrants than in the Open.

We can assume that 52 through 79 who are already eligible for the major, would still choose to play in the open.

If the major was U2000 like the 4ncl then 19 through 51 would be eligible.
If say, 80% (?) of these chose the Major. We have:

53 Open
62 Major

The "?" being an important variable.

I think it's a good idea to move some players if sections are significantly imbalanced, but if calibrated well it usually shouldn't be needed. Imo 1850 is too low.

Alex McFarlane wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 9:46 am

The numbers entering Scarborough have exceeded expectations especially in the top section where it was predicted that the return to chess would be slowest.

What was the basis of that predicion? My impression has been that it is the stronger players who are most keen to get back to proper chess.

In case anyone is affected and unaware, there will be no Southern services into Victoria Station this weekend.

Alex McFarlane wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 14, 2021 9:46 am

Preventing young or new players from playing up would hamper their development.

I entirely agree, but what of those who are not improving or new who just repeatedly play 2 sections too high

John Reyes wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 12, 2021 3:34 pm

who will be going in person or by Zoom?

I will be there in person around 12:30 at Euston train station


English Chess Federation AGM October 2021
This year’s AGM takes place on Saturday October 16th starting at 1.30pm at the Hellenic Centre, 16-18 Paddington Street, Marylebone,
London W1U 5AS; also with access for representatives via Zoom

Interesting as the discussion about Scarborough may be, who apart from John is actually going in person?

I'll be there.