Biel 18-29 July 2020

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Paul Cooksey
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Paul Cooksey » Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:39 am

Solid performance by Adams so far. He is 4th of 8, with the classical starting tomorrow.

Judging by the youtube video, the screen in the middle of the board doesn't seem much of an inconvenience, although how much good it does not clear.

Tim Spanton
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Tim Spanton » Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:28 pm

Paul Cooksey wrote:
Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:39 am
Solid performance by Adams so far. He is 4th of 8, with the classical starting tomorrow.

Judging by the youtube video, the screen in the middle of the board doesn't seem much of an inconvenience, although how much good it does not clear.
There were similar screens, but bigger, in the nearest bar to the venue last night, and ones roughly the same size in my hotel reception

Wadih Khoury
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Wadih Khoury » Mon Jul 20, 2020 5:07 pm

In the open section, the tournament looks great, almost no difference to a normal tournament from my perspective. Of course, safety measures and messages, but beyond the extra spacing, it doesn't feel different.

Image
Image
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143150736 ... 169574008/

You can see that they added half depth tables, and only 2 players per extended table. That roughly equates to about a third capacity playing hall (300% on the table footprint. If alleyways are kept the same, you'd probably need less than 300% of the space)
So probably hard in a location like Hampstead, but some venues (like the ones held in sporting halls) should probably be able to cope with near normal number of players.

Tim Spanton
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Tim Spanton » Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:52 pm

Wadih Khoury wrote:
Mon Jul 20, 2020 5:07 pm
In the open section, the tournament looks great, almost no difference to a normal tournament from my perspective. Of course, safety measures and messages, but beyond the extra spacing, it doesn't feel different.

Image
Image
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143150736 ... 169574008/

You can see that they added half depth tables, and only 2 players per extended table. That roughly equates to about a third capacity playing hall (300% on the table footprint. If alleyways are kept the same, you'd probably need less than 300% of the space)
So probably hard in a location like Hampstead, but some venues (like the ones held in sporting halls) should probably be able to cope with near normal number of players.
I would have thought Hastings would be a good example of a congress that could cope

Nick Grey
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Nick Grey » Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:01 pm

I like the elbow room.

Where in Hastings?

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Roger de Coverly » Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:04 pm

Nick Grey wrote:
Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:01 pm
Where in Hastings?
The indoor cricket school at Horntye Park. It might still be necessary to restrict the numbers and the refreshment areas are on the cramped side.

Tim Spanton
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Tim Spanton » Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:12 pm

Riviera Centre at Torquay would be another venue that should be able to cope

Roger de Coverly
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Roger de Coverly » Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:41 pm

Tim Spanton wrote:
Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:12 pm
Riviera Centre at Torquay would be another venue that should be able to cope
The Hall at Olympia used for the London Chess Classic Open being another, with perhaps some restrictions on entries. But you would have to be able to get there.

Chris Rice
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Chris Rice » Thu Jul 23, 2020 1:48 pm

How group photos are done these days...

Image

Leonard Barden
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Leonard Barden » Sun Jul 26, 2020 9:34 am

Great result for Michael Adams in the Biel blitz on Saturday, seems he was really sharp after playing the Chris Duncan 50th birthday blitz a few weeks ago.

Adams began with a Caruanaesque 7/7, then reached 9.5/10 before a dip at the finish enabled Poland's Radoslaw Wojtaszek to catch him and tie for first on 11/14.

A fine recovery by the England No1 after his bad start where he lost his first two rapid games.

With rapid and blitz complete and just three classical rounds to go starting tomorrow, Adams is now in clear second place overall behind Wojtaszek.

Mick Norris
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Mick Norris » Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:00 am

TWIC

Classical -2.4/4 - Adams, Harikrishna, Wojtaszek with Keymer yet to draw a game

Official site report
The British old champion also had a furious start to the tournament
is an interesting translation :lol:

Rest day today

Tomorrow has Wojtaszek - Harikrishna and Anton - Adams
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Ian Thompson
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Ian Thompson » Sun Jul 26, 2020 9:31 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Sun Jul 19, 2020 3:14 pm
The thing is you usually make your move, then instinctively move the hand by the shortest route to press the clock.
Maybe that's why they removed the screens for the blitz and used face masks instead - see https://www.bielchessfestival.ch/Homepage.html and scroll down to the photos.
Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Sun Jul 19, 2020 3:14 pm
I'm not sure with masks though as they make it difficult to breathe, and people don't wear them properly.
Such as Edouard in the photos linked to above. The rules for the Innsbruck event linked to in an earlier post say that would lose him the game.
Alkohol und Rauchen sowie das Abnehmen der MNS Maske oder GVS ist im gesamten Turnier Areal verboten. Es gilt eine permanente Abstandregel einzu halten von mindestens 1 Meter (lichtes Maß Nase zu Nase) zueinander. Die Anweisungen des Schiedsrichter Teams und die Maßnahmen des COVID 19 Präventions Sicherheitskonzepts sind einzuhalten. Eine Widerhandlung bedeutet aufgrund der Sicherheits Richtlinie des ÖSB den sofortigen Partie Verlust.
roughly translated as
Alcohol and smoking as well as removing the MNS or GVS mask is prohibited in the entire tournament area. A permanent rule of distance must be observed of at least 1 metre (face to face). The instructions of the referee team and the measures of the COVID 19 prevention safety concept must be followed. A violation means the immediate loss of the game due to the security guideline of the ÖSB.

Mick Norris
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Mick Norris » Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:32 am

Round 5 (Monday, July 27 - 14:00)
Vincent Keymer (8) 4 - 0 Noël Studer (7)
Radoslaw Wojtaszek (8.5) 0 - 4 Pentala Harikrishna (8.5)
Romain Édouard (4.5) 1.5 - 1.5 Arkadij Naiditsch (5.5)
David Antón Guijarro (5.5) 4 - 0 Michael Adams (8.5)

Round 6 (Tuesday, July 28 - 14:00)
Noël Studer (7) - Michael Adams (8.5)
Arkadij Naiditsch (7) - David Antón Guijarro (9.5)
Pentala Harikrishna (12.5) - Romain Édouard (6)
Vincent Keymer (12) - Radoslaw Wojtaszek (8.5)

Round 7 (Wednesday, July 29 - 11:00)
Radoslaw Wojtaszek - Noël Studer
Romain Édouard - Vincent Keymer
David Antón Guijarro - Pentala Harikrishna
Michael Adams - Arkadij Naiditsch
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Mick Norris
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Mick Norris » Wed Jul 29, 2020 8:31 am

Report on penultimate day
Close behind Harikrishna follows Mickey Adams. Thanks to his victory with the black pieces against Noël Studer today, the Briton still has a chance to win the Biel Chess Festival too: with 31.5 points in the ranking he is only a draw away from the top spot.
Round 7 (Wednesday, July 29 - 11:00)

Radoslaw Wojtaszek (10) - Noël Studer (7)
Romain Édouard (6) - Vincent Keymer (13.5)
David Antón Guijarro (9.5) - Pentala Harikrishna (16.5)
Michael Adams (12.5) - Arkadij Naiditsch (11)
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Wadih Khoury
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Re: Biel 18-29 July 2020

Post by Wadih Khoury » Wed Jul 29, 2020 7:33 pm

The tournament is now ended.

An excellent experience, well managed, and hopefully the next few days will confirm it was safe.
Only minor issues I had were prices in Switzerland, and the odd parent edging out of the spectator area towards their child.

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