English Chess Forum

The European Club Cup 2021 and the European Women's Club Cup 2021 take place from Saturday 18th September until Friday 24th September in Struga, Ohrid Lake, North Macedonia.

https://www.europechess.org/european-cl ... 21-starts/

http://chess-results.com/tnr579298.aspx?lan=1

http://chess-results.com/tnr574744.aspx ... ES&flag=30

Good luck to the Sussex Martlets team. With all due respect to them, I think that they will need it.

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 1:41 pm

The European Club Cup 2021 and the European Women's Club Cup 2021 take place from Saturday 18th September until Friday 24th September in Struga, Ohrid Lake, North Macedonia.

https://www.europechess.org/european-cl ... 21-starts/

http://chess-results.com/tnr579298.aspx?lan=1

http://chess-results.com/tnr574744.aspx ... ES&flag=30

Good luck to the Sussex Martlets team. With all due respect to them, I think that they will need it.

It's a a great opportunity to play top players though. All the best to them and the three other English players; Ravi Haria, Jonathan Pein & Steve Dishman.

This may be the first such event with two former Wycombe and Hazlemere club members playing in Sam Walker and Steve Dishman. I can't recall off hand whether Alex Bullen has ever participated in addition to his Olympiad appearance. We've had some decent players over the years. Decent people as well.

J T Melsom wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 18, 2021 2:50 pm

This may be the first such event with two former Wycombe and Hazlemere club members playing in Sam Walker and Steve Dishman.

Steve Dishman's son is playing as well under LUX. He may have been too young to ever play for Wycombe when they lived in the UK.

Yes spotted that. Matthew didn't play for W&Hz but IIRC did play in junior county events.

Tough match for the Martlets in round 1 but at least they didn't get whitewashed

Gonzaga - good draws for Ravi, Conor O'Donnell and Jonathan Pein

A shame there hasn't been more comment on this as it's been an entertaining tournament. Magnus looked in trouble yesterday but managed to hold on vs Shakh. His game in round 3 was very tense as a Dutch FM, who had dispatched me in the previous round, was excruciatingly close to holding Magnus to a draw. Ravi has had an excellent start and I believe is up above 2490 now (whisper it quietly, but he's inching closer). The Sussex Martlets had a bit of a slow start as the rustiness of 18 months without over the board chess wore off, although I had no such excuse. We are now on the board though and ready to make a late charge in an attempt to make our final position look more impressive than our results. Yesterday also had the entertainment of two power cuts shortly before the time control in a playing hall with no windows: thankfully neither lasted more than about 10 seconds.

Good luck Rhys, keep us posted

Gonzaga according to chess results have all 6 players gaining rating points and Ravi (2465) up 6.8, with a white today v a 2392 rated IM

Magnus not playing today

"Good luck Rhys"

Agreed! I was interested to hear of the power cuts - it could have been worse, fire-alarms are more disruptive.

Magnus's team are due to play the Luxembourg team today that Steve Dishman is in. Steve, who is on Board 3 anyway, tells me that clearly the prospect of this has proved too much pressure for Magnus who has gone home early from the tournament.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:22 am

"Good luck Rhys"

Agreed! I was interested to hear of the power cuts - it could have been worse, fire-alarms are more disruptive.

No-one has ever suggested that I should have any involvement with this event, direct or indirect.

David Sedgwick wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 23, 2021 9:26 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:22 am

"Good luck Rhys"

Agreed! I was interested to hear of the power cuts - it could have been worse, fire-alarms are more disruptive.

No-one has ever suggested that I should have any involvement with this event, direct or indirect.

Your re-appearance in this thread may be sufficient

I see the Martlets, and Rhys, won yesterday and play the Vikings today

Ravi won as well, and is currently 11th on board 1

I believe Ravi was 2485 live before the tournament and is gaining 10.8 points, but has a lower rated opponent today so it won't be possible here but it probably sets him nicely for the first 4ncl. Despite our 0/3 start we now have a chance at finishing on a more than respectable 50% with a win today. Svidler's team (as I am sure they like to be called) look set to win the event unless they have a major hiccup. Aleeksenko has scored 5/5 for them; his win against Ragger from round 5 was a very impressive leela-esque hack which is well worth a look through.

Rhys Cumming wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 24, 2021 11:21 am

I believe Ravi was 2485 live before the tournament and is gaining 10.8 points, but has a lower rated opponent today so it won't be possible here but it probably sets him nicely for the first 4ncl. Despite our 0/3 start we now have a chance at finishing on a more than respectable 50% with a win today. Svidler's team (as I am sure they like to be called) look set to win the event unless they have a major hiccup. Aleeksenko has scored 5/5 for them; his win against Ragger from round 5 was a very impressive leela-esque hack which is well worth a look through.

As his 4NCL captain I'm tracking his rating progress. I believe that he is 2495.2 after gaining 19.4 in Northumbria & 10.8 in rounds 1-6. Today is an unfortunate team pairing, both for Ravi (He is playing for +2, -3 or -8 today and less importantly, can no longer make his 4th GM norm) and also for Conor who, I believe, can no longer make his final IM norm as his average will now be about 3 points too low with a win.

Best wishes also to Sussex Martlets.