English Chess Forum

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/england ... ouncement/

POSTED BY: WEBADMIN 12TH SEPTEMBER 2023

We are pleased to announce the England Open team for the forthcoming European Team Chess Championship is –

GM Nikita Vitiugov 2719
GM David Howell 2676
GM Michael Adams 2662
GM Luke McShane 2626
GM Ravia Haria 2522
Average rating of the team: 2641
Captain of the team – GM William Watson.

The tournament will take place in Budva , Montenegro from 10th November to 21st November 2023.

— Malcolm Pein, International Director

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 12, 2023 3:03 pm

Adams on board 3!

Last happened when he was a teenager, I would surmise?

Not necessarily. The FT implies that the women's team is not listed in board order so the open team might not be either.

I've just seen David Howell's latest Saturday Times column, which contains this intriguing line:

"The sudden and unexpected news of [Vitiugov's] arrival was revealed to his future teammates on social media..."

In other words, Malcolm moves in mysterious ways.

It is possible indeed that Adams has never been lower than board two since he was a teenager. The question is on what board did he play in 1992, by which time he was 20, but Speelman was still very formidable.

1992 has Adams on 3

I assume the actual board order for the forthcoming event is yet to be finalised though

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 12, 2023 6:51 pm

1992 has Adams on 3

I remember that one now. Mickey's openings with Black were not yet quite ready for the top level and giving him a load of Whites worked very well. However, John Nunn was dangerous with White himself and he mentions in one of his books that not getting a single one was rather a disappointment.

"The sudden and unexpected news of [Vitiugov's] arrival was revealed to his future teammates on social media..."

I have commented on this behaviour before. ECF should tell the players first in a case like this, and surely any official announcement should first appear on the ECF website, not in the New York Times, or on X etc.

No wonder the ECF Board Members lurk on here - it's the only way they know what's going on.

Nice to see William Watson involved again.

A look at the ECF rating list just now shows only Adams and Watson are current members of the ECF - I assume (perhaps wrongly) it to be up to date.

Surely membership of the ECF is a pre-requisite for selection, though I can think of two other occasions non members (at least on the rating list) were selected.

Paul Heaton wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 12, 2023 7:40 pm

Surely membership of the ECF is a pre-requisite for selection

Given that the players receive fees for playing for England, there doesn't seem a reason not to throw in free membership for selected players.

Paul Heaton wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 12, 2023 7:40 pm

A look at the ECF rating list just now shows only Adams and Watson are current members of the ECF - I assume (perhaps wrongly) it to be up to date.

Surely membership of the ECF is a pre-requisite for selection, though I can think of two other occasions non members (at least on the rating list) were selected.

Given the time of year I suspect there are lots of people who haven’t got round to renewing membership yet - I certainly haven’t.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 12, 2023 7:06 pm

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 12, 2023 6:51 pm

1992 has Adams on 3

I remember that one now. Mickey's openings with Black were not yet quite ready for the top level and giving him a load of Whites worked very well. However, John Nunn was dangerous with White himself and he mentions in one of his books that not getting a single one was rather a disappointment.

I recall John mentioning something about having the black piece all his games.
they are listed here: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.p ... &pid=15864

Mickey had white in seven out of eight games. He won his one game with Black, his quickest win of the tournament. full list here.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.p ... &pid=10900

I note the Scottish team has been announced as:

Andrew Muir
David Levy
Graham Morrison
Martin Mitchell
Jonathan Grant

(Board order and captain to be decided).

Offhand I can't remember when David was picked for the national team, or whether Martin has previously had that honour. {edit - yes, 2011 for one]

Alistair Campbell wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:15 pm

I note the Scottish team has been announced as:

Andrew Muir
David Levy
Graham Morrison
Martin Mitchell
Jonathan Grant

(Board order and captain to be decided).

Offhand I can't remember when David was picked for the national team, or whether Martin has previously had that honour. {edit - yes, 2011 for one]

David played for Scotland in the Skopje Olympiad in 1972 according to Wikipedia but the page starts by saying he is English so probably best to take the rest of the page with a very large pinch of salt.

Ian Jamieson wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:48 pm

David played for Scotland in the Skopje Olympiad in 1972 according to Wikipedia but the page starts by saying he is English so probably best to take the rest of the page with a very large pinch of salt.

I meant to say "last picked" and should have clarified I meant the open team, but I believe he played in the Olympiads of 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1978.

Alistair Campbell wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:58 pm

Ian Jamieson wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:48 pm

David played for Scotland in the Skopje Olympiad in 1972 according to Wikipedia but the page starts by saying he is English so probably best to take the rest of the page with a very large pinch of salt.

I meant to say "last picked" and should have clarified I meant the open team, but I believe he played in the Olympiads of 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1978.

That makes more sense. I thought it was a bit odd he only played one Olympiad.