e2e4 Uxbridge International Women's Invitational

[LozCooper]

e2e4 Uxbridge International 13th - 17th February 2010

The Womens Invitational is an event aimed at giving Britsh girls and young women further experience of international chess.

Playing Schedule

Opening Ceremony Saturday 15.20 - 15.30
Round 1 Saturday 15.30 - 19.30
Round 2 Sunday 10.00 - 14.00
Round 3 Sunday 15.30 - 19.30
Round 4 Monday 10.00 - 14.00
Round 5 Monday 15.30 - 19.30
Round 6 Tuesday 10.00 - 14.00
Round 7 Tuesday 15.30 - 19.30
Round 8 Wednesday 10.00 - 14.00
Round 9 Wednesday 15.30 - 19.30

Time Control

All moves in 90 minutes, plus 30 seconds per move increments from move 1

Entry Fees - All Players - £40

Prizes 1st £200 2nd £100

Venue and Directions

De Veres Hotel, Denham Grove Hotel, Tilehouse Lane, Denham, Nr Uxbridge, Bucks, UB9 5DU is just 3 miles from both the M25 and M40 motorways, and 2 miles from Denham railway station. Denham is a 25 minute train journey from Marylebone.

Special rates of £30 B&B per person per night (based on 2 sharing) and £44 B&B (single) have been negotiated with Denham Grove Hotel. To book a room click here or telephone 01895 833 338 and quote "Chess".

All enquiries to [email protected]

Lawrence Cooper
Director of International Chess
English Chess Federation

[LozCooper]

Cancellation of Uxbridge Womens Invitational Feb 13-17
http://www.e2e4.org.uk/international/20 ... /index.htm

I am sorry to report that due to a lack of entries I have been forced to cancel the event. Despite inviting over 50 players I received only five confirmed entries and this was clearly insufficient with just 10 days left before the event. There are still places remaining in the Major and Challengers event and I would encourage anyone wishing to play to contact Sean at [email protected] There is also a simul with Grand Master Keith Arkell on the Friday evening.

[Alan Walton]

Loz,

Isn't ironic with all the discussions around the 4NCL female player rule, you cannot even get 10 female players to play in a decent all-play-all event

Alan

[LozCooper]

Loz,

Isn't ironic with all the discussions around the 4NCL female player rule, you cannot even get 10 female players to play in a decent all-play-all event

Alan

I was waiting for someone to make that observation!

I think there were a number of reasons; I wasn't aware that there was a junior qualifier for the world youth being held as part of the West of England Championship which Amy Hoare and the Wangs understandably had to play in, I also didn't send out invites until a month or so before the event so that's down to me and I've learnt that whilst an all-play-all offering norms is seen as attractive, a rated event without norms where several of the girls would be playing games against their friends is not such an incentive.

[Matthew Turner]

Loz,
Can I just offer my thanks for you attempting to organise this. As you know, somebody from my School was going to play and I think it would have been a really valuable experience for her. I think it was a shame that the event clashed with the West of England Junior Champs (which is a brilliantly organised event). However, I think there is a very astute comment hidden in what you have said

"girls would be playing games against their friends is not such an incentive."

So, they want their friends there to socialise, but they don't actually want to play them. I can see how this would make it difficult to organise girls' events.

[LozCooper]

Loz,
Can I just offer my thanks for you attempting to organise this. As you know, somebody from my School was going to play and I think it would have been a really valuable experience for her. I think it was a shame that the event clashed with the West of England Junior Champs (which is a brilliantly organised event). However, I think there is a very astute comment hidden in what you have said

"girls would be playing games against their friends is not such an incentive."

So, they want their friends there to socialise, but they don't actually want to play them. I can see how this would make it difficult to organise girls' events.

Initially the plan was for five younger players to face five more experienced players. Sadly the biggest problem was finding 2000+ players to play without the incentive of a norm. Having norms though obviously requires a certain amount of titled players and would only allow for a small number of lower rated players. Maybe the idea and format was flawed but there seemed to be enough interest to comfortably fill the tournament. Sadly interest doesn't always become entries.

[Alex Holowczak]

Sadly the biggest problem was finding 2000+ players to play without the incentive of a norm.

So if women's titles didn't exist, and none of the potential players you asked had them, do you know whether they have been more likely to play in the event? If so, it would suggest that women's titles are doing more harm than good.

Was there no way of salvaging the event as a double all-play-all with 5 or 6 players (hence 10 rounds required), and either squeeze the extra round in somehow on the Friday night or Saturday morning, or just miss one of the all-play-all rounds?

[LozCooper]

Sadly the biggest problem was finding 2000+ players to play without the incentive of a norm.

So if women's titles didn't exist, and none of the potential players you asked had them, do you know whether they have been more likely to play in the event? If so, it would suggest that women's titles are doing more harm than good.

Was there no way of salvaging the event as a double all-play-all with 5 or 6 players (hence 10 rounds required), and either squeeze the extra round in somehow on the Friday night or Saturday morning, or just miss one of the all-play-all rounds?

I guess it could be viewed as "would you like to play in an event against a lot of hungry underrated girls" I can understand some reluctance. Equally if a male player was offered either the chance to play against a lot of promising juniors or the chance to play for an im norm I'm sure the preference would be to go for the norm. Would that mean all titles are doing more harm than good?

Oddly enough I tried everything before making the difficult decision to cancel. At least this way the girls have a chance to grab one of the remaining places in the Challengers events and have the opportunity to play against higher rated opponents which is more beneficial for their chess than merely playing against each other. Admittedly, that argument could be used to say I was being optimistic in planning a womens all-play-all but I don't regret making the effort, albeit it's very disappointing to have put in so much time and effort without anything to show for it.

[J T Melsom]

I note, without drawing any conclusions, that Ms Yurenok and Ms Jain have entered other events at Denham/ Uxbridge, and did so in full knowledge that there was an alternative event available.

[James Pratt]

I wonder whether a Scheveningen was considered? With regards to females only tourneys, I quote two lady internationals "We prefer not to play each other as we share our secrets" (overheard at the Agency Masters) and 'Games between girls tend just to peter out.."

There are plenty of high scoring ladies at Gibraltar at the mo, aren't there?

[Alex Holowczak]

I guess it could be viewed as "would you like to play in an event against a lot of hungry underrated girls" I can understand some reluctance. Equally if a male player was offered either the chance to play against a lot of promising juniors or the chance to play for an im norm I'm sure the preference would be to go for the norm. Would that mean all titles are doing more harm than good?

In this situation, they don't really help. I'd hope that most players would see the importance of the tournament for the hungry underrated players, but that's probably wishful thinking.

Admittedly, that argument could be used to say I was being optimistic in planning a womens all-play-all but I don't regret making the effort, albeit it's very disappointing to have put in so much time and effort without anything to show for it.

I know what you mean - I hope I'm not in that situation at the end of February (he says, looking at the blank list of BUCA tournament entries received so far).

[LozCooper]

I note, without drawing any conclusions, that Ms Yurenok and Ms Jain have entered other events at Denham/ Uxbridge, and did so in full knowledge that there was an alternative event available.

Quite true. Maria played in the WIM event in London in December but as the Uxbridge event wasn't a norm event and had a lower average it didn't have the same appeal to her. I think Radha, quite rightly, prefered to play in a stronger event and one where she wouldn't have to play so many of her friends.

[Sean Hewitt]

I think Loz is to to be commended for trying to give female players this opportunity. It's obviously a pity that there was insufficient interest in the event but that was not for the lack of trying on his part.

What I find more interesting than Maria and Radha playing in the Challengers is the fact that others have chosen not too. If the interest was not there for an all female event, and there is even less interest in playing the regular mixed event, what is the interest level in playing (international) chess full stop?

I don't know the answer, but I agree that it's an interesting debate alongside the 4NCL conversation.

[LozCooper]

I wonder whether a Scheveningen was considered? With regards to females only tourneys, I quote two lady internationals "We prefer not to play each other as we share our secrets" (overheard at the Agency Masters) and 'Games between girls tend just to peter out.."

There are plenty of high scoring ladies at Gibraltar at the mo, aren't there?

It's very pleasing to see their success in Gibraltar. If only we had that level of money available then we might be able to get them to play in England. I think it's important to play a mixture of events. I'm certainly not advocating womens's events over mixed events but merely as an alternative, particularly to those who don't play many events. It's sometimes more comfortable for them to play in that environment and then hopefully it will give them the encouragement to play in other events. At worst I would say that a couple of womens events are better than no events at all.

Ironically I think that games between women are just as if not harder fought judging by the womens event in London and the top level womens events.