European Senior Team Championships 2019

Information and discussion on all matters relating to Seniors Chess.
Tim Harding
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European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Tim Harding » Sat Apr 27, 2019 4:39 pm

As the previous thread on senior events has become side-tracked, it is time to start a new one.
I have updated my Seniors (and Irish) pages at:

http://www.chessmail.com/index.html

The regulations are finally available for the European Senior Team Championships to be held in Mali Losinj, an island in northern Croatia, from 17-26 September, and these files can be downloaded from my calendar page:

http://www.chessmail.com/seniors/Seniors-calendar.html

There you can also find the regulations for the World Senior Individual Championships in Bucharest (11-24 November) which have been available for about two weeks. Both these events are at different venues from those announced earlier in the year.

A point to note about the EU teams is that they are banning draws in under 30 moves; this is probably a first for Senior events?

Finally, congratulations to all the English medal winners in Rhodes!
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com

Tim Spanton
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Tim Spanton » Sun Apr 28, 2019 10:16 am

Very useful calendar - makes it easy to see senior options at a glance (I am playing at three of your listed events - Bad Wiessee, Olomouc and the British!)
https://beauchess.blogspot.com/

Stewart Reuben
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Stewart Reuben » Wed May 29, 2019 1:16 pm

The European Senior Team Chess Championships take place in Croatia 17-27 September 2019. Full details can be found here -
https://www.fide.com/images/stories/FID ... -20192.pdf or www.european2019chess-losinj.com

Please complete this form online if ENG - https://britchess.wufoo.com/forms/estcc ... ry-request.

Do NOT book flights until you have received confirmation from me that there is a team suitable for you.
Players rated under 1800 or graded under ECF 150 may not enjoy the experience.
Please send the form off by 10 June (at that stage it can be tentative.) Then we can finalise by 17 June. We have to send in our team lists by 17 July.

In order to play in the 50+, you must have been born by 31 December 1969 at the latest. Thus all players in the 65+ age group are entitled to play in the 50+.
In order to play in the 65+, you must have been born by 31 December 1954 at the latest.

You must be registered with FIDE ENG. If you do not currently have a FIDE Identification Number (FIN) then you must obtain one. Email David Clayton on [email protected]

The event takes place 17-27 September 2019. This means the arrival date and registration are 17 September. Registration takes place 15-21.00. Play takes place 18-26 September every day at 15.00. Departure is 27 September.

The playing venue is Hotel AURORA, Mali Losinj Island, Croatia.
We will be staying at the Hotel VESPERA which is adjacent to the Aurora. Suncana uvale S, S51550 Mali Losinj 0038551231304
Losinj Island is often called Fragrant Island due to more than 1000 species of medicinal plants whose scents are felt in the air and create a unique experience. Rich offer of great hotels, superior wellness facilities and beautiful beaches are just a small part of tourist offer. In September the weather is 25C to 18C.

Each team consists of 4 players + 1 optional reserve. Teams have to be registered by 17 July. line up changes must be made by 17 August **. The reserve must always play on board 4 and the team order cannot be changed. Our system is usually that all 5 players play regularly.

Each tournament is a 9 round Swiss. The time control is 40 moves in 90 minutes, 30 minutes for the rest of the game, +30 seconds per move increment from move 1. This means each player must keep score throughout the game.
Players may only agree a draw after black's 30th move.**
The default time for all rounds is 15 minutes.**
**I am trying to get these three rules amended.

Several excursions and evening entertainment will be organised during the event.

The Hotel Vespera is a family hotel.
https://uk.hotels.com/ho202239/?q-check ... SX=0&SYE=3 provides some photos.
It is full board.
COSTS per person
bridge overseas fee £50
ECU team entry fee €25
organisation fee €40
transfers depend airport €40 Losinj. €110 Rijek (Krk), includes a 25 minute ferry. €140 Pula
accommodation single €77 per night. 17-27 is €770 in a room for single occupancy
accommodation double €59 per night. 17-27 is €590 in a room per person for double occupancy.
The bridgeoverseas rate of exchange is probably €1.1 = £1

FLIGHTS
This always complex as people travel from different airports. Here are two possibilities
17.9 07,15 Stansted to Rijeka Ryanair £91.34 2 hours each way.
27.9 10.05 Rijeka to Stansted
17.9 17.20 LHR to Pula BA arrive 20.10 2 hour flight.
28.9 16.30 Pula to LHR arrive 19.15 3.45hrs one change in Zagreb £279.64 It is a long coach ride to and from Mali Losinj. It is probably better to go out 17.9 BA and return 27.9 Ryanair though the maximum baggage allowance, paying extra is 10kg.
A word of warning. I found on the internet a very cheap way of doing the BA flight 27th. I copied the url to provide it for you. I saw though that at the end it had the word 'false'. I phoned BA and there is no available fight that day. That would mean spending an extra night at the Vespera.
I like to go out a day earlier in order to get acclimatised. Travelling out BA on the 16th (a longer journey) and back 28th the cost would be £381.94.

So far 7 50+ and 5 65+ have said yes. 4 more 50+ and 3 more 65+ vary from very likely to possible.

Advance Information: The World Senior Individual takes place in Romania 11-24 November.
The World Senior Team Chess Championship takes place in Prague 4-15 March 2010.

[email protected] 02088926660.

Stewart Reuben
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Stewart Reuben » Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:15 pm

The English squad can now be announced for Croatia 17-27 September 2019.

50+ 1st team: Andrew Ledger, Dave Ledger, Jonathan Nelson, Steve Ledger (captain)
50+ 2nd team: Andrew Lewis, Sheila Jackson, Petra Nunn (captain), Julie Denning.
65+ 1st team: John Quinn, Paul Hutchinson, Mick Stokes (captain), Ian Reynolds
65+ 2nd team: Stewart Reuben (captain), Majid Mashayekh, Peter R Wood, Roger Scowen

Stewart Reuben

Brian Towers
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Brian Towers » Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:32 am

It would be nice if the teams could have names that were a bit more imaginative than "England 1" and "England 2". Could I suggest "The Bookkeepers" and "The Token Man" for the two 50+ teams?
Ah, but I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now.

Stewart Reuben
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Stewart Reuben » Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:44 pm

Brian >It would be nice if the teams could have names that were a bit more imaginative than "England 1" and "England 2". Could I suggest "The Bookkeepers" and "The Token Man" for the two 50+ teams?<

You are welcome to make any suggestion you like. It is up to the teams. The notional first team may be proud to be so named.
I noticed that Finland used 1, 2, 3 and 4. This had an advantage because having two teams named 1 might have caused confusion.
The people most interested in these teams are most likely to be foreign. Thus using a play on words might well not be understood.

Martin Crichton
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Martin Crichton » Wed Jun 26, 2019 11:02 am

absolutely agree with Stewart...its a international representation event and I am sure the players and players from other counties would prefer to be playing for their national team and against a national team be it England 1 or England 2 or England A or England B etc as opposed to The England pawn pushers or some other unfortunately named team. I once played for a chess team called "I am Spartacus" and our captain gave us a team pep talk before our first match and told us should any of us win that we should stand up, pump our opponents hand and declare in a loud voice..."I am Spartacus". It was perhaps very fortunate that we lost 3-1 and only had 2 draws on the night!
Member of "the strongest amateur chess club in London" (Cavendish)

my views are not representative of any clubs or organisations.

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed Jun 26, 2019 12:21 pm

I agree too. I was really pleased to play for England Seniors II a few years ago, even though I know I'm not proper international standard. At present I'm playing CC for "Europe E"!

Tim Harding
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Tim Harding » Wed Sep 18, 2019 2:05 pm

This event is just beginning (2pm BST Wednesday 18 September).
In the 50+ England 1 v Spain; England 2 (team with three women) a bye unfortunately.

In the 65+ England v Ireland.
These matches are live on chess24 and presumably elsewhere.

Team compositions, pairings etc at http://chess-results.com/tnr455202.aspx ... ES&flag=30
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com

Stewart Reuben
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Stewart Reuben » Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:31 pm

Sadly Petra Nunn had a very serious accident on the beach. She is currently in hospital. John Nunn is flying out on Friday.
Thus we have 5 players in ENg 1 50+. 4 players in ENG 2 50+, including 2 women
5 players in ENG 65+ and I took the day off today. As Tim said, we are currently playing against IRE.
Most of my reporta will appear on the ECF website.

Ken Norman
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Ken Norman » Fri Sep 20, 2019 12:19 pm

Sorry to hear the news about Petra Nunn.

I hope the health care in Mali Losinj is adequate.

I’m sure everyone wishes her a speedy recovery.

Stewart Reuben
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Stewart Reuben » Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:29 pm

Ken > She is currently at the hospital on the mainland. John Nunn was due to arrive Friday and they hope to return to England on Monday. I hope to visit her on Sunday, but it would be impossible to play the same day.

John Moore
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by John Moore » Wed Sep 25, 2019 7:54 am

For those who have been following these events, today is Round 8. In the Over 65s, England are playing Russia and in the over 50s, England 1 are also playing Russia. So, some interesting chess in prospect for our teams. I have been following most of the rounds live on ChessBomb and there have been some good games and also rather a lot of blunders.

Mick Norris
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by Mick Norris » Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:54 am

Thanks John, how have the teams looked so far?

I can see in the 65+ England are seeded 7th, and John Quinn is doing well on top board; they've lost to the 2nd, 3rd and 6th seeds, and beaten the 8th and 9th seeds, so ok so far

50+ England 1 are seeded 5th and have lost to the 2nd and 7th seeds, and had the bye in round 4; England 2 are struggling despite Sheila Jackson doing well on top board, and drawing with Germany Women
Any postings on here represent my personal views

John Moore
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Re: European Senior Team Championships 2019

Post by John Moore » Wed Sep 25, 2019 9:12 am

Mick - England 2 have struggled partly because they only have four players (in Petra Nunn's absence) so they have had no rest days. But Sheila Jackson has done well on top board as you say. Andrew Lewis and Dave Ledger have looked a bit out of form for England 1 in the 50+ group but England 1 will be looking forward to playing Russia today as will the over 65s.

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