ECU Senior Chess Championship 25 May to 4 June 2023

[Mick Norris]

over 50 results with Keith playing Sturua on top board in round 5, Stephen Dishman, Mike Waddington and Petra Fink-Nunn also playing

over 65 with John Nunn as top seed, Terry Chapman, Paul Raynes, Michael Stokes, Ivan Myall, Hassan Erdogan and Peter Rawcliffe

Good luck to all

website

Live games round 5 50+ and 65+

[NickFaulks]

Anyone else following this?

The over 50 yesterday was a bit sad, with Sturua doing to Keith what we have become used to seeing Keith doing to people. Nine rounds, so still a way to go.

In the over 65 John has cut a swathe through the field, drawing only with Terry, and now plays his main rivals.

[NickFaulks]

and now plays his main rivals.

Drawn in 16 moves. A glass of Wincarnis and an early night.

[Tim Harding]

Top pairings in the 65+ from tomorrow's round 7:
GM Ftacnik (5.5) v GM Fernandez Garcia (5)
Dr W. Polster (5) v GM Nunn (5)
Then 6 players on 4.5 including defending champion IM Renman and two players John has already met (Terry Chapman and Dr Matthias Kierzek); Nona Gaprindashvili has 4.

Assuming John can win, he can expect to meet Ftacnik in round 8, probably needing to win, and his final opponent could be Renman,

In the 50+, Stephen Dishman is doing very well, sharing the lead on 5/6 but plays Black against IM Fabrizio Bellia tomorrow.
Sturua is the other player on 5 points; he will play Black against GM Suat Atalik who is on 4.5, as have six other players including Keith who has a winnable pairing with White. The top three get free entry and accommodation for the next World Seniors so that is presumably Keith's target now.

[Phil Neatherway]

Is IM Renman the player who famously lost to Mestel at the Malta Olympiad in 1981?

[Matt Mackenzie]

1980, but yes I think it is.

[Tim Harding]

John Nunn was held to a draw today by Polster of Germany, so in tomorrow's round 8 John badly needs to beat GM Ftacnik, who also drew and remains half a point ahead.
In the board 3 game Renman lost to untitled Gal Moshe of Israel while board 4 was drawn, but Terry Chapman scored a fine win on board 5 to move up to joint second/sixth.
Terry will have Black against Moshe while GM Fernandez Garcia plays Polster.

In the 50+ Stephen Dishman drew with Bellia but that was enough to remain in joint first. In round 8 he has Black against GM Sturua while Bellia will play Lacasa Diaz who joined the leading group.

Keith drew and will play White against GM Atalik in round 8 but they are both half a point behind.

In other news, after a long delay FIDE announced today that the World Senior Individual Championships will be held in Terrasini, Sicily (near Palermo) in a reversal of April's decision to award the event to Buenos Aires "subject to inspection". These championships had originally been awarded to Sochi in Russia.
I shall update the Seniors pages of my website www.chessmail.com tomorrow

[Mick Norris]

Keith has won the Senior Blitz and Open blitz

[Mick Norris]

John Nunn was held to a draw today by Polster of Germany, so in tomorrow's round 8 John badly needs to beat GM Ftacnik, who also drew and remains half a point ahead.
In the board 3 game Renman lost to untitled Gal Moshe of Israel while board 4 was drawn, but Terry Chapman scored a fine win on board 5 to move up to joint second/sixth.
Terry will have Black against Moshe while GM Fernandez Garcia plays Polster.

In the 50+ Stephen Dishman drew with Bellia but that was enough to remain in joint first. In round 8 he has Black against GM Sturua while Bellia will play Lacasa Diaz who joined the leading group.

Keith drew and will play White against GM Atalik in round 8 but they are both half a point behind.

In other news, after a long delay FIDE announced today that the World Senior Individual Championships will be held in Terrasini, Sicily (near Palermo) in a reversal of April's decision to award the event to Buenos Aires "subject to inspection". These championships had originally been awarded to Sochi in Russia.
I shall update the Seniors pages of my website www.chessmail.com tomorrow

Stephen & Keith drew; final round pairings

1 1 GM Sturua, Zurab 2518 6 6 IM Lacasa Diaz, Jose Antonio 2359 6
2 4 IM Bellia, Fabrizio 2393 6 6 FM Wacker, Peter 2265 12
3 13 FM Dishman, Stephen 2259 6 5½ IM Van Der Werf, Mark 2396 3
4 2 GM Atalik, Suat 2441 5½ 5½ IM Vinter-Schou, Uffe 2351 9
5 10 FM Sigfusson, Sigurdur 2279 5½ 5½ GM Arkell, Keith C 2390 5
6 14 IM Berend, Fred 2257 5½ 5½ GM Mrva, Martin 2353 7

If Stephen wins tomorrow, is that an IM norm?

John drew but Terry won

1 2 GM Ftacnik, Lubomir 2456 6½ 6½ FM Chapman, Terry P D 2204 12
2 16 Kierzek, Matthias Dr. 2163 6 6 GM Fernandez Garcia, Jose Luis 2370 3
3 1 GM Nunn, John D M 2579 6 5½ GM Gaprindashvili, Nona 2274 5
4 14 Polster, Wolfgang Dr. 2189 6 5½ IM Pomes Marcet, Joan 2239 7

[LawrenceCooper]

Stephen & Keith drew; final round pairings

1 1 GM Sturua, Zurab 2518 6 6 IM Lacasa Diaz, Jose Antonio 2359 6
2 4 IM Bellia, Fabrizio 2393 6 6 FM Wacker, Peter 2265 12
3 13 FM Dishman, Stephen 2259 6 5½ IM Van Der Werf, Mark 2396 3
4 2 GM Atalik, Suat 2441 5½ 5½ IM Vinter-Schou, Uffe 2351 9
5 10 FM Sigfusson, Sigurdur 2279 5½ 5½ GM Arkell, Keith C 2390 5
6 14 IM Berend, Fred 2257 5½ 5½ GM Mrva, Martin 2353 7

If Stephen wins tomorrow, is that an IM norm?

I believe so, yes. He also has norms from the 2002-03 4NCL and the 2017 Xtracon Open but would still need to reach 2400 (unless this happened before 2000).

[NickFaulks]

but would still need to reach 2400 (unless this happened before 2000)

2365 peak.

[Richard Bates]

Stephen & Keith drew; final round pairings

1 1 GM Sturua, Zurab 2518 6 6 IM Lacasa Diaz, Jose Antonio 2359 6
2 4 IM Bellia, Fabrizio 2393 6 6 FM Wacker, Peter 2265 12
3 13 FM Dishman, Stephen 2259 6 5½ IM Van Der Werf, Mark 2396 3
4 2 GM Atalik, Suat 2441 5½ 5½ IM Vinter-Schou, Uffe 2351 9
5 10 FM Sigfusson, Sigurdur 2279 5½ 5½ GM Arkell, Keith C 2390 5
6 14 IM Berend, Fred 2257 5½ 5½ GM Mrva, Martin 2353 7

If Stephen wins tomorrow, is that an IM norm?

I believe so, yes. He also has norms from the 2002-03 4NCL and the 2017 Xtracon Open but would still need to reach 2400 (unless this happened before 2000).

Would he? Isn't 1st equal in the Euro (continental) seniors an automatic IM title with minimum rating of 2200? Or am i misreading?

[LawrenceCooper]

Stephen & Keith drew; final round pairings

1 1 GM Sturua, Zurab 2518 6 6 IM Lacasa Diaz, Jose Antonio 2359 6
2 4 IM Bellia, Fabrizio 2393 6 6 FM Wacker, Peter 2265 12
3 13 FM Dishman, Stephen 2259 6 5½ IM Van Der Werf, Mark 2396 3
4 2 GM Atalik, Suat 2441 5½ 5½ IM Vinter-Schou, Uffe 2351 9
5 10 FM Sigfusson, Sigurdur 2279 5½ 5½ GM Arkell, Keith C 2390 5
6 14 IM Berend, Fred 2257 5½ 5½ GM Mrva, Martin 2353 7

If Stephen wins tomorrow, is that an IM norm?

I believe so, yes. He also has norms from the 2002-03 4NCL and the 2017 Xtracon Open but would still need to reach 2400 (unless this happened before 2000).

Would he? Isn't 1st equal in the Euro (continental) seniors an automatic IM title with minimum rating of 2200? Or am i misreading?

It may be but I wasn't awake enough when I posted to have even considered that possibility!

[Tim Harding]

I don't think Senior championships count under the regulations for automatic titles in continental events. This question was raised last year in Dresden when somebody appeared to have norm chances in the European Senior Teams competitions.

Note also that somebody started a separate thread for these tournaments in the International section.
Good luck today to Terry Chapman and Stephen Dishman who are co-leaders in their respective events going into the last round, and to John Nunn who can still perhaps win the 65+ if others draw and the tiebreaks work out.

[Richard Bates]

I don't think Senior championships count under the regulations for automatic titles in continental events. This question was raised last year in Dresden when somebody appeared to have norm chances in the European Senior Teams competitions.

Would think that must have involved a different question (but happy to be corrected).

Individual seniors tournaments are specifically written into the regulations.

https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B01DirectTitles2017