Page 6 of 8

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:30 pm
by Simon Rogers
Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Fri Sep 17, 2021 12:11 pm
"I just need to buy a Blackpool Gazette and cut the grass,"

A lawnmower might be easier...

"the goth weekend up in Whitby."

From what I hear, that is much more entertaining than chess.
My chess games are more entertaining than the Goth Weekend up in Whitby.
Blackpool Gazette is bought, grass is cut and fish 'n' chips for dinner.
Here come the tournaments.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 6:01 pm
by Simon Rogers
Tim Spanton wrote:
Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:14 pm
Scarborough entries updated at http://chess-results.com/tnr575745.aspx?lan=1&art=0
Latest scores on the board for Scarborough Congress from two days ago.
138 entries.
IM Andrew Ledger has entered.
Get ready for this. GM Danny Gormally has entered.
Brilliant !!!

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:36 am
by Simon Rogers
Entry list was updated yesterday evening and has increased to 145 with a number of new entries in the Open section.
I received a few entry forms in the post just now and I will enter the Major section, I have a friend new to Scarborough who has already entered the Minor section.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 12:17 am
by Simon Rogers
The entry list was updated on Saturday 2nd October and the numbers has increased to 179.
I posted my entry form on Friday last week.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 12:07 am
by Simon Rogers
The entry list has just been updated with numbers increasing to 216.
My name has now appeared on the list in the Major Section.
I have entered all 5 rounds aswell.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:12 pm
by Simon Rogers
The entry list has been updated today.
Open 89 entries
Major 41 entries
Intermediate 56 entries
Minor 41 entries
Foundation 14 entries
A total of 241 entries so far.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:09 pm
by Simon Rogers
Tim Spanton wrote:
Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:14 pm
Scarborough entries updated at http://chess-results.com/tnr575745.aspx?lan=1&art=0
The list of entries was again updated yesterday evening.
Here they are:
Open = 97
Major = 49
Intermediate = 66
Minor = 46
Foundation = 19
Total so far of 277 entries.
The highest seeds are:
GM Danny Gormally
IM Brandon Clarke
IM Andrew Ledger
FM David Zakarian

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:40 pm
by Simon Rogers
Scarborough Congress entries have been updated to a figure of 279.
I arrived in the town at 3.30pm and will try to report back when my first game has finished.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:18 pm
by Chris Rice
ImageLovely photo of Scarborough Congress before the start (photo from Lara Barnes).

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 11:39 pm
by Simon Rogers
Just got back at the hotel in Scarborough after my first round game. Mine finished about 10.15pm.
I drew with black against a higher rated opponent.
Great to see so many familiar faces.
Those of you not playing are missing a great time.
I believe most of the top players won in the Open Section.
I felt a bit sorry for an elderly gentleman playing in the Foundation.
He was playing a junior, he moved his white queen to g7 and announced checkmate. But missed the junior had his black queen on b2 which then took the other queen.
Seemed to be a lot of rusty players, myself included.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:55 am
by Richard Bates
Interesting to note the way the entries are skewed towards the Open, which i think would have been a change to what was normal prior to the pandemic. Has anyone got any theories about this (and has this been a feature of recent tournaments elsewhere)? Or just one of those things?

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:05 am
by Matthew Turner
Richard Bates wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:55 am
Interesting to note the way the entries are skewed towards the Open, which i think would have been a change to what was normal prior to the pandemic. Has anyone got any theories about this (and has this been a feature of recent tournaments elsewhere)? Or just one of those things?
I think there are quite a few factors including
1. They got the rating bands slightly wrong
2. I think Open players tend to a be a younger demographic than minor ones, so there will be more players missing from lower sections because of Covid hesitancy
3. I guess people perceive that Opens often have better playing conditions with more spacing which might make playing up attractive (even if subconsciously)

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:05 am
by Tim Spanton
Richard Bates wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:55 am
Interesting to note the way the entries are skewed towards the Open, which i think would have been a change to what was normal prior to the pandemic. Has anyone got any theories about this (and has this been a feature of recent tournaments elsewhere)? Or just one of those things?
I am told. although I do not know for certain, the Major was supposed to have a higher rating limit than U1851, which does seem low, especially when there are five sections

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:11 am
by Roger de Coverly
Richard Bates wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:55 am
Interesting to note the way the entries are skewed towards the Open
It was mentioned earlier in the thread. One particular point with Scarborough was that the rating limit for the second section was set at a low level. Leagues are only slowly coming back to life and some long established Congresses have yet to return, so there are fewer opportunities for hardened players to test their skills.

The opposite effect seemed apparent in online tournaments where once the novelty wore off, the higher rated players are absent. Maybe they prefer Blit if playing online.

Re: Scarborough Congress

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:59 pm
by Simon Rogers
Here is my daily report:
I drew this morning with white against a higher rated opponent. It was a very meaty game which both of us enjoyed.
I'll probably post it the next few weeks.
This afternoon's game, I drew with the black pieces, which we agreed after only 24 moves. It was also against a higher rated opponent.
The game on the adjacent board had a very interesting opening which I would like to discuss in the Chess Questions Category at a future date.
After the chess we then had Fish and Chips at Rennards.
The portion of fish was huge. Great value for money.
Obviously other Fish and Chips venues are available in Scarborough.
Regards the rest, I believe Danny Gormally drew this afternoon and Mick Connor is doing his Karaoke singing tonight in town.