English Chess Forum

Chris Rice wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:25 pm

Well done to Ravi and Marcus plus Lawrence, The Friends of Chess, John Robinson Trust & the English Chess Federation for making it happen. Could I just ask whether Agnieszka did indeed make her final norm too?

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:31 pm

She has been present throughout and played her part so it's looking very promising

One of the advantages of seeking an arbiter norm rather than a player norm is that you have to maintain a good standard, but not to obtain a specific score. One of the disadvantages is that you cannot obtain a norm a round before the end.

However, I am confident that by the end of the day England will have two new title holders designate and one player now clearly of GM strength ready to battle for the title at his next event.

Aga with Lawrence and Malcolm


The playing conditions look like they were very good.

At the risk of thanking everyone on the planet, it was obviously a very successful event, so well done everyone.

The playing conditions look excellent!

Adam Raoof wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 23, 2021 7:19 pm

The playing conditions look excellent!

Thanks Adam (and Chris up thread).

I would like to say that it was a result of inspecting venues up and down the country but in reality it was the only venue that responded to my e-mail!

Complete PGN file of the event attached.

IM Jack Rudd wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 26, 2021 1:06 am

https://chessgospinny.blogspot.com/2021 ... 19-23.html

Many thanks for that Jack.

I suspected, but only worked it out since the tournament ended, that this may not have been the strongest tournament held in Stafford in terms of rating average of the top ten players as my 30th birthday blitz in 2000 had a top ten average of 2448 compared to the norm event this year which had an average of 2410!

The 2022 edition will take place from 14th-19th July to avoid clashing with the Olympiad, British & Northumbria Masters.