British Championship Congress 2022

[JustinHorton]

Was the move Rd3 in that final game perfectly timed and how difficult is it to calculate that? Is it actually fairly obvious that sacrificing a second exchange actually gains enough pressure and such a powerful bind on the position that it is not too likely to backfire? That sort of judgement is impressive, but is that move something that most strong chess players would find?

For what it's worth, sat about five metres from the board, it was the move I expected.

[Geoff Chandler]

I think the most surprising winner was Robert Forbes Combe in 1946.

Link to Britbase https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/19 ... iewer.html

"There were 12 players. Originally, the organizers refused the entry of Combe, the Scottish representative,
to play in the championship section due to his lack of practice and the thought that he was not strong enough a player.

It was William Fairhurst who appealed to the organizing committee, vouching for Combe's character and playing strength."

That last part is from Bill Wall; 'Robert Combe - Forgotten British Champion'

http://www.oocities.org/siliconvalley/l ... /combe.htm

[Christopher Kreuzer]

How sad that he (Combe) died aged only 39. I had never read about that player or the 1946 championships before. Thanks for pointing out this forgotten champion, Geoff.

[Matt Mackenzie]

How sad that he (Combe) died aged only 39. I had never read about that player or the 1946 championships before. Thanks for pointing out this forgotten champion, Geoff.

He is most "famous" for a four move loss when playing for Scotland in the 1933 Olympiad.

Though it is generally agreed he would have achieved more in chess but for persistent ill-health.

[Roger de Coverly]

Thanks to Ian and Nick for pointing out that Short and Mestel were younger than Grieve when they first won this title.

Presumably David Howell as well.

[Joey Stewart]

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2355465

Justins R1 game drew the attention of a former british champion, he should feel proud to get such recognition.

[JustinHorton]

<yawn>

[Angus French]

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2355465

Justins R1 game drew the attention of a former british champion, he should feel proud to get such recognition.

Crass comment.

[Joey Stewart]

And again in this one , offering some constructive criticism
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2356906

Seems like justins games are keenly watched.

[Paul Heaton]

Thanks to Ian and Nick for pointing out that Short and Mestel were younger than Grieve when they first won this title.

Presumably David Howell as well.

Adams at Plymouth in 1989, when he was just 17, too

[Angus French]

And again in this one , offering some constructive criticism
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2356906

Seems like justins games are keenly watched.

And another gratuitous insult.

[Joey Stewart]

And again in this one , offering some constructive criticism
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2356906

Seems like justins games are keenly watched.

And another gratuitous insult.

Well, not really that insulting really, it does lead to a better endgame (although it would have been nice to land a knight on g5 in that position but I assume keene, being a British champion, saw more then me)

[MartinCarpenter]

You must have to go back a long way to find anything comparable to this victory. What would be the closest in the history of the championships in terms of big upsets or someone ranked so low (16) in the start list winning? Though to be fair, 16 is not that low in terms of ranking.

16th maybe, but only 140 elo to the top seed? Especially if you give the younger players a modest boost, as it seems you should from a quick glance at how they performed/what I remember of recent history.

There were quite a few younger players around 2400, and I would imagine that their collective chance of winning the event was always quite high. So perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that one of them did

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Fair points there. It is not that big an upset, but let's see how it gets reported.

Does anyone know which game was the game of the day in round 9, and which game won the Alexander Prize for best game of the championships?

There is a list (with the moves of the games) for the games chosen for the first 8 days here:

https://www.britishchesschampionships.c ... ble-games/

Also, any confirmation on GM and IM norms (or any other norms)?

(I know it is a bit early on Monday morning to expect reports and photos and the information above, but asking now in case anyone sees the reports when they are published later today or later in the week - the British Chess Championships this year haven't really attracted coverage from the main chess news outlets, which are focused more on the FTX Crypto Cup. For coverage of a similar, but stronger, national championships, see the Chessbase report on the 2022 Spanish champions.)

[Paul Heaton]

the British Chess Championships this year haven't really attracted coverage from the main chess news outlets, which are focused more on the FTX Crypto Cup.

Does anyone still watch these online tournaments? Or was it not online, and one of those silly sort of in person events wearing headphones?

There was no mention here (that I saw) and I know I paid it zero attention. The upcoming St Louis tournaments however I will follow.