English Chess Forum

Hi All,
I am the organiser of The Watford Rapid-Play and a constant player in other rapid-play tournaments. I, personally don't chase grading points and if I lose the chance to win a prize in a tournament I find it difficult to motivate myself and play a good game. This happens mostly in rapid-plays.
As an organiser I don't know what players would prefer: Higher serious prize money but ungraded games giving the freedom even to non ECF members to join the tournament or little prizes but graded games?
So if you are a tournament player please let me know what matters to you: Money or grading points?
I am considering transforming Watford Rapid-Play in a Chess for Cash tournament... so your thoughts will be appreciated.

Marinel - Believe you've posted this on the wrong board, that for junior chess, and you might get more response - there surely can't be total lack of interest - if it appeared under a more appropriate topic.

Yes Roger you are correct. I have posted it accidentally in the wrong category. Now that is here is good to know how juniors feel about it although I don't see to many having an ECF account,
Basically the question is for all tournament players juniors or not.
The new section of Watford Rapidplay with cosistent prizes but ungraded will start from September 26.

From September 26 Watford Rapid-Play will have a play for cash tournament with consistent prizes but ungraded games.
1st Place £250, 2nd £150, the best in the last 4 rounds £100, and guarantees £100 to all players scoring 4.5 out of 6.
The name of the tournament is Chess Freedom 4.5 Rapid-Play. More details about the tournament can be found at the WatfordRapidplay website. This tournament is opened to anyone who knows how to play chess.
Excellent playing conditions at the usual Jurys Inn Watford venue.

That should get some attention and draw players in from far and wide.

Might even go myself.

Best of luck with the event.

Marinel Miu wrote:Yes Roger you are correct. I have posted it accidentally in the wrong category. Now that is here is good to know how juniors feel about it although I don't see to many having an ECF account,
Basically the question is for all tournament players juniors or not.
The new section of Watford Rapidplay with cosistent prizes but ungraded will start from September 26.

I merged and move the topic to somewhere more relevant.

Some additional information.

http://watfordrapidplay.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html

Entry Fee: £40 for advance paid entries or £50 in the last week

Minimum players required: 20 In case of insufficient players all entry fees are fully refunded.
Maximum players: 40

Gareth T Ellis wrote: Minimum players required: 20 In case of insufficient players all entry fees are fully refunded.
Maximum player 40

Being realistic, at that level of entry fee and no grading prizes or split sections, is it going to attract players of a lower standard than 4NCL div 2/3 or Open county teams? A newcomer might turn up, get trounced in almost every game and never be seen again.

It looked good until the detail emerged.

Does that make it the dearest rapidplay in England ?

Gareth T Ellis wrote: Does that make it the dearest rapidplay in England ?

http://www.londonchessclassic.com/downl ... y_Form.pdf

The entry fees to last year's London Classic Rapidplay exceeded it.
http://www.londonchessclassic.com/downl ... y_Form.pdf
Entry fee was £ 40, £ 50 or £ 60 depending on how late you entered plus a £ 6 surcharge for non-ECF Silver members.

That was a two day event with a chance to play someone really famous.

The British Rapidplay is £ 44 for the Open. That's two days as well but £ 7 less for ECF Silver members.
http://www.british-rapidplay.org.uk/201 ... ay2015.pdf

The 4NCL two day event next month is £ 35 with £ 5 off for ECF Silver members.

All the two day events gave free entry to IMs and GMs (WIMs and WGMs as well).
http://www.4ncl.co.uk/rapidblitz/information.htm

Interesting - prize fund at least £500 (plus £100 for each player not finishing in the top 2 who gets at least 4.5 points)

Maximum entry 40 @ £40 = £1,600
Minimum entry 20 @ £40 = £800

Good luck to the organisers

Gareth T Ellis wrote:Some additional information.

http://watfordrapidplay.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html

Entry Fee: £40 for advance paid entries or £50 in the last week

Minimum players required: 20 In case of insufficient players all entry fees are fully refunded.
Maximum players: 40

Thank You Gareth for "advertising" my tournaments. Ironically I was looking today at your website for equipment as I currently rent it.
Still if you don't want to be biased you should mention what prizes offer the other tournaments that have lower entry fees and where are they organised.
What other tournament guarantees more than double the entry fee for 4.5 points out of 6?

Mick Norris wrote:Interesting - prize fund at least £500 (plus £100 for each player not finishing in the top 2 who gets at least 4.5 points)

Maximum entry 40 @ £40 = £1,600
Minimum entry 20 @ £40 = £800

Good luck to the organisers

Your math skills are very good but I am missing your point.
Yes I organise it at at a loss with 20 players.
So far all the prizes were paid fully in my previous tournaments despite the fact none was even close to cover the costs.
A tournament requires people to run it, a venue, equipment and other associated costs, not just prize money.
The tournament is for good players who can stand a chance of reaching 4.5 or at least have the best score in the last 4 rounds.

Marinel Miu wrote: what prizes offer the other tournaments that have lower entry fees and where are they organised.

The obvious comparison is with Adam Raoof's monthly series of quickplays down the road at Golders Green. His offering is first prize of £ 100 and second prize of £ 50 against an entry fee of £ 25, or £ 31 for non-members of the ECF. But that's run as four sections with grading prizes and junior prizes subject to entries. Perhaps it's not directly comparable, but at the Open and perhaps U170 level, I would have thought Watford is trying to attract the same players as Golders Green.

Outside of London, the usual practice is that local organisers run a tournament on their patch once a year. If you get several, as is the case I believe in Manchester, that forms a local circuit.

Still if you don't want to be biased you should mention what prizes offer the other tournaments that have lower entry fees and where are they organised.

£2,100 in the two-day 4NCL Rapidplay (entry fee £30).
£1,050 in the one-day 4NCL Blitz (entry fee £20).