BLACKPOOL - HE'S BACK!

[David Gilbert]

It’s been a long time since we saw Matthew Sadler playing chess in England, except maybe the occasional 4NCL game. But there's his name at the top of the 283 entries for Blackpool next week. Come to the North West for the biggest weekend congress of the season. It should be a good weekend. Mind you it often rains, or if you’re really unlucky it snows, so bring your sowester, yellow is very fashionable at the moment.

[LawrenceCooper]

It’s been a long time since we saw Matthew Sadler playing chess in England, except maybe the occasional 4NCL game. But there's his name at the top of the 283 entries for Blackpool next week. Come to the North West for the biggest weekend congress of the season. It should be a good weekend. Mind you it often rains, or if you’re really unlucky it snows, so bring your sowester, yellow is very fashionable at the moment.

London Chess Classic?

[Jonathan Rogers]

It’s been a long time since we saw Matthew Sadler playing chess in England, except maybe the occasional 4NCL game. But there's his name at the top of the 283 entries for Blackpool next week. Come to the North West for the biggest weekend congress of the season. It should be a good weekend. Mind you it often rains, or if you’re really unlucky it snows, so bring your sowester, yellow is very fashionable at the moment.

Seven 4NCL games from the last nine opportunities? He looks like becoming a 4NCL regular.

[Matt Mackenzie]

283 entries?? Was a bit higher than that just a few years ago......

[David Gilbert]

283 entries?? Was a bit higher than that just a few years ago......

That's right. There were about 400 entries in 2012 when there were six sections, against around 300 in 2013 when there were five sections. With a week to go there are (now) 285 for five sections, and often it's the last week when people commit themselves, so I'd expect those numbers to rise closer to the 350 mark.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Of course, you often got quite a few more than 400 in the Winter Gardens days.......

I entered this congress every year between 1995 and 2012 (with a single exception) But I never even got sent an entry form this year - why not?

[Alex Holowczak]

I entered this congress every year between 1995 and 2012 (with a single exception) But I never even got sent an entry form this year - why not?

Two possible suggestions:
(1) There was a new Organiser between 2013 and 2014. With the transfer of organisation, have you dropped off the mailing list?
(2) Perhaps they've stopped posting entry forms to individuals? From a sample size of 1 (you!), you know when the event is. So if you want to enter, you can find the entry form online easily enough without a postal prompt.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Either explanation is possible, would be interested to know what it is though

[David Gilbert]

Either explanation is possible, would be interested to know what it is though

Come on down! It’s easy to enter on-line, and when you get to Blackpool you can ask your question of the organisers face-to-face. I don’t remember getting an entry form through the post, but then I didn’t enter last year either. Numbers up to 333 on tonight's update.

[Sean Hewitt]

Anybody else having problems with the tournament website?

Infection Blocked
URL: http://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/
Infection: JS:HideMe-I [Trj]

Relax, your avast! just saved you from a virus.

[Carl Hibbard]

Anybody else having problems with the tournament website?

Infection Blocked
URL: http://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/
Infection: JS:HideMe-I [Trj]

Relax, your avast! just saved you from a virus.

Looks ok from here but it's a very quick look and I don't have virus scanner software anyway.

[Roger de Coverly]

Anybody else having problems with the tournament website?

If you get in, you are rewarded with Surtees v Sadler as top board pairing. Matthew electing the French as the best antidote to the offbeat Surtees opening theories.

(edit) Although positional in style, Matthew was always very sharp on tactics. Here ( 10 .. Nxe5) it looks as if a miniature could be in prospect.(/edit)

[Carl Hibbard]

Anybody else having problems with the tournament website?

If you get in, you are rewarded with Surtees v Sadler as top board pairing. Matthew electing the French as the best antidote to the offbeat Surtees opening theories.

(edit) Although positional in style, Matthew was always very sharp on tactics. Here ( 10 .. Nxe5) it looks as if a miniature could be in prospect.(/edit)

Yes looks horribly lost already.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Round one was a win for Sadler in 20 moves. This game, round 2, will probably last longer, but Sadler did win a pawn on move 10 as has been pointed out. Still trying to work out what the follow-up would have been if White played 11.Nxe5. Does it start Qh4+ or Bf2+? Maybe Qh4+ g3 then Bf2+ and some combination of Qh5+ and Bxg3? I see Hebden has won in 18 moves on board 2 (the younger Fernandez respectfully resigning once the GM had won a pawn)! (Hebden took 53 moves to win in round 1).

Sadler-Cawley (R1):

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.Nc3 g6 5.h4 h5 6.d4 exd4 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Qe7 9.Kf1 Ne5 10.Bg5 f6 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 12.Qd3 Kf7 13.Re1 Qd6 14.Rh3 Bg7 15.Rf3 a6 16.Bc4 b5 17.Bb3 Bb7 18.Bf4 Qc5 19.d6 Bd5 20.Re7 {1-0}

[Carl Hibbard]

I see Hebden has won in 18 moves on board 2 (the younger Fernandez respectfully resigning once the GM had won a pawn)!

To be fair he is losing a second on c6 as well as perhaps only being able to castle into a further mess.