The British itself!

[IM Jack Rudd]

I've just done some back-of-an-envelope calculations about Daniel Fernandez's norm chances. If I'm right, he needs 2/2 with PIN 16 or better in round 9.

[PeterFarr]

The draw is up.

Howell-Hawkins hopefully will be a good game. Howell will want to win it.
Pert-Pert might be a 'gentlemanly/brotherly' draw.

And... I am for one, looking forward to Rudd-Williams!

Yes indeed... Rudd-Williams - fasten seat belts..

[Roger de Coverly]

If I'm right, he needs 2/2 with PIN 16 or better in round 9.

Does the "National Championship" exemption apply even though he isn't ENG?

[Lewis Martin]

I've just done some back-of-an-envelope calculations about Daniel Fernandez's norm chances. If I'm right, he needs 2/2 with PIN 16 or better in round 9.

Unfortunately, it looks like Yang-Fan's chances of a GM norm are over. Not that he was really in serious contention for one after the first half of the tournament.

Hawkins hasn't got much hope has he, with regards to playing another of the Welsh players and he has still to play another 2 GMs. It is not impossible for an 11-round norm(yet).

[David Sedgwick]

If I'm right, he needs 2/2 with PIN 16 or better in round 9.

Does the "National Championship" exemption apply even though he isn't ENG?

Yes. The exemption applies to the event, not to particular players or groups of players.

[John McKenna]

Justin Horton seeks inspiration for a win in the exemplar of his father in a bygone event...

http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... orton.html

[John McKenna]

Do my eyes deceive me?

Bd. 2 Pert,R-Pert,N 1.e4 e5 1/2-1/2

[Clive Blackburn]

Do my eyes deceive me?

Bd. 2 Pert,R-Pert,N 1.e4 e5 1/2-1/2

Not really a surprise! Is there anything in the rules to forbid quick draws?

[John McKenna]

No, I guess not, but why not avoid pairing siblings if humanely possible?

[Barry Sandercock]

Tony Miles once agreed a draw with no moves played (Luton 1975)

[John Moore]

Go on, Barry, say it - with a certain S Reuben. I recall there being a certain amount of fuss.

[John McKenna]

That story has been gone through before on this forum.
Tony Miles was a consummate chess professional who no doubt needed to coast at times.
Yesterday was a rest day at these championships!?

[John McKenna]

Anyway, let's not dwell on the question of quick draws, there are plenty of other games and still all to play for.

[John McKenna]

The other top boards are shaping up for some competitive chess.
However, Howell-Hawkins has a slow-burning fuse, it seems.

[Barry Sandercock]

Howell will obviously want to win, so that one should be very interesting.