11/11

[Steven DuCharme]

Bo Pang ....GOD DANG

[Ian Thompson]

A ringer. It appears he complied with the letter of the rules (never had a FIDE rating in excess of 2000), but not the spirit ("successfully played strong tournaments and opponents in China and is much stronger than players with a real rating of 1400").

[Roger de Coverly]

His official FIDE rating is 1400, but he has yet to play an international tournament and is virtually unrated. However, he has successfully played strong tournaments and opponents in China and is much stronger than players with a real rating of 1400.

For a UK based player to do this (reach a standard some way above 2000) without playing FIDE rated chess is presumably still possible by virtue of local leagues ,county matches, some weekenders and club internal tournaments. Outside the London League and perhaps Yorkshire Woodhouse, would the opposition be strong enough?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Yes, it has surely happened in an English context a few times.

[Graham Alcock]

Jeremy Leake of Streatham might be the strongest. ECF rating of 2310, but doesn’t have a FIDE id

[John Upham]

His official FIDE rating is 1400, but he has yet to play an international tournament and is virtually unrated. However, he has successfully played strong tournaments and opponents in China and is much stronger than players with a real rating of 1400.

For a UK based player to do this (reach a standard some way above 2000) without playing FIDE rated chess is presumably still possible by virtue of local leagues ,county matches, some weekenders and club internal tournaments. Outside the London League and perhaps Yorkshire Woodhouse, would the opposition be strong enough?

It wasn't that long ago that a junior "reached" IM strength in not much more than a year down in the west country.

[Steven DuCharme]

<hops off the Pang Express>