SO WHO'S GOING TO SHEFFIELD? I AM!

[Alex McFarlane]

The spreadsheet going back to 1989 counts 'paid and played' only. The figure I gave is on that basis. The higher figure contains those who have entered but did not turn up and have so far not offered an explanation.

Unless players turn up tomorrow (which has happened in the past) then 951 is the final figure based on the same criteria as previously.

[Mick Norris]

I enjoyed my visit to Sheffield on Saturday, impressive venue and my daughter (who doesn't play chess) was impressed with the National Swimming Championships taking place in the same building

Good to talk briefly with a few people including meeting Sabrina (coaching in the venue )

British Gas obviously stump up lots of cash for swimming and were plastered all over the venue, pity we can't do something to improve the profile of the chess

Interesting to see everyone playing in the same large sports hall, made it feel like one event unlike Liverpool (which was a much nicer building of course)

I can't be the only one irritated that the main events only take place on 1 of the days I can actually attend - I know there has been extensive discussion about changing from the 2 week format, but how about round 1 on the first Sunday, a break on the Thursday, play Friday to Monday, break Tuesday, play Weds to Friday?

Would improve spectator opportunities live and online

All credit to those involved with the website and live broadcast, but sponsors will be attracted by internet traffic, and this must be potentially higher at weekends

[Jonathan Bryant]

I can't be the only one irritated that the main events only take place on 1 of the days I can actually attend ....

I'm sure not. Funnily enough, I was writing about exactly this myself on the blog today too. I referenced somebody here on the EC Forum Sheffield thread talking about the internet commentary sound breaking down on Saturday - the only day he could actually listen to it.

To me it's madness that there's no play in the championship tournament on 50% of the weekend. I wonder when the current schedule was introduced. It was certainly before the Sunday Trading Laws changed back in the 1990s (I think) and the world has changed a lot since then. They play Test Match cricket now on Sundays after all and they never used to do that.

Time to drag the British Championship kicking and screaming into the late 20th century?

[Alex Holowczak]

Time to drag the British Championship kicking and screaming into the late 20th century?

If we did, it'd be a moot point, because it wouldn't be an 11-round Championship. It'd be basically the same format as London this year.

[Jonathan Bryant]

I don't understand the point you're making Alex.

I'm saying there should be play on both days of the weekend. I don't see why that should necessarily have any impact on whether the championship is 11 rounds or not.

[Roger de Coverly]

I wonder when the current schedule was introduced.

1904 or earlier probably, certainly 1945 and later. In the days of adjournments there may have been action on the weekend Sunday with unfinished games being finalised.

Long, long ago, the booking cycle for the British seaside holiday worked in whole Saturday to Saturday weeks. The Chess Congress of the BCF fitted in with this.

[Alex Holowczak]

I don't understand the point you're making Alex.

I'm saying there should be play on both days of the weekend. I don't see why that should necessarily have any impact on whether the championship is 11 rounds or not.

I'm trying to say that if we were modernising the Championship, we'd have a 9-round Championship and not 11-rounds. As a result of this, you'd play on 4 days of two weekends, and 5 days in the week. So you'd get around the Sunday rest day problem.

There will be some who have byes on the Sunday if the Championship or Major Open played on it.

[IM Jack Rudd]

I'm trying to say that if we were modernising the Championship, we'd have a 9-round Championship and not 11-rounds.

Vucinic: let's reject that.

[Robert Dale]

Just a quiet plea from churchgoers (there are still a few) to keep Sunday as the rest day!
Actually, even today, Saturday to Saturday works out best for many working people taking holidays.

[Michael Yeo]

I wonder when the current schedule was introduced.

In the days of adjournments there may have been action on the weekend Sunday with unfinished games being finalised.

I doubt that. In 1986, my Saturday adjournment was resumed on the Monday morning.

[Stewart Reuben]

I wonder when the current schedule was introduced.

1904 or earlier probably, certainly 1945 and later. In the days of adjournments there may have been action on the weekend Sunday with unfinished games being finalised.

Long, long ago, the booking cycle for the British seaside holiday worked in whole Saturday to Saturday weeks. The Chess Congress of the BCF fitted in with this.

When I started running the event in 1981 basically people arrived Saturday or Sunday and left after the prizegiving nearly two weeks later on Saturday morning. Observance of the Sabbath was quite a major matter. 1982 I introduced the free simul on the opening Sunday and the cricket match was introduced in 1981 for the middle Sunday. The structure has undergone various changes in the past 30 years. In case people are confused, I last ran it completely in 1997 and was heavily involved in 2008 and 2009.
This is the first time, as far as I know, that somebody has suggested the rest day be changed. It is logical for it to be the middle Saturday or Sunday because that is halfway through. It has also been suggested that the event become 9 day Saturday to Sunday. Personally I would recommend there be no major structural change until after 2013, which will be the 100th British Chess Championships.
The event is very successful and I would be loath to consider radical changes. One problem is finding out what would persuade more players to come. The people who come or don't come have a bewilderingly different set of criteria.
When I ran it I regarded it as a considerable, but welcome, burden that people were entrusting 1/26 of their life to me.
Stewart Reuben

[Mark Howitt]

There should be play on Sundays.

[Sean Hewitt]

All credit to those involved with the website and live broadcast, but sponsors will be attracted by internet traffic, and this must be potentially higher at weekends

I don't know what the experience is at this years British, and it may be tricky to get with all the problems that 2seeitlive have had but in my experience web traffic is higher Monday - Friday (and highest on a Monday) than at weekends.

[Carl Hibbard]

All credit to those involved with the website and live broadcast, but sponsors will be attracted by internet traffic, and this must be potentially higher at weekends

I don't know what the experience is at this years British, and it may be tricky to get with all the problems that 2seeitlive have had but in my experience web traffic is higher Monday - Friday (and highest on a Monday) than at weekends.

Saturday was a little under 4,000 unique visitors to the live element with around 2.6 million requests peaking at about 1.5Mbps

[Jonathan Bryant]

I'm trying to say that if we were modernising the Championship, we'd have a 9-round Championship and not 11-rounds. As a result of this, you'd play on 4 days of two weekends, and 5 days in the week. So you'd get around the Sunday rest day problem.

Well, I can see that's one way of changing the championship format would be to switch to what you suggest here - I can remember discussing this sort of thing before actually - but I don't see that automatically follows.

As for the championships being "successful". I'm sure the whole two week festival is very popular amongst those who attend it and the label "successful" seems very appropriate. I'm far from convinced that the championship tournament itself is as good as it could be, however.

Finally, as for the churchgoers, while there may be quite a few chess folk who also like to go to church on Sunday, I suspect they are a very small minority of the total.