Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Gavin · Bishop Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Dunfermline

As someone who contributes precisely nothing to the junior chess world I just wanted to note my ongoing appreciation for those of you who do - I was arbiting the Knights (ie bottom section) at Edinburgh Congress at the weekend with a number of the juniors who have been mentioned on the various selection threads, and I was very impressed. Wouldn't be fair to single names out but there were two or three in particular who stood out. And in all cases it wasn't just their play that impressed but also their conduct - as far as I could see everyone was polite and respectful to opponents, reminding them when they'd forgotten to press clocks and other little things like that. That's an important part of it too and I hope / imagine it's part of their training.

So good work, all of those who are helping to bring these kids on. Thanks.

Jim Crawford · Bishop Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Edinburgh

I agree with Gavin about the kids I had the pleasure to play two of them the first was Escher Mills we had a good game and I was fortunate to get a draw, after the game we went down to the canteen area to go over our game as I had made an error in my score sheet that Escher helped me fix a very plesent boy.

and the other young chap was Kai Pannwitz from Inverness and praise to his mom who sat patiently waiting most of the time kai was black and he won at one point in the game I thought I had him just a move from mate he sat and looked and found a way out very well played, Kai is seven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UidQ_mvclM&feature=channel_page
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TIGHTLINES

Graeme Kafka · Rook Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 75

Come on Gavin, play fair.

How is anyone supposed to start a fight over this? Smile

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

Graeme, excellent comment very funny - only wish I'd thought of it. I do hope this posting doesn't become hijacked in the next few postings and turn into a fight.

Kai has been on our radar for some time as a talent to watch and a talent to support. He is by no means the only junior making spectacular progress. He plays in the Euro U10 event in Aug - Sept this year. I think we can all agree that his preparation is going well.

Other juniors are making rapid progress.

Here are some stats posted on the main page. These show the number of juniors going up 200 points or more in each season since 2000 - 01.

So far this seson 45 juniors have gone 200 up, I think we are on course for a new record.

To add those stats 21 of those 45 players are CS members (this sample taken because their grade history is easy to track).

Of those 21 players only 2 were not graded in July 2007

Of the other 19 an impressive 16 have gone up by 400 points in 3.5 moonths less than two years. The other 3 show grade rises of 369, 374, 393 points (over 20.5 months)

Season
2001 3
2002 17
2003 17
2004 24
2005 55
2006 40
2007 45
2008 63
2009 ??

HLang · Queen Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 151 Location: Oxford

Is it easy to pick out how many of the 200-ups were graded, say, 800+ or 1000+ at the start of each season? (I'm asking because in recent years there have been a lot more juniors coming on the list as near-beginners with very low grades, who would previously have been unrated, so it's harder to compare like with like without picking a cut-off.)
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admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

For Grades 800 and greater

2001 Total 2
2002 Total 6
2003 Total 10
2004 Total 8
2005 Total 10
2006 Total 7
2007 Total 8
2008 Total 10
2009 Total 12

For 1000 and greater

2001 Total 2
2002 Total 2
2003 Total 8
2004 Total 6
2005 Total 4
2006 Total 3
2007 Total 7
2008 Total 6
2009 Total 8

2009 is showing to be a good year Smile

To me what this shows is a massive improvement in grass roots chess!

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

Thanks Andy,

have to point out that the season still has 3 1/2 months to run.
If we assume that those at +180 now will reach +200 by end of the season then the 2009 figures project to be

>800 Total 18

> 1,000 Total 12

My assumption may be a little optimistic. But its clearly a boom time.

Heather , Ref your point about increased numbers entering the system I suspect that numbers have been stabilised for the last 2 to 3 years. Andy can you easily get the numbers from the grading database?

admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

Sorry Phil

Just rememeber I had this to do

2001 113
2002 108
2003 157
2004 215
2005 318
2006 418
2007 542
2008 335
2009 228

So yes the number of new junior grades are declining. Is this a good thing?

Gavin · Bishop Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Dunfermline

Gavin · Bishop Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Dunfermline

And so that I can make sense of some of those stats, does anyone remember when the minimum grade of 600 was reduced / removed? That would obviously have some effect on the potential for large grading increases.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

It was 300 not 600 if I remember correctly and it was the season Mark Wozniak played and finished on 98% or something mad like that

Andy McCulloch · King Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 280

The grading floor was reduced from 300 to 100 in 2002. Prior to 2003 grades went up in steps of 5.

Gavin · Bishop Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Dunfermline

Ah, thanks. I stand corrected.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

surely not an admission of a mistake on the board? Is that allowed??

Phil can you advise here Wink

Phil Thomas · King Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 758

Andy,

I thought it was policy that all admissions of mistakes were censored out by the administrator.

If not I was wrong when I posted the sentence above.