Chess Scotland Noticeboard

robin moore · King Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 164

Everyone,

Let's make this a season where we all try our best to support as many Scottish congresses as we can. For those that don't play many weekend events you would be astonished at the amount of planning, volunteering and massive unselfish efforts that are put in on our behalf to establish a wonderfully varied tournament circuit. I am assured there are more tourneys in the offing to go alongside our current excellent fair, not only resurrecting old favourites but also introducing new and interesting venues up and down the country. If you feel you can help in any way possible please do so because.... you know what? It feels good !

Robin.

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

Amen to that Robin!

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

You are right about the work and committment that must go into running a weekend congress - everyone doing that deserves the utmost respect and support.

I used to play more congresses than I do now - up to six a year. I've been playing less, lately, and last year I played only one! I was thinking why this was. On the whole, congresses are well run and I still get a 'buzz' from playing when I do. So it must be something else. As for most of us, money has been getting tighter, so maybe that's part of it. However, I think the main reason for me has simply been that I've increasingly found it harder to justifiy spending whole weekends away from family. It just seems such an awful lot of time that I could be doing other things. I guess it was a bit easier when my kids were in to chess as well.

Anyway, after writing this I don't know if it's at all relevant, but never mind and good luck to all the congresses this year!!!

Jacqui Thomas · King Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 340

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

It should be a given that people help out with things like this. I think a good number of folk are quite helpful?

I'm not much help at the beginning of the day, though, as I invariably trail in after the clocks have been started Sad

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

I was wondering about playing rounds on Friday nights.

How much extra does this add to the cost of staging a congress? Maybe it's not much, because a three round on a Saturday congress would finish later on a Saturday (but maybe earlier on a Sunday)...........
Rolling Eyes

Does a two day congress (3 rounds Sat/2 Sunday) have any effect on entry numbers? Does it save players/(arbiters?) much in accommodation costs (or does it mean making such an early start on a Saturday, that people coming a distance would stay overnight on Friday anyway? - or take byes)

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but just wondered if there was any infomation.

AMcHarg · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 3:43 pm Post subject:

robin moore · King Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 164

Both formats have up and down sides. The fri-sat-sun format can be more expensive for organisers to hire venues/equipment. The sat-sun format can be cheaper but the downside is that many players do not wish to play 3 (probably) tough games in one day. For the player also, the sat-sun route may save them in accomodation costs. I personally prefer the fri-sat-sun option, often taking a bye on the friday if a fair distance away, travelling there early on the sat morning and staying in the travelodge on the sat night before travelling home on the sun night. With petrol prices as they are this is the route my friends and I usually take.

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

Yes, I doubt there's a consensus; maybe economic necessities will build a consensus over the coming years!

I quite like three games on the Saturday, but it can be a bit tough going, especially the last one of the day!

I think I like the National League best of all: two decent (or not, as the case may be!), long games, and you only have to give up one day of the weekend. I think I maybe raised the possibility of holding a congress over two or three weekends, single day each weekend, which I like personally, but seem to recall it wasn't that popular an idea. I guess in a larger country, with greater population density (and no recession) it's possible to try out a range of formats at different congresses to see what suits, but maybe harder in Scotland?

Alan Jelfs · Queen Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 81

I quite enjoyed the 5-games-in-a-day congress that Sam Collins organised a few years ago at the College Club, Glasgow Uni.

And back in the mid-90s, there was an all-night tournament at the Paisley YMCA. What is the correct etiquette for waking your opponent up, by the way?

PS. Is there going to be a Glasgow Congress this year?
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SteveHilton · King Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 443 Location: Greenock

I remember that event well Alan Laughing

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

I did not play in the Sam Collins' all-dayer, but I remember people who had saying that it was something of an experience!

David Deary · Queen Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 98

I personally wouldn't play in a tournament with 5 rounds in one day unless it was an allegro.

I find it mentally draining playing two long games in the 1 day and as for 5 games in 1 day. Not for me! Sad

On a slightly related point, I was discussing this with some people a few weeks back:

Given that the Scottish ran at a loss this year should we consider running the event over two weekends? Discuss Wink

Personally I may be more inclined to play in it as two weekends as I wouldn't need to take days off work. Twisted Evil

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Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

Running it over two weekends seems a good idea to me.
I'd have thought it might encourage more people to enter and anyone who would've committed to a longer tournament would still be able to play in this.

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