Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Jim Stevenson · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:15 am Post subject:

That's the whole point Andrew, in this scenario we wouldn't bother with playing Wimbledon, we can just declare Caroline Wimbledon Champ 'based on past performance'.

Why would you be Scottish Champion without, possibly, winning anything of substance?

Not to labour the analogy, but perhaps a weekend event could be considered similar to a 'best of three sets' event, and the national championship to a 'best of five' one. I await the stato's responses Wink

AMcHarg · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:56 am Post subject:

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

I would vote for the 2012 champion being an automatic member of 2012 olympiad team if it was proposed at AGM.
Just to see if it spices up the championships for 2012.
Would not give automatic place without AGM approval

I would also vote for 2012 championships being 1970s style e.g. 7 rounds, all scottish, top 16, no norms , everyone in flares etc

Craig Pritchett · Queen Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 114

I have just entered the Scottish, which now has three past champions for ambitious players to take pot shots at. I would strongly encourage others to enter. I understand that entries may still be accepted and welcomed. Although I think the event should now probably change its format (unless substantial sponsorship is found by, say end-September 2011 for the 2012 event ... which seems highly unlikely), it still deserves support. No matter any temporary troubles, it remains our national championships and whoever wins will have achieved a significant honour.

I agree with Andrew ... except for the "flares", which weren't perhaps the best legacy of the otherwise glorious 1970s! ... Oh and it is perfectly possible to lobby FIDE for the optiin of 7 game norms in bona fide FIDE member national championships ... don't think twice just do it!

Alex McFarlane · King Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 413

Talking of taking late entries .....

We could really do with one more entry in the Senior event to make it all-play-all.

GN · King Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 415

GN · King Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 415

As event starts tomorrow so now's the time for predictions. So, I'm offering odds of 3-1 to anyone who wants to bet me the winner will not be an Edinburgh West player, Craig, Paul, Jonathan and Keti all count as EW. Any late entrants rated > 2150 make all bets null and void. Maximum stake £10. Bet only valid once acknowledged from me on this board. Book closes at 1200 Saturday. Any takers?

(I'm guessing DMB can tells us exactly what the odds are for a winner coming from anyone other than above?)

JR · King Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 447 Location: Edinburgh

Well it's going to be a major shock if either Keti or Craig does not win it.

Green or Sreeves might be worth an outside bet, but odds of 3-1? I would say the odds of anyone other than Craig or Keti winning are more like 10-1.

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

not had any moves through on live games for a while, any news? Clement surely must be in trouble in his game. (after black's 14th when it froze).

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

Yea - its quite frustrating as many games are at interesting points! Fearing Rxe6 in Jonny's game vs Andrew G. and all we can do is wait...

Looks like a good venue and amazed to see photos up already - well done to the all involved.

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

The second set of boards are being uploaded manually, it was either that or not at all. Uploader threw an error unfortunately

Carl Hibbard · Rook Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 40

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

Carl,

It wasn't the DGT one, We don't touch that as it is worse than useless

Keith S Rose · Queen Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 107

Admin - what software are you using?

DMB · King Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Posts: 267

There's a tally below of how many of the Scottish top 10 played in the Scottish Championship since 1980. So in 1980 it was a 16 player event and 5 of the players were from the Scotland top 10. Top 10 ratings are CS domestic - the top 10 from the Scottish in 1980 would be based on the rating list which appeared shortly after that event (but would not be included in the calculations). The exact number is open to debate depending on how you define top 10 but the trend is fairly clear that fewer top players are taking part. (In 1984 five of Scotland's top 10 were playing in a Centenary APA alongside the Championship which was an international open)

One significant factor is the age of the top Scots. Of the current top 10 seven are over the age of 40, four over 50. Back in 1985 in the middle of the peak years for the Scottish nobody, not even Craig, was over 40. (Roll back 10 years previously to 1975 and oldest in top 10 is 34.)

The top folk have lingered on and not been replaced by younger, ambitious players. Once players are older they have other responsibilities. I'm not even sure it's lack of appearance fees, although the cash and the top players made a strong showing in 2009.

Hard to suggest what is the solution. This year there is a good venue, central location, decent prize fund, and our own world champ arbiter.

YEAR T10 FIELD
1980 5 16
1981 7 18
1982 6 16
1983 7 18
1984 0 62
1985 8 16
1986 9 16
1987 8 16
1988 3 10
1989 6 14
1990 3 14
1991 5 10
1992 2 10
1993 7 16
1994 5 16
1995 6 14
1996 5 14
1997 4 14
1998 6 14
1999 7 20
2000 3 14
2001 6 14
2002 4 18
2003 3 18
2004 7 21
2005 1 12
2006 1 09
2007 2 10
2008 0 58
2009 5 89
2010 2 33
2011 2 37