Chess Scotland Noticeboard

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

1. The Finals will take place on Sunday 22 May 2011 in the
Grangemouth Community Education Unit

Abbots Road

Grangemouth

FK3 8JB

The hall is booked from 13:00 to 19:00 so matches start 13.30
Donald Wilson will bring equipment and arbitrate.

Richardson: Polytechnic v Edinburgh
Spens: Castlehill v Edinburgh Civil Service
Campbell Rosebowl: Hamilton B v Kilmarnock

2. Results : Richardson : Dundee 2.5 Edinburgh 5.5 , Bon Accord 2 Polytechnic 6
Spens : Castlehill 5 Edinburgh B 1, Troon 1 Civil Service 5
Campbell Rosebowl: Kilmarnock 4 E Kilbride 2, Ninewells 0-6 Hamilton B w/o

Council meeting decisions:

3. Fees for 2011/12 & those unpaid for 2010/11 must be paid in advance of 1st round draw at Dundee congress.

4. A consultation is required on various proposals, please reply by August 1
(a) Richardson/Spens Fide-rated ? yes/no

(b) the following proposals have been made by Glasgow Polytechnic, please comment - Andrew Muir

"Glasgow Polytechnic CC believes that, in the absence of a strong national league competition such as those found in larger nations, the Richardson Cup is Scotland’s most prestigious competition and should be organised in a professional manner. The current rules are antiquated, and should be radically rewritten. In particular, we wish to suggest changes along the following lines.
Richardson Cup rules

Rule 2 specifies that the Richardson Cup shall be an unseeded knockout. When fewer than 16 teams participate, it is perfectly possible for a weak team to reach the final without encountering any strong team, resulting in a one-sided final undermining the prestige of the competition. We believe that it should revert to being a seeded knockout. The seeding should be based on performance in the Richardson Cup over the previous 2 or 3 seasons (i.e., the system that was operated satisfactorily until about 2008).

Rule 2 requires a system of promotion and relegation between the Richardson and Spens Cups. This part of the rule is apparently not being applied, and any club is free to enter a team in the Richardson Cup. We have no strong view on whether promotion and relegation should be reintroduced, but, if not, this rule should be amended and then enforced.

Rule 5 defines bona fide status. This rule badly needs reform. It is too lax, and we frequently see strong players suddenly appearing for certain clubs and then disappearing equally suddenly. In particular, we believe that representing a club in a lightning or quickplay competition should not, on its own, make a player eligible to represent that club in the Richardson Cup.

Rule 8 requires the Arbiter to fix the date for each round. It should be changed to require the Arbiter to fix the dates for all rounds before the start of the competition, to enable team captains to plan ahead. We also suggest that each round’s default date should be a Sunday, to allow clubs to change to the preceding Saturday without having to consult the Arbiter.

Rule 12 refers to appeals against the Arbiter’s decisions. It should additionally state that:

(a) The Arbiter shall not be the captain of any participating team.

(b) Any dispute involving a club of which the Arbiter is a member shall be referred to the Arbiters’ Committee.

These changes are essential to avoid possible conflicts of interest.

Rule 13 is now redundant. It is illegal to smoke in any public venue.

Spens Cup rules

Rule 3 restricts the right of players to represent both an A team in the Richardson Cup and a B team in the Spens Cup, but it is far too lax. We would prefer this right to be removed altogether. At the very least, there should be strong restrictions along the following lines: an A team player may never play for the B team; a B team player may play for the A team at most once."

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

Dates are up for 2011/12
I have only had replies from Edinburgh & Cathcart so far on rule changes.
I don't intend changing any rules apart from the FIDE rating. FIDE rating is not worth the effort and will be removed for 2011/12.
Anyone who feels strongly about any rule please propose at AGM. I intend going.

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

Andrew

I have only just looked at the dates - are you seriously intending that the first round should be during the weekend of the Dundee Congress? If so I ask you to change it, if only to the following weekend which currently has no senior events in the calendar.

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

The October date is the draw.
Hopefully it will be shown live on video at Dundee Congress.
First round is November

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

Ahhh. That's a relief. Yes, we will do the live broadcast of the draw again. Why not enter the congress yersel and be m.c.? - we don't want Donald to become typecast. Free entry for IMs this year Very Happy

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