As the three chess-playing readers of this blog will know, club chess players who play regularly in club leagues end up with what in English chess is commonly called a ‘grade’ or ‘grading’, and in many other countries a ‘rating’.
This number is based on the gradings/ratings of the people you have played in competitive games, and the results, and gives an indication of how good a player you are. For instance, a reasonable standard competitive club player might be 150 on the English scale, someone with real pretensions as a player might be 200+, and a chess grandmaster would typically be 230 or above. There is some discussion and even the grading distribution from a few years ago here.
I last had one of these gradings as an 18 year-old in 1979, the last year I played chess before quitting to pursue a then rather all-consuming interest in (inter alia) punk rock electric guitar, dressing up in ridiculous clothes, and consuming cheap cider, beer and red wine [In other words, I became a student].
I am pretty sure this number is rather on the optimistic side, since I haven’t played against many players with ratings above this figure, and that is always the real test. But… I’m quietly pleased that I can play at all after so long. And it’s always good to know that your brain’s ability to solve cognitive puzzles hasn’t completely gone.
Although talking of cognitive puzzles – I should say that in my earlier chess-playing career I did at one point have a rating of approximately 160. That was in 1977, when I was 15 or 16 years old.
Always nice to get these things in their proper perspective.
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PS I may add a couple of my recent games here when I have a bit more time
One of the glories of the congress is the ambience at the Caleta Hotel of an evening. Grandmasters and patzers (that means a weak player in chess) mingle together socially at the bar. Where else can you expect to hear some people discussing the latest wrinkles in opening theory while elsewhere Maria Yarur is accompanying herself singing on the ukulele? She and I even danced a little. The applause was… err, polite for me. Moreover this evening Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in history, gave a well-attended master class. She showed her R2 game v Vyacheslav Ikonnikov, and then chatted for at least another half hour on various aspects of her career. She provided entertainment and education for players of all strengths and took questions from the audience.
Tonight the weather has changed. After beamish weather this year it finally started to rain and, as I write, I can hear the waves dashing against the rocks – which personally I enjoy.
Both Challengers A and Amateur A concluded today. Some people went home happier, richer and wiser. There are higher prize funds in rating restricted tournaments in the US, but very few elsewhere. Indeed many events have only the one big open section. The Amateur events are being FIDE Rated for the first time. In due course this will mean there will be far fewer unrated players in the event. This will make it easier to assign players to the correct section.
The story of the game on Board 28 is interesting. GM Emanuel Berg SWE played against IM Melia Salome GEO. The game went on and on and eventually she claimed a draw on the 50 move rule. But she was wrong; they had only played 49 moves without a capture or pawn move. Thus the arbiter quite correctly awarded Emanuel three extra minutes. The Swede played a pawn move h4 and the game continued. Eventually it was agreed drawn on move 161. The average length of a game of chess is about 40 moves. But 161 is not a record for Gibraltar, an earlier encounter lasted 167 moves. It is necessary to have a rule in any sport where there can be an unlimited number of moves. Thus tennis has its tiebreaks.
The top two board games were drawn today. Ignorant people assume this means the games must have been boring. What nonsense! A well-played draw can be just as entertaining as a win; in fact possibly more so as there may be fewer gross errors. Anyway this means that now there is nobody with 100% and 11 players with 3½/4.
Hou Yifan CHN v Michael Adams ENG
This was an accurately played draw where neither player made a major error.
Sabino Brunello ITA v Nigel Short ENG
This was another very accurate game with repetition after 28 moves.
Judit Polgar HUN v Humpy Koneru IND
I believe this was the first time the women’s World Number 1 and Number 3 have ever met. The only all female event Judit has ever played in is the Women’s Olympiad. This is her first open tournament for many years. One would have liked to have seen more fireworks, but you can’t legislate for these things.
Alberto David LUX v Alexei Shirov LAT
Alexei joined in the Commentary Room as usual. When asked why he played the seemingly provocative 15…Kf6, he said, ‘It was the only move to give me chances’. Someone in the audience said it was mentioned as a footnote in Fischer’s ‘My 60 Memorable Games’, first published in the 1960s. Of course it is impossible to remember all opening theory.
One of the glories of the congress is the ambience at the Caleta Hotel of an evening. Grandmasters and patzers (that means a weak player in chess) mingle together socially at the bar. Where else can you expect to hear some people discussing the latest wrinkles in opening theory while elsewhere Maria Yarur is accompanying herself singing on the ukulele? She and I even danced a little. The applause was… err, polite for me. Moreover this evening Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in history, gave a well-attended master class. She showed her R2 game v Vyacheslav Ikonnikov, and then chatted for at least another half hour on various aspects of her career. She provided entertainment and education for players of all strengths and took questions from the audience.
Tonight the weather has changed. After beamish weather this year it finally started to rain and, as I write, I can hear the waves dashing against the rocks – which personally I enjoy.
Both Challengers A and Amateur A concluded today. Some people went home happier, richer and wiser. There are higher prize funds in rating restricted tournaments in the US, but very few elsewhere. Indeed many events have only the one big open section. The Amateur events are being FIDE Rated for the first time. In due course this will mean there will be far fewer unrated players in the event. This will make it easier to assign players to the correct section.
The story of the game on Board 28 is interesting. GM Emanuel Berg SWE played against IM Melia Salome GEO. The game went on and on and eventually she claimed a draw on the 50 move rule. But she was wrong; they had only played 49 moves without a capture or pawn move. Thus the arbiter quite correctly awarded Emanuel three extra minutes. The Swede played a pawn move h4 and the game continued. Eventually it was agreed drawn on move 161. The average length of a game of chess is about 40 moves. But 161 is not a record for Gibraltar, an earlier encounter lasted 167 moves. It is necessary to have a rule in any sport where there can be an unlimited number of moves. Thus tennis has its tiebreaks.
The top two board games were drawn today. Ignorant people assume this means the games must have been boring. What nonsense! A well-played draw can be just as entertaining as a win; in fact possibly more so as there may be fewer gross errors. Anyway this means that now there is nobody with 100% and 11 players with 3½/4.
Hou Yifan CHN v Michael Adams ENG
This was an accurately played draw where neither player made a major error.
Sabino Brunello ITA v Nigel Short ENG
This was another very accurate game with repetition after 28 moves.
Judit Polgar HUN v Humpy Koneru IND
I believe this was the first time the women’s World Number 1 and Number 3 have ever met. The only all female event Judit has ever played in is the Women’s Olympiad. This is her first open tournament for many years. One would have liked to have seen more fireworks, but you can’t legislate for these things.
Alberto David LUX v Alexei Shirov LAT
Alexei joined in the Commentary Room as usual. When asked why he played the seemingly provocative 15…Kf6, he said, ‘It was the only move to give me chances’. Someone in the audience said it was mentioned as a footnote in Fischer’s ‘My 60 Memorable Games’, first published in the 1960s. Of course it is impossible to remember all opening theory.
One of the glories of the congress is the ambience at the Caleta Hotel of an evening. Grandmasters and patzers (that means a weak player in chess) mingle together socially at the bar. Where else can you expect to hear some people discussing the latest wrinkles in opening theory while elsewhere Maria Yarur is accompanying herself singing on the ukulele? She and I even danced a little. The applause was… err, polite for me. Moreover this evening Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in history, gave a well-attended master class. She showed her R2 game v Vyacheslav Ikonnikov, and then chatted for at least another half hour on various aspects of her career. She provided entertainment and education for players of all strengths and took questions from the audience.
Tonight the weather has changed. After beamish weather this year it finally started to rain and, as I write, I can hear the waves dashing against the rocks – which personally I enjoy.
Both Challengers A and Amateur A concluded today. Some people went home happier, richer and wiser. There are higher prize funds in rating restricted tournaments in the US, but very few elsewhere. Indeed many events have only the one big open section. The Amateur events are being FIDE Rated for the first time. In due course this will mean there will be far fewer unrated players in the event. This will make it easier to assign players to the correct section.
The story of the game on Board 28 is interesting. GM Emanuel Berg SWE played against IM Melia Salome GEO. The game went on and on and eventually she claimed a draw on the 50 move rule. But she was wrong; they had only played 49 moves without a capture or pawn move. Thus the arbiter quite correctly awarded Emanuel three extra minutes. The Swede played a pawn move h4 and the game continued. Eventually it was agreed drawn on move 161. The average length of a game of chess is about 40 moves. But 161 is not a record for Gibraltar, an earlier encounter lasted 167 moves. It is necessary to have a rule in any sport where there can be an unlimited number of moves. Thus tennis has its tiebreaks.
The top two board games were drawn today. Ignorant people assume this means the games must have been boring. What nonsense! A well-played draw can be just as entertaining as a win; in fact possibly more so as there may be fewer gross errors. Anyway this means that now there is nobody with 100% and 11 players with 3½/4.
Hou Yifan CHN v Michael Adams ENG
This was an accurately played draw where neither player made a major error.
Sabino Brunello ITA v Nigel Short ENG
This was another very accurate game with repetition after 28 moves.
Judit Polgar HUN v Humpy Koneru IND
I believe this was the first time the women’s World Number 1 and Number 3 have ever met. The only all female event Judit has ever played in is the Women’s Olympiad. This is her first open tournament for many years. One would have liked to have seen more fireworks, but you can’t legislate for these things.
Alberto David LUX v Alexei Shirov LAT
Alexei joined in the Commentary Room as usual. When asked why he played the seemingly provocative 15…Kf6, he said, ‘It was the only move to give me chances’. Someone in the audience said it was mentioned as a footnote in Fischer’s ‘My 60 Memorable Games’, first published in the 1960s. Of course it is impossible to remember all opening theory.
One of the glories of the congress is the ambience at the Caleta Hotel of an evening. Grandmasters and patzers (that means a weak player in chess) mingle together socially at the bar. Where else can you expect to hear some people discussing the latest wrinkles in opening theory while elsewhere Maria Yarur is accompanying herself singing on the ukulele? She and I even danced a little. The applause was… err, polite for me. Moreover this evening Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in history, gave a well-attended master class. She showed her R2 game v Vyacheslav Ikonnikov, and then chatted for at least another half hour on various aspects of her career. She provided entertainment and education for players of all strengths and took questions from the audience.
Tonight the weather has changed. After beamish weather this year it finally started to rain and, as I write, I can hear the waves dashing against the rocks – which personally I enjoy.
Both Challengers A and Amateur A concluded today. Some people went home happier, richer and wiser. There are higher prize funds in rating restricted tournaments in the US, but very few elsewhere. Indeed many events have only the one big open section. The Amateur events are being FIDE Rated for the first time. In due course this will mean there will be far fewer unrated players in the event. This will make it easier to assign players to the correct section.
The story of the game on Board 28 is interesting. GM Emanuel Berg SWE played against IM Melia Salome GEO. The game went on and on and eventually she claimed a draw on the 50 move rule. But she was wrong; they had only played 49 moves without a capture or pawn move. Thus the arbiter quite correctly awarded Emanuel three extra minutes. The Swede played a pawn move h4 and the game continued. Eventually it was agreed drawn on move 161. The average length of a game of chess is about 40 moves. But 161 is not a record for Gibraltar, an earlier encounter lasted 167 moves. It is necessary to have a rule in any sport where there can be an unlimited number of moves. Thus tennis has its tiebreaks.
The top two board games were drawn today. Ignorant people assume this means the games must have been boring. What nonsense! A well-played draw can be just as entertaining as a win; in fact possibly more so as there may be fewer gross errors. Anyway this means that now there is nobody with 100% and 11 players with 3½/4.
Hou Yifan CHN v Michael Adams ENG
This was an accurately played draw where neither player made a major error.
Sabino Brunello ITA v Nigel Short ENG
This was another very accurate game with repetition after 28 moves.
Judit Polgar HUN v Humpy Koneru IND
I believe this was the first time the women’s World Number 1 and Number 3 have ever met. The only all female event Judit has ever played in is the Women’s Olympiad. This is her first open tournament for many years. One would have liked to have seen more fireworks, but you can’t legislate for these things.
Alberto David LUX v Alexei Shirov LAT
Alexei joined in the Commentary Room as usual. When asked why he played the seemingly provocative 15…Kf6, he said, ‘It was the only move to give me chances’. Someone in the audience said it was mentioned as a footnote in Fischer’s ‘My 60 Memorable Games’, first published in the 1960s. Of course it is impossible to remember all opening theory.
One of the glories of the congress is the ambience at the Caleta Hotel of an evening. Grandmasters and patzers (that means a weak player in chess) mingle together socially at the bar. Where else can you expect to hear some people discussing the latest wrinkles in opening theory while elsewhere Maria Yarur is accompanying herself singing on the ukulele? She and I even danced a little. The applause was… err, polite for me. Moreover this evening Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in history, gave a well-attended master class. She showed her R2 game v Vyacheslav Ikonnikov, and then chatted for at least another half hour on various aspects of her career. She provided entertainment and education for players of all strengths and took questions from the audience.
Tonight the weather has changed. After beamish weather this year it finally started to rain and, as I write, I can hear the waves dashing against the rocks – which personally I enjoy.
Both Challengers A and Amateur A concluded today. Some people went home happier, richer and wiser. There are higher prize funds in rating restricted tournaments in the US, but very few elsewhere. Indeed many events have only the one big open section. The Amateur events are being FIDE Rated for the first time. In due course this will mean there will be far fewer unrated players in the event. This will make it easier to assign players to the correct section.
The story of the game on Board 28 is interesting. GM Emanuel Berg SWE played against IM Melia Salome GEO. The game went on and on and eventually she claimed a draw on the 50 move rule. But she was wrong; they had only played 49 moves without a capture or pawn move. Thus the arbiter quite correctly awarded Emanuel three extra minutes. The Swede played a pawn move h4 and the game continued. Eventually it was agreed drawn on move 161. The average length of a game of chess is about 40 moves. But 161 is not a record for Gibraltar, an earlier encounter lasted 167 moves. It is necessary to have a rule in any sport where there can be an unlimited number of moves. Thus tennis has its tiebreaks.
The top two board games were drawn today. Ignorant people assume this means the games must have been boring. What nonsense! A well-played draw can be just as entertaining as a win; in fact possibly more so as there may be fewer gross errors. Anyway this means that now there is nobody with 100% and 11 players with 3½/4.
Hou Yifan CHN v Michael Adams ENG
This was an accurately played draw where neither player made a major error.
Sabino Brunello ITA v Nigel Short ENG
This was another very accurate game with repetition after 28 moves.
Judit Polgar HUN v Humpy Koneru IND
I believe this was the first time the women’s World Number 1 and Number 3 have ever met. The only all female event Judit has ever played in is the Women’s Olympiad. This is her first open tournament for many years. One would have liked to have seen more fireworks, but you can’t legislate for these things.
Alberto David LUX v Alexei Shirov LAT
Alexei joined in the Commentary Room as usual. When asked why he played the seemingly provocative 15…Kf6, he said, ‘It was the only move to give me chances’. Someone in the audience said it was mentioned as a footnote in Fischer’s ‘My 60 Memorable Games’, first published in the 1960s. Of course it is impossible to remember all opening theory.
The guidance is essentially to treat the January grading list as though it doesn’t exist …
Suppose you have an ungraded player in July who gets a grade in January. He will still be regarded as ungraded for the purposes of the competition, and as such he must be cleared to play in all sections bar the Open, as per the rules.
The ungraded player will be estimated in the same way as previous years. That is to say, I will go on the best information made available to me. For example, a player may have played in congresses in January and February, which will appear in the grading database. Therefore, the player’s estimated grade will be different from their January grade. It may be that the player’s January grade is the best information available, in which case that’s what will be used for the player for the purposes of the competition.”
Monday evening there was the usual very pleasant ceremony to start the congress fully. The Minister for Sports, Leisure, Culture and Heritage Steven Linares was introduced by Stuart Conquest and then made a short speech. Miss Gibraltar, Michelle Pedersen, then did the Drawing of Lots for the first round in the Masters. This is a somewhat more elaborate affair than in most other countries. There then followed a buffet laid on by the Caleta Hotel with their customary hospitality. The highlight of the subsequent evening in the bar was Maria Jose Rescaglio Yarur, who plays in the Amateur, singing, accompanying herself on a stringed instrument.
Continuing on that theme, Tuesday evening there was a dinner at the official residence – the Convent – of His Excellency, the Governor of Gibraltar to mark the 10th anniversary of the festival. It became clear why he is referred to as His Excellency, when he gave a most polished speech.
Enjoy the Picasa picture gallery here – https://picasaweb.google.com/MonRoi.Inc (https://picasaweb NULL.google NULL.com/MonRoi NULL.Inc)
Tuesday morning I found myself in the not-unusual role as filler in the second round of the Challengers. This was the first time I had ever played in a rating restricted tournament. We believe people mostly come to the event to play chess, not to secure a win by default. You may have noticed one of our arbiters, Priscilla Morris, has already played two games in Amateur A.
Several people over the years have come to the congress despite being in very poor health. Daniel Yarur of Chile suffered an extremely bad skiing accident one year. He said one of the most important things that gave him the will to get better was that he couldn’t miss the Gibraltar Congress. One of the players this year had pneumonia. He said that he felt he had to come as he couldn’t let Brian Callaghan down. Eric Schiller is in very poor physical health. That he has come from California is a triumph of will.
This year there are 256 in the Masters. 59 people played in the first event in 2003 and 232 last year. There are 60 federations represented, including Gibraltar, which is regarded as part of England in FIDE. Thus more federations than there were players at the inaugural event.
Due to the Accelerated Pairings, many of the top players had to face opponents over 2400 in the first round. As Nigel Short said, ‘it is hardly surprising that we didn’t find it easy’. Tennis legend Pat Cash made an interesting comment concerning this very subject and the Australian Open. He said seeding 32 players out of 128 protects the stronger players too much and leads to uninteresting first rounds.
It is tempting to look only at the big upsets in the first round. I have been bribed by the Swedes to say that Alexei Shirov LAT 2710 was under siege in his game against Patrik Lyrberg 2435. Emil Sutovsky ISR 2703 played rather wildly against air-traffic controller Craig Hanley ENG 2421. Jovanka Houska ENG 2414 defended well against Peter Svidler RUS 2749. 17…Nc4 was a star move. But she eventually buckled under pressure.
