tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post7698256528844428844..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: (Not) Becoming a Grandmaster: The Bill Hartston StoryTom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-758516446549451972015-05-03T07:40:04.176+01:002015-05-03T07:40:04.176+01:00Indeed he is.Indeed he is.Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-24220163842634614492015-05-02T23:14:57.285+01:002015-05-02T23:14:57.285+01:00He's the guy from Gogglebox !!He's the guy from Gogglebox !!holly hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14390993223463949506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-91428276510169515192011-01-09T18:33:27.812+00:002011-01-09T18:33:27.812+00:00It's also possible, albeit unlikely, that had ...It's also possible, albeit unlikely, that had i won in round 8 (and i didn't come remotely close) i wouldn't even have played an opponent against whom a norm was even possible.<br /><br />RichardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-50059313952012519382011-01-09T18:28:04.457+00:002011-01-09T18:28:04.457+00:00I don't think needing 2/2 against 2480+ opposi...I don't think needing 2/2 against 2480+ opposition and failing at the first hurdle really counts as "narrowly missing a GM norm". I once needed to beat Michael Adams with black for a GM norm and that was arguably a narrower miss, which puts it into perspective. I'm just pleased to have got my rating moving in the right direction again (as well as enjoying the feeling of temporarily becoming invincible with the white pieces!)<br /><br />I've no opinion on whether Hartson was winning. Just that having briefly flicked through the game it looked like the sort of position where it was possible for the white player to think, if misguidedly, that he was doing well.<br /><br />Personally I wouldn't concern yourself about the draw - Edouard and Istratrescu seem to be close friends and/or train together so a draw between them is hardly unexpected. The irony was just that the expected outcome probably wasn't in their interest! <br /><br />RichardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-85578922846720890952011-01-09T16:56:25.414+00:002011-01-09T16:56:25.414+00:00PS:
The pre-arranged draw in round 8 does rather e...PS:<br />The pre-arranged draw in round 8 does rather erase some of the sympathy I had for a French friend.Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-62636771521182139382011-01-09T16:55:50.852+00:002011-01-09T16:55:50.852+00:00Thanks for the correction Richard. I read the tab...Thanks for the correction Richard. I read the table on the Hastings website and thought it was £750 each for each of them not shared between them.<br /><br />That just makes it an even more costly duffing up he got in the last round then.<br /><br /><br />RE: Hartston - Uhlmann. So you think Hartston was winning at some stage? It's not clear to me but then I@d trust your judgement on that over mine.<br /><br />What about your narrow miss of the GM norm, then? Are you left with the disappointment at an opportunity missed or are pleased with a good tournament result?<br /><br />I had my own patser-level experience with this at Golders Green rapidplay yesterday. I was leading one of the minor events by half a point with one game to play.<br /><br />After about half an hour I was dead level/possibly even slightly better but completely self-destructed.<br /><br />On the tube home I was only thinking about the opportunity missed. Still am to a certain extent but a day on I'm starting also to see that I played a good tournament for 5 and a half of the six games.Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-64300079238514213742011-01-08T22:55:09.499+00:002011-01-08T22:55:09.499+00:00Eduoard got £340 for 3rd equal, not £750. £750 wo...Eduoard got £340 for 3rd equal, not £750. £750 would have been outright third. With hindsight the "pre-arranged" draw between him and Istratescu in round 8 was the worst of the three results they could have produced. An Edouard win would have guaranteed 1st place, and an Istratescu win would have reversed their scores, with Istratescu importantly have white in the last round. So they might as well have played a game. <br /><br />I beat a "2500+ GM"... who was also the joint winner! ;)<br /><br />I'm not sure quite why Hartson mightn't have thought he was winning the Uhlmann game, regardless of whether he was offered a draw or not.<br /><br />RichardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-55742337034677766972011-01-07T11:17:54.350+00:002011-01-07T11:17:54.350+00:00Indeed Andrew. We met in a cafe and Bill insisted...Indeed Andrew. We met in a cafe and Bill insisted on paying for my tea.Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-90518846665110484372011-01-07T10:32:21.082+00:002011-01-07T10:32:21.082+00:00Bill comes across as a really nice bloke with a gr...Bill comes across as a really nice bloke with a great attitude. I spoke to him once at a party and I got the same impression then.<br />AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com