tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post2617484351065553358..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: When will they ever learn?Tom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-17169896217211078792011-07-31T10:03:45.726+01:002011-07-31T10:03:45.726+01:00That's good to know. It happens every year tho...That's good to know. It happens every year though and other tournaments don't seem to have the same problems. The Staunton Memorial is Ray, so it's a law unto itself.<br /><br />It is indeed commendable that CJ has got most of the top players out, but what's the point of spending <a href="http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=3098&start=135#p64633" rel="nofollow">£16k of your own money</a> to do it if you don't tell anyone about it? I don't see anything on Chessbase or TWIC (run by a Yorkshireman!) save for links to the odd blog entry. No reports even on the (otherwise excellent, to be fair) official website, save for Andrew Martin's GOTD videos.<br /><br />The whole event seems tired and needs an overhaul imo, but I doubt it will happen in the near future.<br /><br />Maybe I am deluded and it's always been like this, but I think we can do better.simonahttp://www.gingergm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-18850566492539450262011-07-30T23:11:55.984+01:002011-07-30T23:11:55.984+01:00Simon,
The internet coverage certainly was a bit ...Simon,<br /><br />The internet coverage certainly was a bit flakey at first but has improved considerably the last few rounds (poss not today as I couldn't watch). Unfortunately that's been at the price of cutting down an initially impressive 16 boards' worth of coverage to 4 and then 6.<br /><br />I have a lot of respect to the guys - whoever they are - who get this to work at all given, as you say, they do it with two tin cans and a ball of string. I do wonder, though, why the ECF don't prioritise internet coverage of their championship. If you *really* want to get publicity isn't that the cheapest/easiest way of reaching a large number of people?<br /><br />Mind you, The Staunton Memorial had a similarly indifferent attitude to internet coverage too.<br /><br /><br /><br />PS: as for the pairings, I think I may have quoted you on that in <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-14344459" rel="nofollow">this</a> post.Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-16597770840305765622011-07-30T22:10:19.316+01:002011-07-30T22:10:19.316+01:00This is the first time I've played in the Brit...This is the first time I've played in the British for a long time (2003 I think) and have to say I am disappointed in some respects.<br /><br />The opening 'ceremony' was a joke as Angus alluded to. I was on the second row of boards behind the demo boards and couldn't hear a thing. How hard can it be to get a microphone? CJ is a TV professional ffs, he should know better. And Ray, well, really.<br /><br />The venue is good but no-one knows we're there. It's the flagship (err, only) ECF event of the year, close to 1000 people attending and not even a banner outside? The National swimming champs is there at the same time, I know they have multi-national sponsors but theyre are posters, TV screens all over the place. How much does it cost to make a banner? £100? We have two cardboard cutout things outside the door inside the venue that must have taken half an hour to make Blue Peter style. Where are the sponsors names? In very small print on some bits of paper is all I can see.<br /><br />Whenever I play a random European Open tournament there are often posters/signs up all over town!<br /><br />The live games failed on the first day and have been pretty tempermental since by all accounts. I'm an IT professional and know how hard it is to work with a limited budget (there is nothing from the ECF towards the coverage, is my understanding), can't they even spare a few hundred quid for this? Just take it out of the appearance fees, no-one will notice... Or can't we sell advertising space on the live games page or something, do they know how many hits they get per day? Has anyone even tried this? Instead the IT guys do it with zero budget, have to host it on some tinpot website that crashes under the load after half an hour due to the strain... who'd have thought that could happen?<br /><br />And don't get me started on the pairing system!<br /><br />I don't mean to be overly-critical, I <i>am</i> enjoying the tournament, but some simple things that don't cost so much would make it so much nicer and more professional. It is The British Championships, after all.simonahttp://www.gingergm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-23743680225188092392011-07-28T23:21:55.326+01:002011-07-28T23:21:55.326+01:00It was low-key and, to me, slightly strange.
Both...It was low-key and, to me, slightly strange.<br /><br />Both CJ and Ray Keene spoke for just a few minutes each. <br />There were no microphones and, although I was stood probably not more than ten yards away, I could barely hear.<br /><br />There were no speeches from sponsors or local dignitaries.<br /><br />Still, kudos to CJ for attracting such a strong field.<br /><br />AngusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-53270507012162661262011-07-28T12:38:37.573+01:002011-07-28T12:38:37.573+01:00CJ may have been happy that Ray was opening the to...CJ may have been happy that Ray was opening the tournament, but I don't think anybody much else on the admin team was. Ray managed to annoy the entire office by sitting in there all afternoon and making a loud transatlantic phone call.Jack Ruddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17433574267085964238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-47236305301803327622011-07-28T09:40:36.807+01:002011-07-28T09:40:36.807+01:00If, on the other hand, anybody prefers to read abo...If, on the other hand, anybody prefers to read about how Raymondo won the title in 1971 ...<br /><br /><a href="http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com/2010/08/ray-could-play-vii.html" rel="nofollow">Ray Could Play VII</a>Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-68874691230105873642011-07-28T09:23:31.889+01:002011-07-28T09:23:31.889+01:00In case anybody wants to refresh their memories re...In case anybody wants to refresh their memories regarding the issue that led to RDK leaving the BCF twenty years ago ...<br /><br /><a href="http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com/2011/02/checked-again.html" rel="nofollow">Keene's Gambit</a><br /><a href="http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com/2011/02/keenes-move.html" rel="nofollow">Keene's move</a><br /><a href="http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com/2011/02/checked-again.html" rel="nofollow">Checked again</a>Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.com