Commonwealth Chess Championships - Day 8 - HOT HOT HOT!!!

Well that was a pleasant day.  We were invited by one of the families from India to their flat for a genuine Indian meal.  Oh my word, the food was out of this world!  Indian restaurants in this   country have a lot to answer for as the food that was prepared was simply incredible!  I don't mind spicy food but the spicy potatoes caused a loss of sensation in my mouth and I had to retire to the toilet to regain control of my mouth!!  That was one of the nicest meals I have ever had.

Today is, as Murray Walker would put it, the last day but 1!  Traditionally this is the day where we hit the wall.  Yep it happened!  I could barely keep my eyes open at times.  The mat in the office is looking tempting!

On the chess front, this is the day which for many will determine where the trophies are ultimately going.

Starting with the Juniors

It is a straight fight between Chithambaram(8)  and Nubairshah (7)

U14 is even tighter with WFM Vaishali leading the way on 7 with our own Murad Abdulla and WFM Savant chasing on 6

U12 is a 2 way fight between Shayanna (7) and WFM Tanishka (6)

 
 And finally in the U10, We have Rishi leading the way on 7.5 with Shah just behind on 7

In the Championship we have  GM Gupta leading on 7

The chasing pack is IM Aravindh, GMs Deep, Grover and Debashis, all on 6.5

Scottish Champion??  Your guess is as good as mine!

Commonwealth Chess Championships 2014 - Day 7 - What is the Collective Noun for Arbiters

So we have the assembled cast of the main arbiters in the event, here is a thought for you.  What is the collective noun for a group of arbiters?  Many ideas have been put forward over the years (from a Judgement to a Conglomerate) but my all time favourite is a Mass of Arbiters.  This is solely down to the expanding waistlines we seem to have.

Arbiter in Chief for the event is our own IA, IO Alex McFarlane

The Boss!

With Lara being an  IO as well, I have been sorely tempted to walk into the office when they are both there, look at them both and say "IO, IO, Its off to work we go...."

Having severe problems with the internet tonight.T-Mobile (or EE as it is known as these days) were supposed to upgrade me to a 10Gb dongle last year.  It appears I only have a 3Gb one and have exceeded the limits.  Looking forward to the call to customer services tomorrow where I tell them that if they don't sort it tomorrow, there will be no live games and I will put a notice on the webpage telling them why...

Looking at the current standings, we could be seeing some champion elects tomorrow.  Leading the main championship is GM Abhijeet Gupta.  He is currently half a point ahead of the rest of the field and appears to be in imperious form.

Over on the noticeboard, there seems to be a bit of slavering over a picture.  I really don't understand it but in tribute I will close with a photo for them.  This one is for you guys :D

Commonwealth Chess Championships 2014 - Day 6 - The future is not bright nor orange!!

Day 6 and I am not at the venue yet!   Today marks some anniversary of something that happened in another country that causes a vocal minority to dress up in strange looking costumes and march down a street with flutes and drums.  Never understood it (as I was brought up abroad) , never will, never want to!

Today started brilliantly.  First 2 busses didn't turn up and I am not out of my town and we hit the first of a bazillion diversions.  Chances of making it on time for the start of play?  About 1 in 2 to the power of my overdraft!

At 11 we are going to be "entertained" by the march coming past the venue.  Oh goodie he says with all the enthusiasm of someone who has discovered seagull droppings in his beer.  At Ayr I announced to the players to pause the clock until it passed.  Given the potential size of this, we could be looking at an hour.  Earplugs at the ready then!!!

The funny thing is I think our visitors will enjoy it.  I have often heard it referred to as Scotland's Secret Shame but if you didn't know what it is about, it is impressive. Maybe one day I will take the time to understand it (then again I have paint to watch drying...)

Stuck behind this on bus. 7:30am!

After three rather loud passes of the hall (and the emphasis is LOUD) we can finally get down to some serious chess.

Way too loud!!

Game the day has to be the Kramer v Kramer, Cain V Abel, Grant v Grant.  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the brothers Burnett!!

No fingers were broken in the taking of this picture...

Being an arbiter means that sometimes I am asked to deliver strange messages.  None was stranger than the one I am about to deliver....

I am speechless!  Now should I tell the player when he is playing or wait until he finishes.  I'd better check the position first!  Nope not the kind of position where I want to disturb a player!

I have been trying to get a photo of everyone taking part.  I think I have now managed it.  I also caught the elusive Mr Nobody!

Three rounds to go.  Tight at the top.  Tomorrow we start to look at norms and work out what people need.  Fingers crossed we see some Scottish names there!

Commonwealth Championships - Day 5 - They took gullible out of the dictionary!

I am mean and nasty :D  I couldn't help it.  Jamie came up to me to show me the money that he had changed.  I noticed three English notes in there and pointed out to him that they are not legal tender in Scotland and he needs to go and see Alex to get them changed for Scottish ones so he could use them!

He is still not speaking to me :D

It is strangely good to see some typical Scottish summer weather.  Summer is finally here and the temperature in the playing venue is perfect!

Welcome to round 5.  Today is Independence day in America.  Looking for some real fireworks on the board today!!


Ok well this afternoon started with a damp squib.  Andy Burnett came up to me to tell me he had heard a clicking noise next to one of the laptops.  In the words of Star Wars, "THAT'S NOT A MOON..."  We had a leaking roof which was leaking right onto one of the laptops!!!

As a consequence we have no TVs running today.  Should be all going again tomorrow.

Speaking of moons...

Someone is brave today!!!

We have an international feel to the arbiting team.  As always there is the wealth of experience with Alex, Lara and Ken, there is Jamie from Oz and Salim from India

Due an unforeseen problem I am publishing this a day late (sorry for that!)  It does give me a chance to have my usual rant about computer pairings.  We have a tasty prospect of the brothers Burnett playing each other.  Only a computer would pair them together so early...   Game to watch out for methinks

Commonwealth Chess Championships Day 4 - Did you know....

I was standing discussing the monstrous game from last night that nearly broke the boards when one of the ladies commented that she had never seen so many ladies playing in a tournament in Scotland before.  That got me thinking (always a bad idea).  So just how many ladies are there in this field.

Off I went with my wife's trusty camera (mine is in the shop...)  and decided to find out

 

 

 

 

 

 I make that 27!!!  Really good turnout by the ladies this year.  Quite a few of them are around the top boards at the moment which is always good to see! (if I missed anyone, I apologise, I tried to get everyone!)

Well while we are at it, we may as well take a look at who is dwelling on the top boards

 

Good to see a Scot there!  C'mon Colin!!

On the norm chasing hunt, things are looking very interesting.  Our up and coming players are all currently in the hunt.  Please let this be the year one of them does it.  They have come so close so many times, they deserve it.

It had to happen and today it did.  One minutes I am working away, the next my system totally froze as it was transmitting games!  I am so glad I can pull the games back from the boards, that was a close one!

Tomorrow is round 5 and things start to get spicy with everyone jockeying for position.  Expect some fireworks on the board!