27-04-2016, 10:02 AM
Robert Lothian Wrote:How many of those players who are currently turning out four times a year at a central venue would be keen to turn that into 6-8 depending on results?
Is it possible that it's one event or the other and the SNCL has won already?
I also note that the entirely reasonable decision to go to 5 boards clearly hasn't succeeded in turning things around, so why should emulating other aspects of the SNCL be any more successful?
Don't get me wrong. I can see that the Spens is dying on its feet and the Richardson is quite vulnerable.
Ultimately, if going to a fixed venue performs a miracle, then BA will have to suck it up.
Although not a like-for-like comparison The MacIssac doesn't have the SNCL for competition and that didn't change with the times and suffered. The Elder or Spens is probably next to go, but in which order - if your a gambler then place your bets now? I know the Elder has 20-something entries last season, but I think it is a pretence to consider it successful when the majority of the entries come from 2 clubs in one area, and hardly any clubs have representatives, and that includes many bigger clubs.
I would concede that nobody knows for sure that a fixed venue is the answer, and would improve things. But if we don't try or give it a chance... ? I would not like to think that an active club in the North would have to suck it up, and if it were to happen, would hope there could be a recognition or compromise somewhere.
John Watkins Wrote:- The Richardson is already attracting a large proportion of the stronger players in the country. More than any other competition perhaps? (9 out of the 32 2000 plus graded players playing in last summer's Scottish Championship were from abroad = 23 out of the 2000 plus Scottish graded players played and no one is calling that tournament a "failure").
- To be successful in this knock out competition you require very strong team from boards 1 to 8.
In my mind the second point here is one which may be putting off more teams entering the Richardson.
I agree. But there must be some clubs who could scrape a team of 8 together for a central venue affair, that may be big outsiders, and in all likelihood get knocked out 1st round but not whitewashed. There would be a chance of an upset. Is that not what Knockout Cups are supposed to be about? Is the thought of playing one not so strong but decent opponent in the 1st round such a hardship? I am reluctant to put a team with grade examples on this, but you are never going to get a team with an average grade of 1400 say entering the Richardson's. On the off-chance it did happen which can be the case in the current rules, as any team is welcome to apply, is it really a problem? That's the ironic thing about the Richardson's it does technically invite and welcome any team in the entire land to enter, but the reality is that its not for everyone in the slightest. The Spens is clearly more inviting, yet just not supported, and I think there is great merit in the theory that a central venue aspect would improve both events.
John Watkins Wrote:Perhaps the Spens should be decoupled from the Richardson rules and consider the following:
- A grading cap (either for the team as a whole or the maximum graded player which can play) or some form of handicap system to attract more teams. There is a handicap system in place for the Summer Cup in the Edinburgh league which attracted 15 teams from 11 clubs last year and has a plate competition for teams knocked out in the first round.
- Consider the time controls and days the games could take place (evening games in the early rounds using different time controls which could increase participation).
- Regionalise the early rounds if that helps with travel arrangements.
Adopting the Lothian (& Edinburgh area) league Summer Cup format is not the worst idea I have heard for the Spens and an interesting one. Maybe my mind has got a bit single tracked on things, but the obvious and anticipated most effective change for me is always going to be to try the central venue format.
The Spens may well benefit from an evening type time control and regionalisation, of course regionalisation only works if you have the teams entering in the first place, and without a central venue that won't change?
A side issue that has been cropping up is the effect of online chess. I don't think we should worry about that too much. There is a danger we could just plod on, observing a continual decline and blaming online chess for all our problems. The effects of this have not been measured in our country. It is sensible to assume it has some impact of course. We should focus on creating and managing the best competitions we can and giving them the best chance which means increasing and encouraging more participation.