01-05-2013, 06:48 PM
This has been discussed before, extensively.
This is entirely the result of grading Junior only 25 minute games as regular grade games. Declan was presumably much higher graded than his opponents, and won all his games as predicted. The end result however is that his average opponent was reduced, thus the fall in his grade.
I was assured that only 'real' grades encourage juniors, and that the fact that some good long-play juniors lose grading points is just unfortunate. In years past these events were not graded at all. In fact only the last two rounds, Giga and Terra finals are ever graded in England. This year even they might not be graded in England as a result of the English Chess Federation insisting on Silver ECF membership or at least £6 per head to grade tournaments.
Updating the grading system twice a year would perhaps make the effect worse.
This is entirely the result of grading Junior only 25 minute games as regular grade games. Declan was presumably much higher graded than his opponents, and won all his games as predicted. The end result however is that his average opponent was reduced, thus the fall in his grade.
I was assured that only 'real' grades encourage juniors, and that the fact that some good long-play juniors lose grading points is just unfortunate. In years past these events were not graded at all. In fact only the last two rounds, Giga and Terra finals are ever graded in England. This year even they might not be graded in England as a result of the English Chess Federation insisting on Silver ECF membership or at least £6 per head to grade tournaments.
Updating the grading system twice a year would perhaps make the effect worse.