World Youth Championships

[David G Congalton]

Results starting to come through from Brazil. See Andrew's posting above for the link.

[Andrew McClement]

Fantastic result for Hamish - getting above 50% at these tournaments is not easy. A great last four rounds to take him to a very commendable 2091 performance. Congratulations.

[robin moore]

Some fantastic performances in Brazil. Their is a lot to be said for experience, even at a young age. If juniors have been to overseas international events in the past, they are in a position to know where they stand and what is expected. It is very difficult to convey to first time international junior players the level that is required at their first event. Overconfidence, holiday mode etc are normal routes for juniors that think they are the business. The realisation that they are in with the continents' or worlds' best can be a huge shock. The mark of them is basically how quickly they can adapt to this massive new challenge. Many are thoughtful, some are initially discourteous, but after a couple of rounds nearly all are listening intently.
If we wish to achieve results at international level, we need to work incredibly hard as a team every minute of every day. It is clear that Angus has done exactly that with a fantastic squad about him. He is to be commended in the highest possible form.

Robin.

[Mike Scott]

Would like to add my congratulations - those that have scored big plus on their FIDE grades have in particular done well. As Andrew as already said to score 50% (and more!) in such event is very hard - so well done to Hamish and Ali. But the others have also done so well - just look at the grades of Anna's & Colin's & MaryAnns opponents.

Individual success does not come on its own and reflects well on everyone in the squad.

So what now?

Whether you scored 5.5 or less I would say enjoy the success, the games where you showed us how well you can play, but now you need to work out how to reproduce that form more consistently. Don't forget the lost games. An objective assessment will probably reveal that many of those games you were 'unlucky' in some way or other. They were lost not because of some deep and subtle play by your opponent but because you missed something relatively 'simple': something that you can easily understand outwith the heat and stress of the game itself.

[robin moore]

On our last couple of days at Bulgaria at the Euroyouth, I had time to relax a bit and talk to the players and listen to their overall views of the tournament. Everyone said they had learned a great deal, felt they were better players and were sure they could improve on their score if given the same opportunity again. We are a small nation and don't get many chances to bring our best juniors together with a top coach ( like Alan Tate) apart from the main international events. We may have to think seriously (if finances allow !) about residential weekends, pre-world, pre-euro etc. Travelodges are cheap if you grab their bargains and we could set up training there for a couple of weekends prior to the events. The other possible is to use the Friday of weekend congresses. The organisers of the congress have to pay for the hall hire for Friday anyway, I am sure they won't mind a dozen or so juniors and a few adults descending on their venue for training especially if they will sort tables, chairs and put out chess-sets ! Besides, they will get most of them entering their congress. Thoughts please? (Especially congress organisers).

Robin.