I'm not very good at remembering quotations and only ever retain the gist; but someone (possibly Lubosh Kavalek) is supposed to have said something along the lines that "tournament directors organise tournament schedules for their own convenience."
My own theory is that, when chief arbiters draw up playing schedules and time controls, their first priority is to fix the time when they want to sit down to dinner. Then they decide on a starting time, with an eye to the FIDE rule that sleepy-head GMs should never be asked to push a pawn before 1pm. So it merely remains to tailor the time limit to that part of the day that lies between the GMs' brunch and the arrival of the enormous pies that (judging from their average girth) arbiters like to eat for dinner.
However, with the newly-proposed time controls, when most games would be over and done with inside 2½ hours, would I be right in thinking that the arbiters/organisers now want games finished by tea-time? So it looks like the time set for the arrival of the scones and jam (and not the enormous pies) is now the determining factor.
Anyway, I've thought of a way that we can use player power to scupper this ludicrous new time control. All it needs is for two players to play a 900-move game to ensure that at least one arbiter has to miss his scones and jam. Yes, that is the number of moves you would have to play at the 1 hour plus 10 seconds time control to fill out a traditional seven-hour playing session. Remember to make sure one of you still has a mating force (lest the hungry arbiter leap in and declare the game drawn) and be wary in case he or she tries to claim that you are bringing the game into disrepute under law 12.1.
The thought of 900 moves in seven hours rather underlines the absurdity of the new time control, doesn't it?
P.S. If you getting a feeling of deja vu reading this, it is because I first posted it on the Atticus CC forum.
They'll be no more need for quick draws in the 4NCL to "watch the rugby", or alternatively "watching the rugby" will no longer be an excuse for a quick draw! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy own theory is that, when chief arbiters draw up playing schedules and time controls, their first priority is to fix the time when they want to sit down to dinner.
ReplyDeleteAs it happens this is supposed to be the precise reason why Surrey League games don't begin until 7.40 pm, thus necessitating a very quick time control. Some of the officials (or one at least) want to go home first, eat their dinner and then come out to play.
Still, if you ever see an arbiter as fat as Yochanan Afek, do publish their photo on the blog.