Beckenham & Bromley 3 V Gravesend 2

We were surprised on sitting

We were surprised on sitting down to play to be told there would be no finish time. When we pointed out that due to the increments adding on time we needed a finish time to prevent the games going on indefinitely, we were told it would be 11.30pm as the venue was not closing earlier. We did not feel this was a reasonable finish time, given that Gravesend had a long journey home after the match. We would not normally agree a finish later than 11.00 for travelling teams, but only when this was suggested was a 'compromise' of 11.15 was reached. I would hope some consideration is made for future matches at Beckenham of the journey home the away team faces; indeed there were older and young players participating who probably would have appreciated an earlier finish. As it turns out this was irrelevant, as all games were finished before 11.00, but I feel it was an unnecessary course to take. I wonder if Beckenham players will be accommodating to the idea of a similarly late finish when they are next due to play at Gravesend? As stated, in the event this was not an issue in the match which Beckenham convincingly won, well played.

paul lebreton

Adjudication

I have written to all parties concerned but in short there should have been an agreed cut-off point, or failing that the default cut-off time of 3 hours, beyond which an Adjudication process may have been initiated.

Martin Stewart

Letting match times be

Letting match times be dictated by distance travelled by opponents is illogical and undesirable. An earlier start - as applied to FIDE games played here -could always have been an option . In the interest of witnessing rare end-game battles, it is surely better to minimise the intrusion of time being called which would have been obviated by starting at 7 o`clock . I am reminded of a recent visit to Sidcup where the game-time was cut to just an hour to accomodate the caretaker `s need to close the building by 10.30.......hardly a suitable venue one might add.

Martin Newman

Hi, we would absolutely not

Hi, we would absolutely not expect different rules being applied to us because we have further to travel than some other teams, that would clearly be wrong. I am also keen not to see games ending prematurely when you would want end games to be played out to a conclusion, but feel this is perfectly possible using the default cut-off time of 3 hours that Martin has confirmed applies where agreement cannot be reached.

paul lebreton

Match times

Martin, I think you have misunderstood the issue. We are willing to travel a distance to start at a club’s start time but do expect the finishing time to be agreed, not to be told, upon arrival, that there isn’t one (even though 3 hours is the default, usually plenty, as 60 moves give an extra 15mins or an agreement is made). It is rare, but one game could go on towards 80/90 moves with 15 secs being added repeatedly and quickly, resulting in a late finish. This is what should be avoided, and the rules do this. We do not want the match time reduced. Indeed, agreed, one hour is far too short!

David Clear