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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44
The Hastings Congress 28 December to 9 January takes on a unique format this year.
The Hastings Premier and Challengers are combined into one knockout tournament. Let us imagine 120 players enter for the event which finishes 6 January. Then 60 players go forward from the first round, with 4 lucky losers. These 64 players play a second round of knockout. The 56 losers play in the Challengers Swiss.
The 64 players continue in one game knockouts until there are 8 players left. These 8 play in the Premier of 2 game knockouts. All players knocked out will be contracted to play in the Swiss Challengers, except for the losing finalists. Players when knocked out will carry forward their score in the standardplay games.
Of course White would have been a big advantage. Thus White will have 65 minutes and Black 95 in which to make all their moves, with the addition of one minute per move cumulatively from the first. Where games are drawn, ties will be resolved first by blitz games, failing that an Armageddon play-off.
Players will be able to gain title results from either event.
The event will be part of the Association of Chess Professionals GP.
The weekend tournament takes place 7-9 January.
Full details from Con Power www.hastingschess.org.uk
Players seeking conditions should contact