25 Jul 08
I am going to go out on a limb here and put my money on a fellow Scot - Keti Arakhamia Grant. The last 4 titles have gone to Scots, and Keti can hold her own with the best of this field if she's on form.
Would also like to see Simon Williams do well as his style of play is so attractive.
25 Jul 08
Originally posted by streetfighterScot?
I am going to go out on a limb here and put my money on a fellow Scot - Keti Arakhamia Grant. The last 4 titles have gone to Scots, and Keti can hold her own with the best of this field if she's on form.
Would also like to see Simon Williams do well as his style of play is so attractive.
25 Jul 08
Originally posted by JonathanB of LondonScot, as in person who comes from Scotland. Or in this instance represents Scotland. Keti has 'changed her nationality' from Georgian to Scottish recently and will represent Scotland in the Olympiad this year. (Unless I've just imagined this, as I can't find the link on the ChessScotland website?!)
Scot?
25 Jul 08
Originally posted by streetfighterI wasn't very impressed by what I saw of Keti Arakhamia Grant last year. She's going to have to play a great deal better than that if she's going to win the tournament this year. Wasn't she =2nd a few years ago?
I am going to go out on a limb here and put my money on a fellow Scot - Keti Arakhamia Grant. The last 4 titles have gone to Scots, and Keti can hold her own with the best of this field if she's on form.
Would also like to see Simon Williams do well as his style of play is so attractive.
25 Jul 08
Originally posted by Fat LadyKeti was 8th equal last year and outright 2nd the year before (both those tournaments were stronger than this year's looks to be I believe?!). If that doesn't make her a genuine contender then what would??
I wasn't very impressed by what I saw of Keti Arakhamia Grant last year. She's going to have to play a great deal better than that if she's going to win the tournament this year. Wasn't she =2nd a few years ago?
Anyway, we shall see - these things always involve a bit of luck at the right time 🙂
25 Jul 08
Originally posted by streetfighterShe may have been =8th last year, but her play really wasn't very good.
Keti was 8th equal last year and outright 2nd the year before (both those tournaments were stronger than this year's looks to be I believe?!). If that doesn't make her a genuine contender then what would??
Anyway, we shall see - these things always involve a bit of luck at the right time 🙂
It would be great if she did win. So many girls give up chess when they get to secondary school that a woman British Champion might encourage a few more to keep playing, but I really wasn't impressed last year.
Harriet Hunt was in with a chance of winning the British several years ago, but in end she lost her last few games and didn't even win the ladies prize, being overtaken by Humpy Koneru who played in the bottom half of the tournament against much easier opponents.
26 Jul 08
Originally posted by streetfighterIn 'male' terms Keti Arakhamia Grant is only a fairly average IM, so I wouldn't bet your shirt on her. She doesn't have the allround game, nor is she sufficiently aggressive to win such a tournament unless things go extraordinarily well for her.
I am going to go out on a limb here and put my money on a fellow Scot - Keti Arakhamia Grant. The last 4 titles have gone to Scots, and Keti can hold her own with the best of this field if she's on form.
Would also like to see Simon Williams do well as his style of play is so attractive.
A note of historical interest: la Arakhamia was the first female player I ever lost to in a serious game. She swindled me in a time scramble from an inferior position (though I admit I may be a little bit biased!). Last time I played her I drew fairly comfortably, so I can't imagine the Hebdens, Joneses, and Williamses losing too much sleep over her challenge.
26 Jul 08
Quote by Northern Lad:
"..nor is she sufficiently aggressive to win such a tournament..."
I had the pleasure to analysis in depth 7 of what she considered
were her best wins. On her day she is very capable and ultra aggressive.
Looked at some losses - she has a tendancy to fire the f-pawn
up the board - found a whole scad of losses that were due to
a 'trigger happy f-pawn' (term from Rowson in Zebras).
I think she has just as good a chance as anybody.
Without Rowson and Aagaard this is wide open.
Was going to favour Pert but just found out he is a new parent.
I remember how my play went right down the toilet when my kids
were born - all but gave up the game.
26 Jul 08
Originally posted by Northern LadAs I posted earlier; 'Keti was 8th equal last year and outright 2nd the year before (both those tournaments were stronger than this year's looks to be I believe?!). If that doesn't make her a genuine contender then what would??'
In 'male' terms Keti Arakhamia Grant is only a fairly average IM, so I wouldn't bet your shirt on her. She doesn't have the allround game, nor is she sufficiently aggressive to win such a tournament unless things go extraordinarily well for her.
A note of historical interest: la Arakhamia was the first female player I ever lost to in a serious game. ...[text shortened]... an't imagine the Hebdens, Joneses, and Williamses losing too much sleep over her challenge.
Well, if they are going to lose sleep over playing anyone, then Keti would have to be one of them surely?! Don't understand this thinking at all -why doesn't she have as good a chance as anyone else, when she has proven she can more than hold her own at this level in previous British Championships??
26 Jul 08
Originally posted by greenpawn34It's Richard Pert, who is slightly weaker than his brother Nick, who has just become a father.
Was going to favour Pert but just found out he is a new parent.
I remember how my play went right down the toilet when my kids
were born - all but gave up the game.[/b]
Nick Pert must be one of the favourites to win.
