19 Nov 09
3 edits
From the girls' under 10 championship.
White is Anna Wang, the current British under 10 girls champion. Black is Tea Choladze of Georgia.
Anna had the worst of it and was clearly losing in the following position. However she spotted a little cheapo. Leaving her bishop undefended would be too obvious, so she pretended to miss the tactic that seemed to win even more material for Black...
22 Nov 09
Originally posted by ChandradiAnna's ECF grade is 131, which I think is a fair representation of her playing strength. I don't think the Sicilian Dragon particularly suits her, I'd be happier if she played a different defence as Black against 1. e4.
Wonder whats her grade? 🙂
22 Nov 09
Originally posted by heinzkatNa, ECF: 131 isn't anywhere near Master level however it is very good for an under 10. I know quite a lot of people who have been playing for 30 years and haven’t made that grade.
WFM already?
Just out of interest what was she before the ECF grades were inflated?
22 Nov 09
1 edit
Originally posted by BorgovAccording to the ECF website Anna's grade was 86 last year. Without the inflation she probably would have come out at around 110 to 120 this year, I don't think the inflation affected her grade as much as some juniors. Like most juniors she can play much stronger that expected if it's a position she is familiar with or if it's very tactical, but can be ground down by closed games without too much trouble (at least for another year or two!).
Na, ECF: 131 isn't anywhere near Master level however it is very good for an under 10. I know quite a lot of people who have been playing for 30 years and haven’t made that grade.
Just out of interest what was she before the ECF grades were inflated?
I like this ECF grade inflation. Last season I would get 1/3 of a grading point for beating someone graded 130. This season that same player might be graded over 160 and I get over 1 point for the victory!
Although 131 isn't near to FM level, it probably isn't too far away from WFM. I reckon any woman/girl graded 160 or more can get a WFM title if they put their mind to it.
23 Nov 09
Originally posted by Fat LadyThere’s still plenty wrong with the ECF system, but it’s a step in the right direction. I just don’t see any reason why we can’t have a live system updated monthly - like the rest of the Chess playing world! I’ve played a load of games this season and done quite well, but I think I’ve already peaked at about 120 even though we are only a quarter of the way in.
According to the ECF website Anna's grade was 86 last year. Without the inflation she probably would have come out at around 110 to 120 this year, I don't think the inflation affected her grade as much as some juniors. Like most juniors she can play much stronger that expected if it's a position she is familiar with or if it's very tactical, but can be grou ...[text shortened]... reckon any woman/girl graded 160 or more can get a WFM title if they put their mind to it.
I must admit I’ve ended up with egg on my face a couple of times with tactics from juniors, they are as you say very sharp. Whenever I’m up against a kid now I don’t play my usual 1.e4 and go for a Nimzo-Larsen instead - best case scenario they won’t know it and blunder - but at the very least it will bore them into submission. Also once you get into an endgame it’s over, they just don’t have the patience 😉
If she’s 131 at the age of 10 and keeps playing (it’s the teenage years that can prove a distraction!) It’s likely she’ll end up an excellent player with some kind of title - and good luck to her!