Many states have a closed championship. There were a few years last decade when we held it (near the end of Jesse Kraai’s time here). With the exception of Jesse, the field of players we have now is probably the best it has been 10 years. I’ll leave it the organizers to work out the details, but something like the 9 highest rated who commit to play before a certain deadline + the New Mexico Open Champion. 4 rounds probably. If this event occurs before the 2017 New Mexico Open then I suppose the 2016 winner — correction — winners (actually I just looked it up) would be in.
New Mexico Closed Championship
by Ben Coraretti | Jun 8, 2017 | 4 comments
I am not just a student of chess but a fan as well. Ben is correct, the talent in NM is here. As a chess fan who hasn’t imagined specific matchups of top NM players, the only thing I would add to Ben’s comments is to add multiple closed events throughout the year. Things are heating up in NM chess and the timing is right.
GM Cristian Chrilla” You are only good as your last performance simple as that.”
-Jonah Romero
Ben that is a great idea! I am willing to help out this event and get a free venue for it. There should be such event where only the strongest can square off the championship.
Of course this is a great idea. It would add so much legitimacy to the title. Presently, with a large open tournament of limited rounds, a players could have uneven pairings to “win” the title. Clearly, in the last state championship, having been paired with numbers 1, 4 and 5 I would or should have won any tie-breaker. But what does that mean? Should a contestant be penalized for pairings they have no control over? Having played more state champions in this state than anybody else(Shaw, Kraai, Kerns, Thigpen, Schneider, Kammerdiner, Stuart, Lapid, Sandager, Perry, I am well aware of the excellent play they are capable of. It seems getting to play quality players in one event should be striven for.
Further, it would increase the chance for FIDE ratings in the state if it could be made a FIDE event. It could become a spectator event, and finally it would increase interest in chess overall. The event could be a round robin but this would limit the number of entrants or the length of the event or could be held with a limited number of entrants and be a swiss, say 7 rounds with 10 or 12 players. Every game would be important and tough.
I therefore, wholeheartedly support a closed championship. For me it would complete the arc of 5min champion, G15 champion(still haven’t got my plaque), and open champion. As for others, it could be a springboard to master.
I hope that this is seriously considered.
Mark Schwarman
Thanks for your input Mark! I will do everything I can to help this along, I just had lunch with Master Haines on such type events.