14-06-2015, 06:44 PM
Unsurprisingly, I am with Hamish on this. I just don't think a super final idea would work very well. May was floated as a date, but then you would probably wipe out all students from playing, although obviously this could change. The more relevant issue with it, is the Richardson attracts loads of players currently who do not play congresses (just check the team lineups from this year and see how many names are not playing congresses) for whatever reason, be it family commitments, costs, or flat out not having the time to spend a whole weekend on chess. As soon as the format changes to something requiring a whole weekend I reckon the standard would drop significantly.