Anyone Played at Hastings?

[ChessSpawn]

Reading Stephen Moss’ new book Rookie got me thinking about a holiday trip next Christmas to London and Hastings. There are many Christmas week events for all levels of players at Hastings. Has anyone here done one of the events and can anyone recommend places to stay in Hastings?
hastingschess.com/events-201617/

[10mostwanted]

been thinking of going to some of the international swisses. biel, reykjavik, … sound enticing. got invited to the NATO military event but think i will save some bucks to go to one of these.

cheers, …scot…

[bruce_leverett]

@ChessSpawn

Reading Stephen Moss’ new book Rookie got me thinking about a holiday trip next Christmas to London and Hastings. There are many Christmas week events for all levels of players at Hastings. Has anyone here done one of the events and can anyone recommend places to stay in Hastings?
hastingschess.com/events-201617/

I played at Hastings in 1981-2. I stayed at some bed-and-breakfast. Of course, it would be silly for me to try to recommend the place even if I remembered its name or location. I don’t remember how I found the place, but I think that there was a street full of B & B’s and I just walked down it and picked one. This is not vacation season, so you shouldn’t have to worry about finding a vacancy.

I played in an assortment of international swisses that winter. I don’t know what’s available next year, but you might also consider Wijk aan Zee.

Bruce

[Jim_T]

@bruce_leverett

I played in an assortment of international swisses that winter. I don’t know what’s available next year, but you might also consider Wijk aan Zee.

Bruce

During the winter there’s also the Gilbraltar Chess Festival. The 15th Tradewise Gilbraltar Chess Festival (January 22 - February 2, 2017) at the Caleta Hotel Gilbraltar includes not only the heavyweight “Masters” section which this year will include Caruana, Nakamura, Shankland, Kaidanov, Zatonskih, etc., but also 5-SS sections for “Challengers” (FIDE under 2250 or Unrated) and “Amateurs” (FIDE under 1900).
gibraltarchesscongress.com/morningevents.htm

The weather at Gilbraltar will almost assuredly be more pleasant than Wijk aan Zee at that time of year.

[bruce_leverett]

@Jim T.

@bruce_leverett

I played in an assortment of international swisses that winter. I don’t know what’s available next year, but you might also consider Wijk aan Zee.

Bruce

During the winter there’s also the Gilbraltar Chess Festival. The 15th Tradewise Gilbraltar Chess Festival (January 22 - February 2, 2017) at the Caleta Hotel Gilbraltar includes not only the heavyweight “Masters” section which this year will include Caruana, Nakamura, Shankland, Kaidanov, Zatonskih, etc., but also 5-SS sections for “Challengers” (FIDE under 2250 or Unrated) and “Amateurs” (FIDE under 1900).
gibraltarchesscongress.com/morningevents.htm

The weather at Gilbraltar will almost assuredly be more pleasant than Wijk aan Zee at that time of year.

Thanks for mentioning Gibraltar. I’ve never been to that tournament but I’ve heard only great things about it.

Regarding the weather, be aware that even England and Holland have winters that are balmy compared to the northern U.S. I don’t remember any snow at Hastings or Wijk aan Zee. But the annoying thing about England was, at a lot of places, you had to use coins to feed the room heater to keep your room warm.

Bruce

[ChessSpawn]

@bruce_leverett

@Jim T.

@bruce_leverett

I played in an assortment of international swisses that winter. I don’t know what’s available next year, but you might also consider Wijk aan Zee.

Bruce

During the winter there’s also the Gilbraltar Chess Festival. The 15th Tradewise Gilbraltar Chess Festival (January 22 - February 2, 2017) at the Caleta Hotel Gilbraltar includes not only the heavyweight “Masters” section which this year will include Caruana, Nakamura, Shankland, Kaidanov, Zatonskih, etc., but also 5-SS sections for “Challengers” (FIDE under 2250 or Unrated) and “Amateurs” (FIDE under 1900).
gibraltarchesscongress.com/morningevents.htm

The weather at Gilbraltar will almost assuredly be more pleasant than Wijk aan Zee at that time of year.

Thanks for mentioning Gibraltar. I’ve never been to that tournament but I’ve heard only great things about it.

Regarding the weather, be aware that even England and Holland have winters that are balmy compared to the northern U.S. I don’t remember any snow at Hastings or Wijk aan Zee. But the annoying thing about England was, at a lot of places, you had to use coins to feed the room heater to keep your room warm.

Bruce

I have a friend in Germany who has been trying to get me to do Gibralter with her for two years. Yes, the weather would be better than at Wik, but then I might not get out much if I met her there or anywhere…