4th Jessie Gilbert International Tournament Results

As expected, the Open was won by GM Keith Arkell with 8/9.  Second were GM Bogdan Lalic and Michael Matuszewski with 6/9.
The 'Sections for All' B event was again won by Richard Bryant with 4/5.  Second were Dominic Gibbs and Francis Fields with 3.5.  Alan Fraser won the U1600 grading prize with 3/5.
The 'Sections for All' C event was won by Craig Kennedy with 5/6.  Joint second were Richard Bryant and Frank Kane with 4.5.
Congratulations to all of the winners.

4th Jessie Gilbert International Tournament

The 4th Jessie Gilbert International Tournament is well under way at CCF Coulsdon.  There are a number of events taking place, the main one being the open tournament. 

The sections for all FIDE rated A event took place last weekend and was won by Richard Bryant with 5/6.  Craig Kennedy came second with 4.5 and the grading prizes were won by John Torrance, David Young and Amit Athawale with 3.5.

The Open is being led by GM Keith Arkell with 3.5 out of 4.  Just behind him are GM Bogdan Lalic, Michael Matuszewski and IM Jack Rudd with 3/4.  This afternoon could be very interesting with Arkell v Rudd and Matuszewski v Lalic.

ECF Funding Proposals

The ECF has brought out new funding proposals with 4 levels of membership, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.  This link http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/ECF-Funding-Proposals-Aug-2011.pdf gives the full information, but the basic scheme is as follows:

Bronze - Participation in Club, League and County events - £12 (£8)

Silver - As above plus non-FIDE congresses - £18 (£12)

Gold - As above plus FIDE-rated congresses, eligible for ECF Grand Prix - £27 (£22)

Platinum - As above plus ECF Yearbook and Diary - £60

Wrekin Congress

This weekend has been spent at the Wrekin Congress, near Telford.  I had stuck to my New Year Resolution and studied chess for at least an hour each day this week.  But it was to no avail.  I scored 2 out of 5 in the minor, with a grading performance of 20 points below my grade.  Not a good weekend, hopefully I can learn from my mistakes.  (Especially my last game in which I turned an outright win into a draw).  At least I helped 2 of my opponents to 3rd place!
So, here are the final results:
Minor

1. Roger Brown 5
2. Graham Ives 4
3. Anthony Meakin; Richard Leaper; Ivor Salter; Jonathan Hockey; Matthew Wilson; Richard Szwajkun; Tim Skidmore; Louise Coxon 3.5

 Major

1. Tom Robinson; Brendon O'Gorman; Tim Lane; Adrian Walker; Phil Bull 3.5

Premier

1. Gavyn Cooper 4
2. Russel James; Don Mason; Andy Baruch 3.5

Hasting Weekend - Final Round

As the final round of the weekend tournament begins, top board in the open sees GM Stuart Conquest on 3.5 playing white against James Essinger on 3.  James Holland managed to hold the Grand Master to a draw in round 4.

In the Major there are 3 players on 3.5.  Maurice Lawson plays white against John Hickman, whilst Andrew Fleming downfloats to play black against Brendan O'Gorman.

The Minor sees a battle on the top 2 boards as 4 players are on 3.5.  Owen Messere plays white against Phil Foley, whilst Keith Findley has the white pieces against Robert Pooley.

The under 120 sees Yang-Jian Zhou half a point clear on 3.5, with Alan Fraser upfloating to play white against him.  Mason Woodhams plays white against James Robertson, both also on 3.

Hastings International Chess Congress

The Hastings Masters Tournament is well under way now and after 5 rounds GM David Howell is a clear 1 point ahead with a perfect 5 out of 5.

In the 5 round weekend tournaments the positions were as follows after 3 rounds:
Open 

1. GM Stuart Conquest 3
2. Laurence Webb, James Holland, Victor Jones, James Essinger, Rhys Cumming 2

Major

1. Andrew Fleming, Maurice Lawson 3

Minor

1. Owen Messere, Keith Findley 3

Under 120

1. Yang-Jian Zhou, Paul Buswell, James Robertson, Alan Fraser 2.5