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.

Spectrum Chess Congress - Portsmouth Round 4 Leaders

Takaedza Chipanga is now guaranteed 1st place in the Premier, being 1.5 points clear with a perfect 4 out of 4.

In the Major, Paul Smith is still 1/2 a point clear.

In the Minor Kenneth Sullivan is 1 point clear with a perfect 4, but needs at least a draw against Mick Plumb to guarantee 1st outright. As there are 7 players on 3, there could be a number of people tying for prize money.

Premier

1. Takaedza Chipanga 4
2. Richard G McMaster 2.5
3. Robert J Harnett; David W Fowler; David J Deacon; Kamarunsalehin Kamis, Joseph A Coburn 2

Major

1. Paul Smith 4
2. Matthew Chapman 3.5
3. Philip J Kennedy 3

Minor

1. Kenneth Sullivan 4
2. Robert E Treloar; Paul Eyles; William Curry; Mick D Plumb; Lee Neville; Tony Dempster; Jim Hall 3
   

Spectrum Chess Congress - Portsmouth Round 3 Leaders

At the end of 3 rounds a clear leader is emerging in the Premier. Takaedza Chipanga from Rose Forgrove is 1 point clear on a perfect score.

In the Major, Paul Smith from Brighton and Hove, is 1/2 point clear, again on a perfect score.

In the minor, there are 2 leaders on a perfect score, Kenneth Sullivan and Paul Eyles both from Portsmouth.

Leaders after 3 rounds:

Premier

1. Takaedza Chipanga 3
2. Richard G McMaster; Joseph A Coburn 2

Major

1. Paul Smith 3
2. Shum Ghumman; Matthew Chapman; Kier Eyles 2.5

Minor

1. Kenneth Sullivan; Paul Eyles 3
2. Robert Trebar; Jim Hall 2.5
   

Spectrum Chess Congress - Portsmouth

The Spectrum Chess 5th Portsmouth congress is taking place this weekend in the Hilton Hotel. This is an excellent venue with good lighting in the main playing area, attentive staff and excellent rooms. Numbers are up on last year too, which is always a good sign.

The leaders after 2 rounds are as follows:

Premier (U-200)

1. Takaedza Chipanga 2
2. Richard G McMaster; David W Fowler 1.5

Major (U160)

1. Shum Ghumman; Kier Eyles; Paul Smith 2

Minor (U-120)

1. Kenneth Sullivan; Paul Eyles; John Kooner; Lee Neville; Jim Hall 2
   

Results of the Paignton Diamond Jubilee Chess Congress

Ron Bruce Open

1. Keith Arkell 6.5
2. Richard Almond 5
3. Neville Gill; Edward Hurwitz; Bruce Jenks; Dirk Jordan; Jason McKenna; Tyson Mordue; Martin Simons 4.5

Rowena Bruce Challengers

1. Ivor Annetts; Andrew Footner; Brian Hewson; Martin Page; Andrew Price 5

Ken Bloodworth Inter

1. Paul Smith 5.5
2. Peter Hannon; Dinah Norman; David Walshaw 5

Walker Minor

1. Colin Long 5.5
   
2. Christine Constable; Geoffrey Naldrett 5

Boniface 5 Round Morning

1. Richard Bryant 4.5
2. Andrew Footner; Eric Key; Brendon O'Gorman; David Patrick; Barry Sandicott 4
   

Looking across the magnificent marble staircase towards the results charts.

Round 5 Results from Paignton

Photo of the Ballroom at the start of the morning tournament. This room is also used for all but the minor tournament in the afternoon. A visitor's comment yesterday was that they weren't used to seeing chess played in such a grand setting.

In most tournaments round 5 would be the final round, but this is 7 rounds and so leaders can still be overtaken in most sections! The minor sees the battle of the ladies, and GM Keith Arkell is now 1.5 points clear in the open.

Ron Bruce Premier

1. Keith Arkell 5
2. John Blore; Neville Gill; Tyson Mordue; Martin Simons 3.5

Rowena Bruce Challengers

1. Chris Archer-Lock; Brian Hewson; Mel Young 4

Ken Bloodworth Inter

1. Paul Smith 4.5
2. Gordon Farrar; Kenneth Francis; Peter Hannan; Geoffrey Rasser; David Walshaw 3.5

Walker Minor

1. Chris Constable; Hazel Welch 4

Boniface 5 Round Morning

1. Richard Bryant 4/4
2. Eric Key; David Siddall 3.5

In the American All-Play-All Nigel Dennis has won all 5 of his games so far.

Results So Far at the Paignton Congress

Last night saw a civic reception at Oldway Mansions in honour of the congress's Diamond Jubilee. All of the chess players were invited. One of the invited guests was Ken Bloodworth, who played in the first Paignton Congress, and would have been playing in this one too if ill health had not forced his withdrawl.

There have now been 4 rounds in the afternoon events and 3 in the morning events. It is fairly tight at the top in all but the Open section in which Keith Arkell is a point clear of the field. The results for the top players in each section are given below:

Ron Bruce Open

1. Keith Arkell 4
2. John Blore; Neville Gill; Dirk Jordan; Tyson Mordue 3
   

Rowena Bruce Challengers (U-180)

1. Brian Hewson 4
2. Chris Archer-Lock; Richard Bryant; Andrew Footner; John Nyman; Martin Page; Andrew Price; Mel Young 3.5

Ken Bloodworth Inter (U-150)

1. Paul Smith 3.5
2. Gordon Farrar; Kenneth Francis; Terry Greenaway; Peter Hannon; Freddie Sugden; David Walshaw 3

Walker Minor (U-125)

1. Paul Bland; Chris Constable; Joe Farrell; Philip Gordon; Kevin Hindom; Conrad Jowett; Hazel Welch 3

Boniface 5 Round Morning (U-180)

1. Richard Bryant; Roger Scowen 3
   

Michael Adams Simul in Paignton

Last night Michael Adams gave a simultaneous chess display at the Paignton Chess Congress at Oldway Mansions. This was part of the celebrations of the Paignton Congress Diamond Jubilee - 60 years of chess in the same venue! Quite a record.

31 players took part in the simul, which was free to enter and then drawn by lot. 3 Devon juniors were chosen and of those, Robert Thompson, was the only person to beat Michael. There were also 4 draws too, so congratulations to Brendan O'Gorman, Chris Archer-Lock, W Taylor and J Wells.

Oldway Mansions, the venue for the congress, is the former home of Isaac Singer and is modelled on the Palace of Verseilles. The main room is the magnificent ballroom, with the minor section taking place in two smaller rooms, one of which is the Mayor's Parlour. The photo below shows part of the painted ceiling.

Results From Spectrum Dudley

Major U165

1st Tom Robinson 4/5

2nd = John Blore, Robin Huq, Simon Smith 3.5/5

Minor U125


1st Shailesh Jobanputra 4/5

2nd = Andrew Wiggins, Barry Kocan 3.5/5

Challengers U100


1st John Gibbs 5/5



2nd= Paul Broderick, Richard Leaper, Hazel Welch, Paul Williams 3.5/5

Final Round of Spectrum Chess, Dudley

The final round of the Spectrum Chess Congress in Dudley started within the last half hour. On top board in the U165 Major are Tom Robinson (white) with 3.5/4 and John Blore (black) with 3/4.




In the U125 Minor Section Andrew Wiggins (3.5/4) is playing white against Shailesh Jobanputra (3/4).






In the U125 Challengers Section, top board sees John Fenby on 3/4 playing white against John Gibbs, who is sitting undefeated on 4/4. Snapping at their heels are Paul Williams (white) and Richard Leaper (black), both on 3/4, playing on board 2.

Results and prize winners will be posted to this blog tomorrow.

Spectrum Chess - Dudley

The first Spectrum Chess Congress of 2009 is taking place this weekend at the Quality Hotel, Dudley. For those who aren't aware, Spectrum specializes in organizing chess congresses in hotel venues. This offers good playing conditions in hotel function rooms combined with hotel accommodation, and the camaraderie that comes from players able to socialize over meals.

This event takes place over 5 rounds, with 3 rounds on the Saturday and 2 on the Sunday. There are 3 sections: U165, U125 and U100. A goodly number have turned up to play and competition is fierce. The rate of play is 36 moves in 90 minutes plus 15 minutes quick play finish.

John and I are providing CCF MindGames bookstall, and also the equipment for the congress. It is good to see an organization which was formed in 1994 still providing congresses. I played some of my first congresses at Spectrum events and even won prize money in the past. This weekend, however, I have chosen not to play as I seem to be in free fall where my chess is concerned.

A Scary Play

Yesterday I spent some time listing some of the recently released chess books on ebay. We've let the chess side of ebay slip a bit as we've been concentrating on the trophies and cds.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CCF-MindGames_Chess_Chess-Books-General_W0QQfsubZ4QQssPageNameZSTOREQ3aPROMOBOXQ3aLINKSQQtZkm

In the evening John and I went to the theatre in Worthing. I had won a pair of tickets to 'The Woman in Black' and we were looking forward to an enjoyable night. It is a chilling ghost story, so I spent a lot of time holding John's hand for reassurance. Unfortunately, at a particularly scary moment. I jumped, grabbed his hand even tighter and bent his wrist back. He's OK now, but was not too happy last night!

CCF World Cup Match

Monday was chess club night again. We have a new competition there, the CCF World Cup, which is an individual event in rounds. On Monday, that is what I was playing in. I knew that my opponent was tricky, although I had managed to swindle a win against him the previous time that we played. I was sure that he would be out for revenge for that. I was black, but knew that I would need to prepare for our match if I was to stand any chance. I carefully learnt a response to his opening that would give me equality going into the middle game, when I knew that we would both be relying on our chess ability rather than our knowledge of openings. He varied on move 10, which gave me a lot of confidence about my position. I think I lost my way for a few moves after that, but soon was able to treble his pawns on the g file. A rather nice, though I say so myself, tactic and I was also a pawn and the exchange up. We played on a little more, before an error by my opponent enabled me to pin his queen to his king. He resigned, but even without the error, I think I probably should have won. So, I am at last feeling a little more confident about my ability to play this game!

Chess Study

Monday is our chess club night and I had started preparing for my match last week. Then, I had a sudden brainstorm that I had seen my opponent playing a certain opening as black (I was white). So, I stopped what I had been looking at and started on something completely different. Needless to say he didn't play that opening, but at least we drew - I'm sure that I had a win in there somewhere though. As John said, the other study was still useful for the future.

Weymouth Chess Congress

John and I spent last weekend running our bookstall at the Weymouth Chess Congress. The congress had moved to a new hotel, which is always interesting for us as we have to rethink the position and layout of the stall. This time we were able to use the small bar area annexed to the ballroom which was being used as the playing venue. The playing area itself was a large room with plenty of space between tables, even when everyone was seated. I was told by one of the players that the floor was maple and that he had been involved in the laying of it 20 years previously.

We were also running a bookstall at the Caterham Congress at the same time. My parents, who know nothing about chess, had agreed to man the stall there. As a result, John decided that he would be better than I manning the mobile with any problems or queries from Caterham.

Friday evening started well when I beat an ungraded player in an equal material endgame. (My knight and king were more centrally placed than his, so I was pretty sure that I had an advantage). However, that was to be the last game that I won all weekend, one of my worst tournaments ever. I did have some tough games, and it was an under-125, but even so......

Exmouth and a Golden Wedding

We had a very hectic week last week, so no blog for a while. Easter weekend saw us at the WECU congress in Exmouth. This time we made it all the way there with our van intact. After unloading I then had the enjoyment of spending most of the easter weekend in a room under the playing hall with the bookstall. However, there were plenty of people to talk to and the weather outside wasn't too good. Most mornings John and I managed a short walk before opening the shop and then we took it in turns at lunchtime to go for a walk.

After getting home on the Monday evening, Tuesday was a hectic work day. We had to post out our internet sales and bring the internet shop up to date with the weekend sales. We also had some engraving to do (we recently purchased an engraving machine).

On Wednesday we had the shopping to do for my parents' golden wedding party on the Thursday. Fortunately, most, although not all, came from one shop. I had been planning the menu for weeks and had now taken to dreaming about it. My only concern was if I was unable to get a side of salmon - I needn't have worried.

Thursday was spent preparing food, transporting tables, chairs, crockery and food to my parents' house and then further preparation. Why do salads all need preparing at the last minute? Still, it all seemed to go well and the food was enjoyed. People were impressed by the 'golden yellow' table cloths - normally gracing the tables of the bookstall. We had also specially engraved coasters for the occasion - John spent Wednesday evening on that whilst I was busy losing a chess game in Redhill.

Friday was a strange day. We were both exhausted, but the business has to continue. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders though.

Blackpool Chess Congress - Part 3

My first game on Sunday, knowing that I needed a win, went into a pawn and opposite colour bishop ending. Twice my opponent offered me a draw, but I was two pawns up and so twice I turned him down. My problem was that my one passed pawn was blocked by his bishop, supported by his king. My king couldn't get round to his other pawns easily, and even then they could be defended by the time I got there. After his second draw offer I thought for a long time and realised that I had to push my pawn majority. This would lose me two pawns for one, but would also enable my past pawn to push on and be swapped for his bishop. If he avoided this I would have two past pawns just two squares off queening. He went for the former option, which also left my king closer to the remaining four pawns on the board. His resignation came soon after.

In the afternoon I knew that nothing less than a win would put me into the prize money. My opponent was graded 13 points higher than me, but I had to go for it. In the endgame, I had a chance to force a perpetual (my opponent would lose his rook if he didn't keep checking me), but decided to continue to play for a win. Wrong decision! I took the king the wrong way and 15 or so moves later the game was lost. I felt gutted to say the least. Needless to say, later that evening I suddenly realised that if I had played a different move I could get to a square where I couldn't be checked and thus could have won. Why is it that I always find the perfect move hours after the game has finished?

Blackpool Chess Congress - Part 2

My first game on Saturday saw my opponent opening 1.f4. A few weeks ago I had learnt a response to this in preparation to play a fellow club member - did I remember this, of course not! Instead I tried to work my way through the opening. I tried to keep things complicated, but came out of a long combination a minor for two pawns down. It wasn't enough compensation and I went on to lose. However, I enjoyed the game. I have been told since to "play for where you want to be in five years time and not where you want to be today" and that the more aggressive and attacking you are the more likely your opponent is to miss something.

In the afternoon I faced a junior from the London area. Not a good omen - he's come all the way from London and he's playing up a section. Fortunately I was white and he did seem to have to think about my opening moves. Although he spent most of the game a pawn up, I did have compensation. Towards the end I had the lovely situation of my queen being en prise to his queen. However, I ignored this and took his extra pawn (which was now past) with my rook, leaving it en prise to his rook. If he took either piece, I had a mate in two or three moves. He saw this and moved his rook to prevent this and offered me a draw. I knew that I couldn't afford a draw, either in terms of his grade or in terms of the competition, so I turned it down, taking another pawn with my queen. Yes, it was probably drawn at this point, but fortunately my opponent then blundered his other rook and resigned after my next move.

East Devon Congres, Exeter, Part 3

After a good night's sleep, I felt much more awake on Sunday. I also had all to play for as I knew that I would be disappointed with anything less than 3 out of 5 points. My morning opponent, a lady who I had played a lot in the past, although not since the mid 1990s, had never lost to me. However, times change and I went into the game feeling reasonably confident. We went into a complicated middlegame exchange where I thought that I would come out a pawn up, but it was so complicated that I just couldn't work the whole thing out. All I could do was to try to ensure that everytime she took one of my pieces or pawns, I took one of hers back. We came out of the exchange and I counted the pawns left on the board, 6 each. Now I would have my work cut out as the game was much simplified and it wouldn't be difficult to swap off into an equal ending. I did not want a draw - what to do? A couple of moves later I noticed that I could only see one of her bishops, looking more closely, I realised that whilst I was able to count to 6, 2 seemed more of a problem! I had come out of the exchange a minor piece up and was now more than happy to swap off into an ending, which I went on the win.

In the afternoon a faced a Devon player who I had no experience of. His grade was higher than mine, and, for the second time that day, I was black. Again we went into a complicated exchange, though less complex than the morning. Again it appeared that the exchange would be equal, until careful thought revealed that I could move the final attacked knight to attack his queen which could not defend his also attacked bishop. Again we swapped off into an ending with me a minor piece up. This time though I had to be much more careful. He had threats on and I had to give a lot of thought to the king moves that eventually gave me passed pawns and his resignation.

So, finally I achieved the minimum score that I would be happy with and came away feeling much more confident about my chess. However, the day wasn't over and we still had the bookstall and equipment to pack away - thank you to the organisers for their help in this. Then it was a dash to Chard, where we traditionally stop at the Wetherspoon's for something to eat and a break in the journey. Only they had run out of food! (It was Mother's Day). Fortunately we found an Indian Restaurant still open (although about to close, their faces fell as we walked in). Fortunately for them we only wanted a quick meal and were soon back on our way again.