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British Chess Federation

CCF Easter Chess Festival, 25-28 March 2005

A Grandmaster as well as someone playing in her first official chess matches were just 2 of the players that took part in the Coulsdon / Surrey Easter Chess Festival events over the weekend, just proving how we cater for a full range of players in our activities. Friday and Saturday saw the traditional long play congress with 3 rounds on both days, whilst Monday saw a rapidplay competition during the day followed by a blitz in the evening.

Long Play Congress

Coulsdon's Marcus Osborne and Redhill's Dan Bisby shared the honours in the Open competition, scoring 5 out of 6; Crystal Palace's John Bennett finished 3rd whilst the grading prize saw one of Coulsdon's young prodigies, James Foster, claim the prize with 3½ out of 6. Considering the rules would have allowed him in 3 of the 4 lower sections in the competition, he can be well satisfied with his performance.

The Under 170 honours went to East Grinstead's young star, Joe Fraser. Joe won with 4½ points from 6, fending off Richmond Junior's Paul Seymour and Wallington's Geoff Marchant, who both finished on 4; Tim beating Geoff in the final round to draw level with him and prevent his opponent from taking a share of 1st. Wimbledon's young star, Yang-Fan Zhou picked up the grading prize with 3 out of 6.

The Under 145 competition produced a very tight finish, with Kingston's Jinwoo Song coming out on top with 5 out of 6. He was just have a point clear of South Norwood's Dennis Rattray and Tunbridge Wells's Russell Goodfellow. The Under 125 grading prize went to Aaron Ironmonger of Hammersmith.

It was a shared 1st place in the Under 120 section; Robert Davidson of Brighton and Tristan Clayton scored 5 out of 6, fending off another Brighton player, Stuart Wallace, who came 3rd with 4½. Anthony Duncan of Islington scored 4 to take the grading prize.

The Under 90 section saw victory for Portsmouth's John Carr, another winner with 5 out of 6. Three players tied for 2nd place on 4½; they were Mark Cluett (Gravesend, Coulsdon), Chris Constable (Coulsdon - CCFMindGames) and Simon Roberts (Portsmouth). The grading prize was shared between 2 year 5 pupils from their respective schools, both scoring 3½ out of 6; the latter was playing his first ever long play matches; Robert Lobo (Petts Wood & Orpington) and Duke Quinton (Coulsdon).

Rapidplay

It was a field of 52 players that battled out the latest 6 round rapidplay during the day on Monday. The top 2 sections were merged as they were just short of a number suitable for a separate Swiss system; at the last rapidplay, we had no-one at all entering the Under 170 section.

Ian Snape (Coulsdon) came out on top with 5.5; a grandmaster draw in the last round completing his tournament success and making up for having to miss day 2 of the long play congress with illness (he was the top seed in it). Guildford's Alan Punnett came a point behind him in second place but had to leave before the prize giving. However, he didn't leave empty handed, as he collected the prize he was owed from a previous rapidplay here. Streatham's Robin Haldane finished 3rd of 4. Within the open, David Sedgwick (Coulsdon) picked up first place for those graded Under 170 with a score of 3.5. Christopher Archer-Lock (Berkshire) finished just half a point behind in 2nd along with David Barron.

The Under 140 section was also won with a score of 5.5. Hendon's Jonathan Rubeck was the victor, leading Jinwoo Song (Kingston) across the line by a whole point. Chas Byott (Coulsdon), Russell Goodfellow (Tunbridge Wells) and Nathan Goldberg (Coulsdon) finished equal 3rd.

Coulsdon players took 2 of the 3 highest places in the Under 110 section, with Paul Barkshire taking the leading honours with a score 5, just half a point clear of Howard Curtis (Coulsdon boss) and Ken Hedger (Hammersmith). The Under 80 section saw a 3-way split between John Constable (Coulsdon), Andrew Turner (Crowborough) and Adrian Archer-Lock (Berkshire Juniors) tying on 4.5.

Blitz

This was the fun part of the weekend. As well as having the surprise visit of a Grandmaster, we also had a "Mum" decide that she had had enough of watching and sitting around all weekend and that she was going to try her hand at playing; encompassing the very good spirit that the blitz was played in. With Scott Freeman arbiting from a chair in the office as much as possible (having injured his shin playing football - all in a good cause).

First place was eventually shared between GM William Watson and Coulsdon's Stuart Hamilton, who both ended up on 6 out of 7. Stuart lost to Watson who in turn lost to Martin Benjamin, who himself went on to pick up the Under 170 grading prize. Brian Allan picked up the Under 110 prize (yes, for those of you that know him, his rapidplay grade is under 110) and Jude Lenier won his final round game to take the Under 90 prize.