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British Chess Federation

Golders Green Rapidplay, 14 May 2005

63 players competed over four sections. There was a very welcome return to Golders Green of International Master Colin Crouch, who recently had health problems. Welcome back! Paul Georghiou turned up to see if he could make it four times in a row against Grandmaster Cherniaev, but we suspect Sasha was elsewhere, chasing a bigger prize…
The following game is typical of the energy with which Paul manages to conduct his games; very difficult for even the best players (i.e. John) to handle at this time limit…

Paul Georghiou (198) - John Richardson (211) [E14] Golders Green Open, 14/5/05, Rd 3

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.Bd3 b6 5.0-0 Bb7 6.c4 cxd4 7.exd4 d6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.d5 e5 10.Ng5 h6 11.Nge4 0-0 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Qh5 Nd7 14.Bxh6! Re8 15.Ne4 gxh6 16.Nxd6 Qe7 17.Nf5 Qf8 18.Nxh6+ Kg7 19.f4 (bringing the rook on f1 into the attack via f3 and g3) e4 20.Bxe4! Bd4+ 21.Kh1 Rxe4 22.Rf3 Nf6 23.Rg3+? [23.Nf5+ Kg8 24.Rg3+ wins, as PG pointed out)] 23...Kh7 24.Qf5+ Kh8 25.Rh3 Qg7 26.Nxf7+ Kg8 27.Nd6 Re2 28.Rg3 Qxg3 29.hxg3 Rd8 30.Qg6+ 1-0

Spare a thought for Glynn Jones who raced to 4 points from 4 games in the Minor, but had to withdraw because of previous (grand) childcare commitments! And another for Greg Breed in the Amateur, who (like many competitors today) battled through London Transport and traffic on the rail replacement service, missed round one but was leading the tournament until wily veteran Victor Litvin pipped him to the post in the final round.

In total, £400 in prizes were awarded this month. All scores are out of six games; ungraded players (UNG) may only win 50% of a prize, the balance going to graded players. Female players (F), Juniors (J) and Seniors (S) are marked where known. Half an hour per player per game. Swiss system (i.e. not a knockout).

NEXT MONTHLY RAPIDPLAY EVENT: June 11 2005.

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