English Chess Federation

34th EDCA Congress & National Championship, 28-29 October 2006

Sheffield

Chris Kreuzer successfully defended his EDCA title in Sheffield with an unbeaten score of 4/5. Second place was very close with three players tied on 3.5 points but after applying the tie-break system, as Alasdair MacLeod beat both Robert Burnett and Lewis Martin, he was awarded 2nd place. Robert Burnett was 3rd with Lewis Martin 4th as Burnett had a better Sonneborg-Berger score.

The EDCA National Championship title went right to the wire with everything depending on the very last game to finish in the 5th round. Kreuzer needed at least a draw while MacLeod needed to win to reclaim the title he won in 2004. Both players certainly took their time, with the opening moves made carefully. MacLeod missed an opportunity to gain a clear advantage in the middle game, instead going for a variation where he was a pawn up - but in a rook and pawn endgame. Krezuer hung on in severe time trouble, making the last 15 plus moves to time control in less than 2 minutes. He even fought back in the endgame, gaining the initiative despite being a pawn down. Krezuer forced a repetition of moves with MacLeod's turn to be in time trouble in the rapidplay finish, so giving him the EDCA National Championship for the second time.

In the Major tournament, Gary Hunter of Warrington found himself in hot streak of form to win the Major Section, his first EDCA trophy. John Christie from Scotland performed very consistently to win second place. Top seed David Whiston couldn't find top form in finishing third.

The EDCA would like to thank Sheffield Deaf Sports and Social Club for letting us have the use of their premises for the whole weekend.