8th Middlesbrough Chess Congress was held at Middlesbrough Town Hall. There were 113 entries this year which was 15 down on last year. In the Open section there were 31 players which included Sean Marsh and Mike Closs! Intermediate had 30 players and Minor section 34 players. The beginners section had 18 players.

Gerry Walsh was running this congress on his own, but did receive a helping hand from Ian Elcoate - thnx's Ian!

I think if the number of entries continues to drop it won't be long before the Middlesbrough congress goes the same way as the Redcar one. Out of the 113 entries only 41 were registered Cleveland players. Another point here is - if Gerry gets no offers of help to assist him in the running of the Middlesbrough Congress then I really do think we can kiss goodbye to it.

Gerry did a terrific job running this Chess Congress on his own, his commitment is to be commended, WELL DONE GERRY !! SUPER JOB!

Here are the Prize Winners

Beginners - Prize Winners

1ST	GARY NEWMARCH	MIDDLESBROUGH	£60 00	8.5/10
2ND	PETER HARKER	HARTLEPOOL	£40 00	7.5/10
3RD=	BEN WOOD	SOUTH SHIELDS	£10 00	7.0/10
	YUSEF MADI	STOCKTON	£10 00	7.0/10

Minor - Prize Winners

1ST	NATHAN HUNTLEY	MIDDLESBROUGH	£120 00	5.0/5
2ND	NICHOLAS WEB	ELMWOOD	£80 00	4.5/5
3RD	PETER J SMITH	B. AUCKLAND	£45 00	4.0/5

 

GP-1	GAGIK ABARYAN	GATESHEAD	£12 50	3.5/5
GP-1	GRAHAM SHUTTLEWORTH	STOKESLEY	£12 50	3.5/5
GP-2	JOHN BOXALL	PETERLEE	£25 00	2.5/5

Intermediate - Prize Winners

1ST=	JIM ROGERS	ATHENAEUM	£77 50	4.0/5
	WILLIAM PLACE	STOCKTON	£77 50	4.0/5
	RICHARD M GEORGE	MORPETH	£77 50	4.0/5
	DAVID PATRICK	COURIER	£77 50	4.0/5
GP	COLLIN SMITH	PETERLEE	£25 00

Open - Prize Winners

1ST	STEPHEN MANNION	CATHCART	£200 00	4.5/5
2ND=	ANDREW DUNN	DURHAM	£112 50	4.0/5
	SEAN MARSH	ELMWOOD	£112 50	4.0/5
GP-1	THOMAS EGGLESTON	DURHAM	£50 00	3.5/5
GP-2	JONATHAN HAWKINS	CONSETT	£25 00	3.0/5

Gerry Walsh Giving out the prizes to the winners - WELL PLAYED LADS!!