Cleveland Chess -1st Darlington Rapid Play 21st February 2004

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1st Darlington Rapid Play 21st February 2004

Hi Guys

First of all a massive thank you must go out to all the players who turned out for the first Rapid-Play tournament held in Darlington. Apart from a delayed start and every round starting late, the whole day went relatively smoothly along with the help of Graham Marshall and his team of staff. Another massive thank you must also go out to Paul Bielby, Les Boxx and Lara Barnes for doing the pairings, which at times proved to be somewhat of a nightmare.

Anyway on to some results.

In the open section, both Jimmy Simpson and David Eggleston started off the tournament to a fantastic start both winning their first 2 matches, but unfortunately for Jimmy he was the first to fall at the fence, with the young Mr David Eggleston carrying on with his winning streak in the 3rd round. also both Dusan Zdjelar and Bret Addison were looking like they was going to have a bad tournament having only scored 1.5 points after 3 rounds and continued to match each other point for point both of whom eventually ended the tournament on 4pts leaving them 1 clear point behind the clear winner who was David Eggleston, who picked up £60 for his efforts. CONGRATULATIONS DAVID !!

In the Major Section, two players were looking like getting off to a good start, both Adrian Dilley and Luke Boumphrey from Liverpool were both on 2 points after their first 2 matches but Adrian was the first to fall this time with Luke leaving a cloud of smoke behind the rest of the other players as he romped home to outright victory who finished on 5.5 points leaving J Turner making a bit of a late comeback in round 4 and eventually finished on 4.5 points giving him 2nd place outright picking him up £30. and finishing in joint 3rd place were M J Turp, David Baillie and Lara Barnes who would have picked up £3.33 each if Lara hadn't been so kind in donating her prize money leaving with MJ Turp and David Baillie picking up £5 each.

And finally in the Minor Section, 4 players started off to a romping start which looked like making good for a good minor tournament. after the 2nd round, Graham Matthews, Colin Gilroy, Kevin Wilson and Myself were on 2pts each. Unfortunately one of the shocking results from my point of view was the game that Graham Matthews lost to Kevin Wilson, as Graham is normally pretty darn good at this type of chess and is usually the runaway winner of most of the minor events. Kevin obviously went on to beat graham, and I myself eventually ended up having to take a draw when I was a whole rook up and then lost the exchange back somehow managed to let an outside passed A pawn get loose and too strong and I eventually had to give up my knight for the pawn leaving us both with a queen and equal pawns endgame, which eventually ended drawn. Brian Mckie of Darlington Chess Club also had a good day and a good first tournament who eventually finished on 4.5 points along with Peter Harker who both picked up £20 each. but Kevin Wilson was the eventual winner of the minor tournament who just could not be stopped and finished the tournament unbeaten on 6 points and picked up £60 for his efforts which should go someway to getting a few nappies for the soon to be new arrival in Kevin's family.

ONCE AGAIN A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL THE PLAYERS WHO TOOK PART, AND EVEN MORE SO TO ALL THOSE WHO PICKED UP THE PRIZE MONEY !!!

With thanks

Carl Stephens

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