Report – 23 January 2004

 

Prize Night tournament - Handicap Lightning

 

Prize Night

Brian Willcock was master of ceremonies and managed the task with such aplomb that he came close to quote of the night on a few occasions. Most of the trophy winners were there, and Flood Cup winner Eric Faccer showed up a bit later in the evening. Mike Talbot came down from a sojourn out west of Rockhampton and shared some of his wisdom with those present.

 

Handicap Lightning Tournament

The Handicap Lightning tournament started tonight with a preliminary round in 2 groups. The top 2 in each group progressed to the semi-finals. The handicap system is based on a system of handicaps awarded on playing strength. The handicaps are determined by rating, with 1600+ players having a zero handicap (‘playing off scratch’), 1500-1599 having a ½ point handicap, 1400-1499 1 point etc etc, down to a player under 999 has a 3½ point handicap. Before each game the difference between the 2 players’ handicaps is calculated, with the lower rated player having 5 minutes in the game to make all moves, the higher rated player having 5 minus the handicap difference. There is speculation that this is all designed to give the DOP the maximum headache!!

 

Group A

POINTS

Handicap

Harvey Quaresmini

4.5

(1.0)

George Flitcroft-Smith

4

(0.5)

Marty Chadwick

2.5

(3.0)

Debbie Jenkins

2

(2.0)

Ewan McPherson

2

(3.5)

John Curran

0

(3.0)

There were not too many surprises in the Group A, although Marty got off to a flyer beating John and Debbie and gaining a draw with George (of course, in controversial circumstances!). The draw was the result of a 3-fold repetition in a dead drawn situation bishop + pawn v opposite coloured bishop. Ewan’s win against Marty saw the end of his campaign for a top two spot. George and Harvey drew their game which saw both of them win through to the next stage.

 

Group B

POINTS

Handicap

Andrew Robinson

4

(0.5)

Stuart Holt

4

(1.5)

Peter Hiller

3

(2.5)

Brian Willcock

2

(2.5)

Jack Badenhorst

2

(2.5)

James Hiller

0

(3.5)

In Group B, Jack started well with wins against Stuart and James but then faded badly. Brian played his usual quirky style although it was more Hilleresque tonight. He lost to Andrew with an illegal move. Then against Stuart castled queenside with his QUEEN and rook (Stuart noticed but thought it must be a strange local rule and decided to play on). In this game Brian later left his queen en pris. Against Marty in the semis he moved his queen diagonally from a8 to d3, got away with it – delivering checkmate three moves later.

 

Semi Finals

George beat Andrew who had a very early and disappointing exit after failing to see a diagonal chackmate with the queen on h7. Harvey got the better of Stuart in the other major semi. In the other play-offs, Marty had a second to go in game against Harvey and could have mated in one. He decided he didn’t have enough time and it was a draw. The replay was a one minute game which Brian won by claiming an illegal move! The other interesting game saw James a queen plus two rooks against a lone rook when his time fell. The cliches flowed…

 

1st to 4th:

Harvey Quaresmini1 Stuart Holt 0;

George Flitcroft-Smith 1 Andrew Robinson 0

 

‘Plate’ and ‘Bowl’ semis were also held so that everyone could keep playing:

5th to 8th:

Marty Chadwick ½ Brian Willcock ½ (Brian won a 1 minute play-off game);

Debbie Jenkins 1 Peter Hiller 0

9th to 12th:

John Curran 1 Jack Badenhorst 0;

James Hiller 0 Ewan McPherson 1

 

Final

George beat Harvey to win the handicap lightning tournament for the first time. It was only when scrounging around the trophies that it was noticed that there was a prize for this tournament. This was awarded to George with due aplomb.

 

Results:

1st place play-off: Harvey Quaresmini 0 George Flitcroft-Smith 1

3rd place play-off: Andrew Robinson 1 Stuart Holt 0

5th place play-off: Brian Willcock 1 Debbie Jenkins 0

7th place play-off: Marty Chadwick 1 Peter Hiller 0

9th place play-off: John Curran 1 Ewan McPherson 0

11th place play-off: Jack Badenhorst 1 James Hiller 0

 

Past winners of the Handicap Lightning tournament

 

 

Lightning tournament

 

Tonight’s result:

Andrew 2 James 0

 

Lightning tournament: Current standings

All players to play 20 games

No.

NAME

POINTS

PLAYED

1

Andrew Robinson

19

20

2

George Flitcroft-Smith

16

20

3

Steve Quick

11

18

4

Harvey Quaresmini

16

5

Stuart Holt

9

19

6

Debbie Jenkins

14

7

Peter Hiller

6

16

8

Brian Willcock

16

9

Marty Chadwick

3

18

10

John Curran

13

11

James Hiller

1

8

 

Lightning tournament 2004 results in detail

 

 

45 minute tournament

Ray won against Stuart with 20 seconds left on his clock.

 

In a bid to speed up the tournament so the Flood cup can start early, James’ remaining two games were awarded to his opponents. This means a tie for second in Group A. A draw by lots will occur next Friday to decide who faces George in the 3rd place play-off and who faces Peter in the 5th place play-off.

 

45 Minute tournament 2003 results in detail

 

Tonight’s result:

Ray 1 Stuart 0

 

Group A

 

No.

Player

1

2

3

4

5

6

Total

1

Andrew Robinson

X

1

½

1

1

½

4

2

Debbie Jenkins

0

X

1

1

1F

½

3

Brian Willcock

½

0

X

1

1

½

3

4

Stuart Wilson

0

0

0

X

1

0

1

5

James Hiller

0

0F

0

0

X

0F

0

6

Ray Adams

½

½

½

1

1F

X

 

Group B

 

No.

Player

1

2

3

4

5

6

Total

1

George Flitcroft-Smith

X

1

0

1

1

-

3 - 2nd

2

Harvey Quaresmini

0

X

1

1

1

-

3 - 1st

3

Peter Hiller

1

0

X

1

1

-

3 - 3rd

4

John Curran

0

0

0

X

1

-

1

5

Marty Chadwick

0

0

0

0

X

-

0

6

<bye>

-

-

-

-

-

X

 

 

 

Quote of the night:

“Maybe it’s appropriate that I’m black…… paying my respects…” – a wistful James mourning Hooksey and giving his own black armband view of history (and on his side of the political fence too!)

 

“Yeah, I’m still ahead on time” – petulant James, after losing a game when surrounded by spectators.

 

“And then a green tree frog jumped and went right up the cook’s arse!!” – Mike Talbot……….. he’s back!!

 

 

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