Prize Night Tournament - Handicap Lightning
Prize Night
Ray Adams
presented the prizes to the tournament and trophy winner of 2004.
Handicap Lightning Tournament
The Handicap Lightning tournament started tonight with a preliminary round in 2 groups. This year the groups were drawn at random with the outcome being that Group B was significantly stronger group than Group A. 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 is allocated 5 minutes minus the handicap difference. For example, if
the difference is 1.5 then the higher rated player will receive 3.5 minutes to
make their moves.
|
Group A |
POINTS |
Handicap |
|
Stuart Holt |
4.5 |
(1.0) |
|
Dan Beamish |
3 |
(3.5) |
|
Ray Adams |
3 |
(1.0) |
|
Shane Martin |
3 |
(3.5) |
|
Mark Taylor |
1.5 |
(1.5) |
|
Stuart Wilson |
0 |
(3.5) |
With two players
in the group who were competing in their first chess tournament, this group was
wide open to surprise results. This was as it turned out with Dan and Shane
level with Ray after the round-robin. A play-off round occurred with Dan
winning against both Ray and Shane rendering the Shane v Ray match-up
unnecessary. In the group games Dan was the only players not to lose to Stuart
Holt holding him to a draw. He also obtained a draw against Mark when Mark
conceded an unlikely stalemate when holding a winning advantage. Shane beat Dan
in the first game which was decided on time and gave both players a lesson in
the vagaries of lightning chess (Shane won that game with several pieces down).
|
Group B |
POINTS |
Handicap |
|
Tony Howes |
5 |
(0.5) |
|
Debbie Jenkins |
3.5 |
(1.5) |
|
Andrew Robinson |
3.5 |
(0.5) |
|
Marty Chadwick |
2 |
(3.0) |
|
Brian Willcock |
1 |
(2.0) |
|
Peter Hiller |
0 |
(2.5) |
In Group B, Tony
swept through with a picket fence. Debbie and Andrew drew their group game on
repetition, which led to a play-off that Debbie won, thus denying Andrew a
ninth consecutive semi-final appearance in this tournament. Marty played well
to collect two wins, while Brian offered queens left, right and centre but
still managed to win one game.
Semi Finals
Stuart Holt 1 Debbie Jenkins 0
Tony Howes 1 Dan Beamish 0
Both of these games went to form with the group winners Stuart and Tony triumphing comfortably. However it was an achievement for Debbie and Dan to have made it this far – Debbie with her morbid dislike of lightning, and Dan playing in his first chess tournament with little blitz chess experience.
‘Plate’ and ‘Bowl’ semis were not held this year as Joe Tarnawski had showed up late, and it was easier to organise opponents for him if the players finishing 5th to 12th were kept free. There was also no third place play-off.
Final
Stuart Holt 1 Tony Howes 0
Stuart Holt proved himself the ‘one night wonder’ (he won the St David’s Day tournament last year) by beating Tony in a game that turned on a touched piece. Early on Tony intended to move his queen and picked up his king, possibly due to the late hour (it was almost 11pm). This let Stuart in to grab a piece, the initiative, an eventually an inevitable victory.
Past winners of the Handicap Lightning tournament
No games were played tonight, however a few things have occurred which will affect this tournament:
This means that the line up is now final – 9 players to play 16 games in total. All games must be completed by 18 February.
Despite completing more than half of his games it has been decided not to include results against George in the final standings as this will be prejudicial to players who have already played him and lost.
Lightning 2005: Current standings
All players to play 16 games
|
No. |
NAME |
POINTS |
PLAYED |
|
1 |
Andrew Robinson |
9 |
10 |
|
2 |
Brian Willcock |
5 |
10 |
|
3 |
Phillip Kirkman |
4 |
6 |
|
4 |
Mark Taylor |
4 |
8 |
|
5 |
Harvey Quaresmini |
4 |
8 |
|
6 |
Marty Chadwick |
3 |
8 |
|
7 |
Debbie Jenkins |
2 |
10 |
|
8 |
Peter Hiller |
1 |
4 |
|
9 |
Tony Howes |
0 |
0 |
Lightning tournament 2005 results in detail
George’s withdrawal from The Gap CC tournaments affects this tournament also.
It has been decided that the final will be between Phillip Kirkman and Andrew Robinson. Ray will play-off with Harvey for second place in Group A. The winner of this game will play Debbie Jenkins for outright third place in the tournament.
45 Minute 2004: Final group standings
All players to play 5 games
Group A
|
No. |
NAME |
POINTS |
PLAYED |
|
1 |
Phillip Kirkman |
5 |
5 |
|
2 |
Harvey Quaresmini |
2½ |
4 |
|
3 |
Ray Adams |
2½ |
4 |
|
=4 |
John Curran |
0 |
3 |
|
=4 |
Marty Chadwick |
0 |
4 |
|
* |
Luthien Russell |
1 |
2 |
*withdrew
Group B
|
No. |
NAME |
POINTS |
PLAYED |
|
1 |
Andrew Robinson |
4 |
5 |
|
2 |
Debbie Jenkins |
2½ |
4 |
|
3 |
Brian Willcock |
1½ |
5 |
|
=4 |
Mark Taylor |
1 |
4 |
|
=4 |
Stuart Wilson |
1 |
5 |
|
* |
George Flitcroft-Smith |
4 |
5 |
*withdrew
45 Minute tournament 2004 results in detail
No quote.