Prize Night Tournament - Handicap Lightning
Prize Night
The night commenced with the presentation of prizes to tournament and trophy winner for 2006. Due to an administrative glitch, the trophies were not ready, so tacky certificates were given out in lieu of the trophies which should be available in coming weeks. However apart from this minor hiccup the night was a success – the refreshments brought by the players were certainly better than previous years. Ray Adams and John Roper sat out the tournament playing a series of friendly games, as did Debbie and newcomer Peter Treloar.
Handicap Lightning Tournament
The Handicap Lightning tournament started tonight with a preliminary round in 2 groups. Once again there were 12 entrants, as coincidentally there have been in every year since 2000. The groups were drawn at random. The top two 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 2000+ players having a zero handicap (‘playing off scratch’), 1900-1999 having a ½ point handicap, 1800-1899 1 point etc etc, down to a player under 799 has a 6.5 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 (but must have at least one minute). 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 |
|
Andrew Robinson |
4½ |
2.5 |
|
Ernesto Dobson |
3½ |
3.0 |
|
Mark Taylor |
3 |
5.0 |
|
John Curran |
2 |
5.0 |
|
Daniel Christopher |
2 |
5.0 |
|
James Hiller |
0 |
6.5 |
Like last year, Mark just missed out on a semi-final place. The crucial third game of the round saw him lose to John Curran when he conceded defeat on time just as he made his last move, which unbeknownst to him at the time of his announcement achieved checkmate!
|
Group B |
POINTS |
Handicap |
|
Brian Thomas |
5 |
1.0 |
|
Garvin Gray |
4 |
3.5 |
|
Cameron De Vere |
3 |
4.0 |
|
Peter Hiller |
2 |
4.5 |
|
Greg Colwell |
1 |
5.0 |
|
Stuart Wilson |
0 |
5.5 |
Group B results ran to form with the higher rated player beating the lower rated player every time. Despite the handicaps!
Semi Finals
Andrew Robinson – Garvin Gray 1-0
Brian Thomas – Ernesto Dobson 1-0
Both semi-finals were won by white in convincing over the board performances.
Third Place Match
Ernesto Dobson – Garvin Gray 0-1
Final
Andrew Robinson – Brian Thomas 1-0
The final was won in surprisingly quick time. The middle-game saw a complicated flurry of exchanges including Andrew capturing the h7 pawn with his bishop. Brian trapped the bishop with f5 protected by e6, so Andrew lost the bishop for a further two pawns, but in the process ended up with a rook on d1, queen on f5, and Brian’s queen on d8 with a pinned knight on d7. The captured knight led to an exchange of queens and then Brian lost the exchange (knight for rook) and later his remaining bishop (trapped after capturing the a2 pawn) leading to a hopeless position for black. This result maintained the record of no player ever winning this tournament with a picket fence.
CONSOLATION MATCHES
5-8 Classification
Semi-F Mark Taylor – Peter Hiller 1-0
Semi-F Cameron De Vere – John Curran 1-0
5-6 Match Mark Taylor – Cameron De Vere 0-1
7-8 Match John Curran – Peter Hiller 0-1
9-12 Classification
Semi-F Daniel Christopher – Stuart Wilson 0-1
Semi-F Greg Colwell – James Hiller 1-0
9-10 Match Daniel Christopher – Greg Colwell 0-1
11-12 Match James Hiller – Stuart Wilson 1-0
The consolation games saw Cameron achieve fifth place and Greg win his mini-group to achieve ninth place. James won his first game ever in this tournament at his sixth attempt – his record now reads: Played 40; Won 1; Lost 39.
Despite the lack of trophies on trophy night, the night was a success and every player (apart from Stuart) achieved or equalled their best performance in the Prize Night tournament.
Further information:
Past winners of the Handicap Lightning tournament (with index to past tournaments)
Results of tonight’s tournament in are presented here in detail.
Lightning Tournament
Results:
Brian Thomas 2 James Hiller 0
Lightning 2007: Current standings
All players to play 14 games
|
No. |
NAME |
POINTS |
PLAYED |
|
1 |
Brian Thomas |
12 |
12 |
|
2 |
Andrew Robinson |
12 |
14 |
|
3 |
Brian Willcock |
7 |
12 |
|
4 |
Garvin Gray |
7 |
14 |
|
5 |
Peter Hiller |
7 |
14 |
|
6 |
Mark Taylor |
5 |
12 |
|
7 |
James Hiller |
1 |
12 |
|
8 |
John Curran |
1 |
14 |
Lightning Tournament 2007 results in detail
Note: Tom Szekely has been withdrawn from this tournament.
Odd Knights Tournament
No games played tonight.
Quote of the night
All James Hiller quotes tonight:
“I should push around a few singles” – during the middle of a game he lost on time to Andrew despite starting with 5 minutes against 1 minute.
“Brazilian?” – James’ knee-jerk reaction upon hearing Ernesto’s name called out in the draw.
“It may have looked like an unforced error, but actually it was a forced error” – after gifting a queen to Mark.
“This is a bit like speed dating” – James’ take on the concept of tonight’s tournament.