St David’s Day Tournament
Revenge for the Welsh
The Welsh exacted revenge for last year by winning another close fought tussle. The handicaps were quite close this year and as both teams achieved the same number of points (after adjustments) the handicapping was actually decisive. The use of the adjustment was slightly controversial. It was decided that as the Welsh only had five players that their score should be divided by five and multiplied by six. Brian Thomas Thomas (as he signed himself on his membership form – you can’t get more Welsh than a double Thomas!) objected (as would befit the perfidious nature of a Welsh traitor) saying that it wasn’t the Barbarian’s problem if the Welsh had a smaller army. Andrew argued that Realpolitik may win on the big stage of world affairs, however that didn’t make it right and here at The Gap we have the chance to rectify previous inbalances and support the struggle of the underdog in the quest for justice and truth.
The tournament
As usual the Welsh had to bend the eligibility criteria to gain a team. At first it was comprised of Welsh born (Brian W), then extended to Welsh ancestry (Andrew), then those who had been to Wales (Tony & Greg), then those who had been to Chester (Mark). Whatever! The teams were set and the battle commenced.
The handicaps this year were slightly less generous to the players in the bottom half of the ratings table, however a recalculation of the results after the event showed that the results would have remained largely unchanged even if all of the handicaps were increased 50% or doubled.
Every game counted in the calculation of the teams event as it was so close in the end. Regarding the individual section, this really hung on two games. The first was Andrew’s second last game against Garvin. Garvin was soon a piece up due to poor piece co-ordination by Andrew that ended with him a piece down. The crucial part of the game saw Andrew with 20 seconds against Garvin with one minute with rook versus rook plus bishop. Fortunately for Andrew he had two passed pawns which he was able to push aggressively. After this game the Brian T v Andrew game was an anti-climax, but Brian managed to win well to complete this tournament with a picket fence for the second year running (and without winning the trophy due to the handicap system)
At the end of the night a formal (but not too formal) presentation ceremony occurred where Grand Druid presented a leek to Andrew on behalf of the Welsh victory. A speech was made and there were tears in the Welsh eyes.
Brian Willcock wrote in response to a request from Andrew on how to sacrifice the leek
“Of course – however in view of our use of it as a national symbol last night I agree that it should be sacrificed in a culturally sensitive way with due regard to insecurities induced by its replacement by the Daffodil. Perhaps a reading of the Shakespearean passage where Ffluellen forces a leek onto Bardolph (or Pistol) followed by a serenade of ‘Sospan Fach’, ‘We’ll Keep a Welcome’, ‘Men of Harlech’ and ‘Land of My Fathers’. I would urge that these be played and sung in order rather than together, whatever the saving in time dignity should be observed.”
Of course Andrew instructed his wife to follow these instructions to the letter which she did (while Andrew was out of the house).
St David’s Day tournament standings
All players to play 10 games
No. |
Draw No. |
NAME |
|
POINTS |
plus |
TOTAL |
1 |
6 |
Andrew Robinson |
W |
9 |
2.30 |
11.30 |
2 |
8 |
Brian Thomas |
B |
10 |
0.84 |
10.84 |
3 |
4 |
Garvin Gray |
B |
6 |
3.30 |
9.30 |
4 |
5 |
Peter Hiller |
B |
4½ |
4.25 |
8.75 |
5 |
9 |
Ernesto Dobson |
B |
5½ |
2.63 |
8.13 |
6 |
7 |
Greg Colwell |
W |
3 |
5.00 |
8.00 |
7 |
1 |
John Curran |
B |
3 |
4.95 |
7.95 |
8 |
10 |
Tony Howes |
W |
6 |
1.83 |
7.83 |
9 |
2 |
Mark Taylor |
W |
3 |
4.75 |
7.75 |
10 |
3 |
Brian Willcock |
W |
4 |
3.73 |
7.73 |
11 |
11 |
John Roper |
B |
1 |
5.00 |
6.00 |
St David’s Day tournament 2007 results in detail
(W=Welsh; B=Barbarian)
St David’s Day – Teams standings
All players to play 10 games
No. |
THE WELSH |
|
POINTS |
Handicap |
TOTAL |
1 |
Andrew Robinson |
W |
9 |
2.30 |
11.30 |
6 |
Greg Colwell |
W |
3 |
5.00 |
8.00 |
8 |
Tony Howes |
W |
6 |
1.83 |
7.83 |
9 |
Mark Taylor |
W |
3 |
4.75 |
7.75 |
10 |
Brian Willcock |
W |
4 |
3.73 |
7.73 |
|
WELSH SUB-TOTAL: |
|
25 |
17.61 |
42.61 |
|
Divide by 5 and multiply by 6… |
|
|
|
|
|
WELSH TOTAL: |
|
30 |
21.13 |
51.13 |
No. |
THE BARBARIANS |
|
POINTS |
Handicap |
TOTAL |
2 |
Brian Thomas |
B |
10 |
0.84 |
10.84 |
3 |
Garvin Gray |
B |
6 |
3.30 |
9.30 |
4 |
Peter Hiller |
B |
4½ |
4.25 |
8.75 |
5 |
Ernesto Dobson |
B |
5½ |
2.63 |
8.13 |
7 |
John Curran |
B |
3 |
4.95 |
7.95 |
11 |
John Roper |
B |
1 |
5.00 |
6.00 |
|
BARBARIAN TOTAL: |
|
30 |
20.97 |
50.97 |
Lightning Tournament
Results:
Brian Thomas 2 Brian Willcock 0
Results – Play-off Round for Third Place (Round 1):
Brian Willcock 2 Peter Hiller 0 (played 16 Feb)
Peter Hiller 2 Garvin Gray 0
Garvin Gray 2 Brian Willcock 0
All games versus Mark Taylor awarded 2-0 to his opponents.
Results – Play-off Round for Third Place (Round 2):
Peter Hiller 0 Brian Willcock 1
Garvin Gray 1 Peter Hiller 0
Brian Willcock 0 Garvin Gray 1
Brian Thomas completed the formality of winning the tournament with a two-nil win that saw third place come down to a four-way play-off. The play-off games were played after the St David’s Day Tournament. Mark decided it was too late for him, and forfeited his games. The remaining play-off games were duly played resulting in a three-way tie. A further single round of play-off games finally produced a decisive result towards midnight. Garvin won these two crucial games despite being material and time down due to his opponents “falling asleep at the wheel” and allowing themselves to lose on time. Such a fitting end to the lightning tournament!
Lightning 2007: Final standings
All players to play 14 games
No. |
NAME |
POINTS |
PLAYED |
1 |
Brian Thomas |
14 |
14 |
2 |
Andrew Robinson |
12 |
14 |
3 |
Garvin Gray |
7 |
14 |
4 |
Brian Willcock |
7 |
14 |
5 |
Peter Hiller |
7 |
14 |
6 |
Mark Taylor |
7 |
14 |
7 |
John Curran |
1 |
14 |
8 |
James Hiller |
1 |
14 |
Lightning Tournament 2007 results in detail
Note: Tom Szekely has been withdrawn from this tournament.
3 |
Garvin Gray |
4 |
6 |
4 |
Brian Willcock |
3 |
6 |
5 |
Peter Hiller |
2 |
6 |
6 |
Mark Taylor |
- |
- |
Odd Knights Tournament
No games played.
Flood Cup / Handicap entrants (as at 2 March 2006)
No. |
NAME |
Rating |
Flood Cup |
Handicap |
1 |
Tony Howes |
1634 |
2nd 2005, 2006 |
5th 2005 |
2 |
Andrew Robinson |
1540 |
1st 1998; 2001-2; 2004 |
1st 1994 |
3 |
Alex Toolsie |
1518 |
Never entered |
Never entered |
4 |
Ernesto Dobson |
1473 |
Never entered |
Never entered |
5 |
Ray Adams |
1366 |
2nd 1990; =2nd 1984 |
4th 2004 |
6 |
Garvin Gray |
1341 |
8th 2005 |
4th 2005, 2006 |
7 |
Brian Willcock |
1253 |
4th 2005, =4th 1984 |
2nd 2005 |
8 |
Cameron De Vere |
1226 |
6th 2006 |
3rd 2006 |
9 |
Mark Taylor |
1050 |
9th 2005 |
1st 2005 |
10 |
John Curran |
1011 |
9th 2003 |
2nd 2003 |
11 |
Ellis Markson |
1008 |
16th 2006 |
13th 2006 |
12 |
John Roper |
725 |
Never entered |
Never entered |
13 |
Greg Colwell |
unrated |
Never entered |
Never entered |
Confirmed non-entries:
Brian Thomas
Phillip Kirkman
Debbie Jenkins
Marty Chadwick
Shane Martin
Stuart Wilson
Tim Johnson
Ineligible:
Peter Hiller
James Hiller
Handicap calculations
No. |
NAME |
Rating |
Handicap |
1 |
Tony Howes |
1634 |
0.00 |
2 |
Andrew Robinson |
1540 |
0.52 |
3 |
Alex Toolsie |
1518 |
0.64 |
4 |
Ernesto Dobson |
1473 |
0.89 |
5 |
Ray Adams |
1366 |
1.49 |
6 |
Garvin Gray |
1341 |
1.63 |
7 |
Brian Willcock |
1253 |
2.12 |
8 |
Cameron De Vere |
1226 |
2.27 |
9 |
Mark Taylor |
1050 |
3.24 |
10 |
John Curran |
1011 |
3.46 |
11 |
Ellis Markson |
1008 |
3.48 |
12 |
John Roper |
925* |
3.94 |
13 |
Greg Colwell |
1000* |
3.52 |
Handicap trophy
The player with the highest "Handicap Total" wins the Handicap Trophy.
The "Handicap Total" is obtained by adding the Handicap (column one above) to the player's points gained in the Flood Cup.
Handicaps are calculated at: [(1634 minus rating) divided by 180].
To avoid statistical distortions, John Roper has 200 points added to his actual rating for handicap purposes only.
Greg Colwell has been given provisional ratings for handicap purposes only.
Quote of the night
“That was my fourth illegal” – Brian Willcock commenting on his extraordinary sequence of losses through moves not strictly endorsed is the Laws of Chess (rather than anything you might have been thinking).