Prize Night Tournament - Handicap Lightning
Prize Night
The night commenced with the presentation of prizes to tournament and trophy winner for 2011. Tonight’s prizes included engraved beer glasses which Greg had organised.
Handicap Lightning Tournament
The Handicap Lightning tournament started tonight with a preliminary round in 2 groups. Ten players entered. 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 were determined based on performance in the club’s recent Lightning Tournament. 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 stage
Results in the group stage were as follows.
|
Group A |
POINTS |
Handicap |
|
Tony Howes |
3.0 |
1.5 |
|
Andrew Robinson |
3.0 |
1.5 |
|
Greg Colwell |
2.5 |
4.0 |
|
John Ryland |
1.5 |
6.0 |
|
Joe Curtain |
0.0 |
3.0 |
Greg managed to beat Tony for the first time since joining the club, based on a fortunate discovered check which more than compensated for the lass of a queen.
However a drawn game between Greg and John avoided a three-way play-off to decide the top two.
|
Group B |
POINTS |
Handicap |
|
Andrew Mather |
3.0 |
2.0 |
|
Martin Laizans |
3.0 |
1.5 |
|
Shane Mather |
2 |
2.5 |
|
Marcus Porter |
1 |
0.5 |
|
Brian Willcock |
0 |
4.0 |
Last week’s Lightning Champion Marcus was slow to adjust to the different time controls, actually playing too fast and conceding games to Andrew Mather and Martin Laizans who topped this group.
Semi-Finals
Tony Howes – Martin Laizans 0-1
Andrew Mather – Andrew Robinson ½-½; 1-0 (Play-off game 2 minutes each)
Third Place Match
Andrew Robinson – Tony Howes 1-0
Final
Martin Laizans – Andrew Mather 1-0
The semi-finals saw the two Group B players ultimately victorious. The two minute play-off was decided on time with Andrew R’s flag falling a second before Andrew M’s.
The third place game was won by Andrew R on time in a lost position. The final was won by Martin after Andrew M pushed a pawn that weakened his position and decided the game.
CONSOLATION MATCHES
5-8 Classification
Semi-F Greg Colwell – Marcus Porter 0-1
Semi-F Shane Mather – John Ryland 1-0
5-6 Match Marcus Porter – John Ryland 1-0
7-8 Match Greg Colwell – Shane Mather 0-1
9-10 Classification
9-10 Match Joe Curtain – Brian Willcock 0-1
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.
Quote of the night
“Next week! The St David’s Day!” – Brian, in response to the question: “When’s the next serious tournament on?”