27th Bury St Edmonds Congress- 31 Oct/ 1 Nov

[benedgell]

This report was by BobJones

27th BURY ST EDMUNDS CONGRESS - 31 Oct/1 Nov

Many weekend congresses are reporting fewer entries this year and indeed some have been cancelled. But despite postal delays and dire threats of swine 'flu, our numbers actually increased from 124 in 2008 to 151 this year. And all this despite a slight reduction in the prize fund (but don't tell anyone!)

But the Corn Exchange at Bury St Edmunds is a popular venue, attracting many regulars year after year. This is my 11th year organising the event, and six players have attended in every year: John Bradley (Dunmow), Philip Chapman (Sudbury), Patrick Ribbands (Cambridge), Keith Osborne (Lewes - ex Norwich Dons), Steve Moore and Chris Tuffin (both Norwich Dons).

Two GMs (Cherniaev and Turner) and two IMs (A Hunt and Tozer) played. But results didn't all match expectations. In the Open, GM Cherniaev lost to John Anderson in Round 4, scuppering his chances of a big prize. Matt Turner sailed serenly through the tournament, drawing only with IM Adam Hunt to secure the £500 first prize. Local man Ed Player flew the flag for the host town.

All sections were sponsored:

Open: Jaxmead Properties Ltd
Major: Bury Language School
Inter: Bury Area Chess League
Minor: (Anonymously)

Results:

Open: 1st GM Matthew Turner 4½ pts
(40) 2nd Ed Player 4
3rd= IM Adam Hunt 3½
George O'Toole
John Anderson
IM Richard Tozer
GM Alex Cherniaev
Richard Freeman
Mark Levene

Major: 1st= Kevin Greenacre 4 pts
(41) Morgan Daniels
Graeme Jenkins
4th= Chris Davison 3½
Shane McCabe
Steve Moore
Brendan O'Gorman
Steve Williams
Richard Donaghy

Inter: 1st Les Jones 5 pts
(35) 2nd Tim Allen 4
3rd= Alan Bailey 3½
Colin Gardiner
Bryan Lee
John Bradley
Geoff Elliston
Ben Grainger
Colin Payne

(Minor): 1st Dave Welsh 4½ pts
(35) 2nd= Mark Silman 4
Rod Burroughs
Melvin Steele

Junior prizes were won by:

Open: Alan Merry and Ashley Stewart
Major: Chris Davison
Inter: Benedict Craft and Joseph Levene
Minor: Akito Oyama (the youngest entrant, age 10)

Grading prizes were won by:

Open: Richard Freeman
Major: Martin Fogg
Inter: Colin Gardiner
Minor: Greg Bailey

Total Prize Fund = £2280