Chess and the City - Manchester Rapidplay 21 March 2010

[Mick Norris]

The third New East Manchester Rapidplay Chess Tournament was held at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday 21 March 2010.
The entry fees were again tiered to encourage early entry, £15 before end February and £20 in advance. Fewer than last year, but still a considerable number, turned up to pay £25 on the day.
My thanks go to Julian Clissold and Rod Middleton in controlling, to Julian and to Harry Lamb for sorting out the MCF equipment used on the day, and to Rod for grading the results.
The event was organised by Sport4life on behalf of the Eagle Chess Club in association with the Manchester Chess Federation (MCF). As last year, we had many visitors from Kosovo, including the Mayor, who kindly said a few words at the opening ceremony, as did local MP Tony Lloyd.
With a number of photographers in attendance, look out for the post event publicity. Some photos will appear at http://www.manchesterchessfederation.co.uk/.
The MCF would like to thank the sponsors, New East Manchester Ltd, Street Games and Equity Solutions; Chess Direct who supplied the bookstall; all the staff of Manchester City FC and the stadium who helped to make us welcome; and especially all the staff from Sport4Life, particularly Adam Smith, John and Gemma Dwan.
We were reasonably pleased with the numbers, with 84 playing, given the competing local Atherton Chess Rapidplay, and various football matches, all of which cost us entrants. The Greater Manchester County U160 team had played the day before at Newcastle-under-Lyme, but some of the players turned out.
The MCF were pleased to see 7 trophies won by local players, with a further 3 among the prize winners.
The Junior (U16) Trophies were won by:
1. Kyle Reed (Rushall)
2. Jacob Cartlidge (Cheddleton & Leek)
3. Angelica Dean (Shrewsbury)
In the U120 section (35 players), the Trophies were won by:
1. Mujo Prglukaj (Eagles) with a score of 6/6
2. Michael Quigley (Worsley) with a score of 5/6
3. Chris Neale (Worsley) with a score of 4.5/6
Third place prize money was split with Kyle Reed (Rushall) and the U100 grading prize was won by Eliot Green (Hassell) with 4.5/6
In the U160 section (26 players), the Trophies were won by:
1. Aaron Webber (Chorlton) with a score of 5.5/6
2. Kevin Carter (Hastings) with 5/6
3. George Peters (Chesterfield) with 4.5/6
Third place prize money was split with Douglas Barnett (Alsager) and Mark Whalley (Salford)
The U140 grading prize was won with 3.5/6 by Chris Hodgson (Worsley)
In the Open section (23 players), the Trophies were won by:
1. Robert Shaw (High Peak) with a score of 4.5/6
2. Alex Longson (3Cs) with 4.5/6
3. John Pitcher (South Birmingham) with 4.5/6
First place prize money was split with Mike Surtees (Bolton) with 4.5/6
The U180 grading prize was won with 3.5/6 by Harry Lamb (Bolton), with the prize money split with John Hall (Bolton)
We hope to stage the event again next year, subject to stadium availability, although we may change the date.
Mick Norris
MCF Congress Director