Athenaeum Blitz Tournament 6 July 2009

[Paul McKeown]

Athenaeum Blitz Tournament
Monday 6 July 2009
Endell Street, London
7:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

1. Philip Tozer 7½; 2. Chris Briscoe 6½; 3= Richard Cannon, Tom Chivers, Mark Gray, Nazir Rizvi 5½. Grading Prize (U150) Matthew Baker, Morgen Daniels, Ray Harper, Jonathan Kay, Richard Nash 4. 32 played, 8 round Swiss system, 5 minutes per person per game.

Thanks to: James Toon, whose idea this was, Mark Johnstone, for various parts, Paul McKeown, tournament controller, Mark Gray and Crystal Zhu for help with the pairings.

After four rounds, Florent Quenette was in the sole lead with 4 points, however he faded badly after a loss in the fifth to Chris Briscoe. Briscoe and Philip Tozer shared the lead after six rounds, with 5½ points apiece, but after Briscoe lost to Tom Chivers in the seventh, Tozer took the sole lead and, by the final round, he was already guaranteed a share of the lead, whilst a draw against Chivers would have been sufficient for undivided honours. He went one better, however, and won. A fabulous result for a player who has only returned to chess in the previous season after a long period away from the game.

I will try to provide a cross-table within the next few days.

Regards,
Paul McKeown.