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Bolton Easter Congress, 18-20 April 2003Last Edited: Friday May 2, 2003 4:57 PM
Helped perhaps because this year it was the only Easter Congress held in the North of England the congress attracted a grandmaster, Nigel Davies and a FIDE Master Craig Hanley. Nigel won the event scoring four straight wins and then a draw in the last round. While Craig came second with three wins and two draws. Craig's two draws came in rounds two and four so the two top seeds avoided each other. While Nigel's performance seems to be a standard grandmaster performance, four wins and a draw in the last round to seal the first prize, in reality it was not like that at all. In round two Nigel played last year's winner Mike Surtees. Mike, admittedly a little short of time, on move 34 had the position we all dream of. A mate in three against a grandmaster. But it stayed a dream. He missed the mate and Nigel went on to win a rook and pawn ending. The Major was jointly won by Peter Szalapaj of Ecclesall chess club in Sheffield, Roger Howley of Bury, Tony Pawson from Leeds and Martin Peim of Chortlton all of whom scored four points. In the Knights, things were a little simpler with two joint winners who scored 4½ points, Richard Desmeldt from Wombwell and Chris Edwards of Courier Chess Club Halifax As is now becoming traditional we ran a busy persons in the Saturday afternoon slot. Busy persons tournaments are proving to be very popular events. The entry this year was seventy four up from sixty nine last year. Busy persons seem to be the only type of chess event with increased entries. The concept is that it is a ten minute tournament with everyone playing in the same section. Rounds 1-6 are played continuously. As soon as you finish your game you are re-paired and if necessary liberties are taken with the swiss draw to give you an opponent. After round six the next two rounds are paired in the traditional way. It is designed to be fast, furious, and above all fun. It was, and the busiest persons seemed to be the controllers one of whom described it as being like organising an anarchists birthday party. Out of the chaos emerged two joint winners scoring seven points from eight games. These being Brett Lund from Preston and Robert Taylor from 3Cs chess club. Open Major (Below 160) Prize Winners Busy Persons Tournament An eight round event Prize Fund £240
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