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Edinburgh Chess Congress Results
George Heriot's School
March 30 – April 1, 2012
Report by Jim Wallace
Entries
After a field of 232 entries last year, this year’s total of 214 is a bit of a drop. With a week to go before the start of the Congress, it was a major worry for me if we were going to even reach 200 but thanks to a late surge it was more respectable. The only event to keep the same number was the Bishops, with an increase in both the Challengers and Major. The Premier event was well attended which means that the opportunity for FIDE ratings is popular enough.
As the numbers were down from last year, added with an increase in the venue costs, it meant there were no extra prizes given in any of the events, as happened last year.
Premier 51 (60), Challengers 32 (28), Major 45 (35), Bishops 48 (48), and Knights 38 (61).
A new prize was introduced for the East of Scotland Champion, previously awarded at another Congress.
GM Daniel Gormally was a late entry and it is always good to have GM’s playing in the Congress. We had many photographers over the weekend including the Herald, which published a good article on Monday morning and Universal News and Sport.
There were a couple of players with disabilities which necessitated the playing of their games in the refectory, not a good solution at all, but the only one available. There were no reported problems with smoking, litter, keeping of the grass or general behavior.
Next year’s Congress is provisionally booked for March 29th- 31st, Easter weekend.
Bookstall
Peter Woods of Chess Suppliers ran the bookstall and the quality of the bookstall, including software was excellent. The playing kit was of a high standard with a large amount of digital clocks available. The sets and boards all looked brand new. Peter also donated a book for the best placed junior in the Premier tournament.
Credits
All 5 Arbiters performed to their usual high Standard, thanks to Alex MacFarlane, Lara Barnes, Andy Howie, Donald Wilson and Gavin Saxton.
Thanks also to the members of the Council and other volunteers who helped to set the hall up on Friday 30 March 2012. Dick Heathwood for taking the entries, preparing the leader boards, pairing cards, as well as processing the grading results. Thanks go to Terry Purkins and Eddie Gillespie for assisting with the prize giving, also thanks to David Stewart for unceasing background help and support.
Prizewinners list:
Premier |
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| 1st (£500) | GM Daniel Gormally | (England) | 4½/5 | |
| 2nd = (£65 each) | Calum MacQueen | (Giffnock) | 4/5 | |
| Andrew B Burnett | (Wandering Dragons) | " | ||
| Joseph McPhillips | (England) | " | ||
| John Jarmany | (England) | " | ||
| 1st Grading Prize: (£10 each) | Stephen W Hogg | (Dundee/Victoria) | 3/5 | |
| WFM Carey A Groves | (Wandering Dragons) | |||
| Walter Burnett | (Wandering Dragons) | |||
| George D Pyrich | ||||
| Russell J F Kynoch | ||||
| 2nd Grading Prize: (£25 each) | Murad Abdulla | (Bon Accord), | 3/5 | |
| East of Scotland Joint Champions | Calum MacQueen | (Giffnock) | 4/5 | |
| Andrew B Burnett | (Wandering Dragons) | " | ||
| Edinburgh Evening News Cup | Murad Abdulla | (Bon Accord) | 3/5 | |
Challengers Event |
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| 1st = | David Wallace | (Falkirk) | 4/5 | |
| (£55 each) | Ben He | (Edinburgh) | " | |
| Nihad Abdulla | (Bon Accord) | " | ||
| WFM Joy Durno | (Newmachar) | " | ||
| Grading Prize (£30) | Alan J Birnie | (Irvine) | " | |
Major Event |
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| 1st = (£110 each) | Jalini Maziar | (England) | 4/5 | |
| Dean Whittaker | (Edinburgh resident) | " | ||
| Grading Prize: (£15 each) | Charles Nisbet | (Lasswade) | 3½/5 | |
| Harvey Duke | (Dundee/Victoria) | " | ||
Bishops Event |
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| 1st= (£36 each) | Bryan O`Rourke | (Dunfermline) | 4/5 | |
| (1st, 2nd and Grading prize shared) | Graeme R Russell | (Bank of Scotland) | " | |
| Howard Key | (Gorgie Dalry) | " | ||
| Martin Beardsley | (England) | " | ||
| Andrej Jakimiuk | (Sandy Bells) | " | ||
| Adam Shannon | (Dunfermline) | 3½/5 | ||
| Iain D Hope | (Musselburgh) | 3½/5 | ||
Knights Event |
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| 1st (£150) | Roland Fraser | (Paisley) | 4½/5 | |
| 2nd= (£25) | David Watson | (Corstorphine) | 4/5 | |
| Nicholas Blake | (Stirling) | " | ||
| Mike Wallace | (Sandy Bells) | " | ||
| Grading Prize (£15 each) | Mark J Smith | (Edinburgh) | 3½/5 | |
| Ian Alexander | (Corstorphine) | " | ||
Other Prizes |
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| Best Game (£30) judged by Gavin Saxton | Malola T S Prasath | (England) | ||
| Giant Killer Prize (£30) (grading difference 673) | Euan Gray | (North Juniors) | ||
| Prize Draw (£30) | Ernesto Salvatore | (Corstorphine) | ||