Bolton Easter Congress, 18-20 April 2003

Last Edited: Friday May 2, 2003 4:57 PM

Harry Lamb reports: The Bolton Easter congress was held from Good Friday April 18th to Easter Sunday April 20th. The congress claims to be the oldest weekend congress in the country. It was first held in 1946 making this the 58th event. Although the event has moved towns in its 58 years it is now back in the same building as it was in 1947.

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
First Nigel Davies 3Cs 4.5 £220
Second Craig Hanley Lancaster 4 £110
Third Equal Brett Lund Preston 3.5 £10
David Hulmes Stockport £10
Adam Ashton Three Cs £10
Stephen Gordon Three Cs £10
David Shaw Urmston £10
Alan Walton Three Cs
Under 180 GP John Wareing Todmorden 3 £70

Major (Below 160)
First equal Peter Szalapaj Ecclesall 4 £62.5
Roger Howley Bury £62.5
Tony Pawson Leeds £62.5
Martin Peim Chorlton £62.5
Fifth Equal James Hanley Lancaster 3.5
Under 140 GP Dirk Sander Leipzig Germany 3.5 £50

Knights (Below 120)
First Equal Richard Desmeldt Wombwell 4.5 £105
Chris Evans Courier £105
Third Stephen Gardner Blackpool 4 £40
Under 100 GP Rozakis Vassileios Man Univ 4 £50
Fifth Equal Neil Coward Guardian 3.5
James Thompson Notts area
Don Curry Halesowen
Maziar Jalini Leeds
Michael Carroll Swinton
John Aldridge Halifax
Richard Glover Three Cs
Ian Farqhharson Oakham

Prize Winners Busy Persons Tournament

An eight round event Prize Fund £240

First equal Brett Lund Preston 7 £34
Robert Taylor 3Cs £34
Jon Burgess Chorlton £34
Fourth Equal Jeff Horner Bolton 6.5
Stephen Gordon 3Cs
Sixth Equal Adam Ashton 3Cs 6
Mike Surtees Bolton
Alan Walton 3Cs
190-166 GP Stephen Gordon 3Cs 6.5 £20

165-146 GP Stuart Bainbridge Radcliffe 5.5 £20
145-126 GP Roger Howley Bury 5 £10
Mick Norris Bury £10
125-106 GP Marcial Flores Eccles 5.5 £20
105-86 GP Rozakis Vassileios Manchester University 5 £20
85-61 GP Warren Derbyshire Chorley 4 £20
Under 60 GP Carl Bardsley Swinton 3.5 £20
Liam Rabbitte Swinton £20

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