29th Guernsey International Chess Festival, 19-25 October 2003

Last Edited: Sunday June 13, 2004 11:17 AM

Kevin Thurlow reports:

Round 1 • Round 2 • Round 3• Round 4 • Round 5 • Round 6 • Round 7 •

Play through some games in a java window • Download some games

Round 1 (19 October)

The annual pilgrimage to this delightful isle in the English Channel began on 19 October. A bright day dawned with only light breezes, excellent flying weather. Last year, my flight from Gatwick was full of chess players, but there were only a handful this time. One tall slightly unkempt man wandered past and I naturally assumed he was a player I did not know, although he looked vaguely familiar. When we boarded and he spoke to a fellow passenger, I realised it was Sir Bob Geldof. He was on his way to do a concert on the island. There is a tendency for pop and TV stars to be mobbed, but everyone was very restrained. It was definitely the right day to travel as Sunday morning was misty and rather more windy. The giant cruise liner Aurora was supposed to drop its passengers on Guernsey for a day trip, but was unable to enter the harbour, due to the weather. The lady at the Occupation Museum was rather mournful, as last time the ship visited, they got three coach loads of visitors, which makes a big difference off-season.

The tournament is again being staged at the Peninsula Hotel, where we got our usual friendly reception. One first-time visitor explained she was not going to eat much during the week, but the splendid dinner on the first night soon changed her mind. Numbers are down for the tournament, as many of the Dutch players are absent. Unfortunately, the direct flight from Amsterdam to Guernsey has gone, and it is a nuisance to have to change in London. One player last year had to arrive at Heathrow and travel to Gatwick, before moving on to Guernsey. Also the prices are a bit high for those using the Euro. Nevertheless, there are still players from many different countries and the Open has some talented participants. Top seed is Tiger Hillarp Persson, followed by Andrew Webster, Robert Bellin and Robert Gwaze.

OPEN (55 players from 12 federations; 37 FIDE rated players)

Round 1 19/10/03


1. J S Murray         0-1	T Hillarp Persson
2. A Webster          1-0	M Simmons
3. R Burton           0-1	R Bellin
4. R Gwaze            1-0	N Dennis
5. M Goldberg         0-1	M Burrows
6. A Reijneveld       1-0	H Morcom
7. A Eckersley-Waites ½-½	J Havenaar
8. M van Herck        ½-½	T Pym
9. F Hamperl          0-1	K Kahar
10.C Dorrington       ½-½	A Gravett

22 players on 1/1 - no massive shocks at the top, but there were some hard fought games. Steve Murray and Ron Burton did particularly well to keep their illustrious opponents at bay for a long time. Further down, local hero Tim Knight scored a fine win over George Ellison. I did ask if any games had been exciting, but Steve Boniface (arbiter) said that my winning "cheapo" was the most interesting bit. I pointed out it was the "logical culmination of my beautiful positional play", but he didn't seem to believe it. Readers will appreciate it is difficult to keep track of other games when you are playing, and I did not feel disposed to trawl through all the scoresheets. The Open crosstable featured the best typo, where "J Waterfield" was rendered as "J Waterfiend". Doctor Who fans were waiting for a Sea Devil to enter the playing hall.

Holiday Tournament (under 1760 Elo, 145 BCF) (53 players from six federations)

1. P Cheshire        0-1	M Polland
2. P van der Perre   0-1	M Walker
3. M Kaye            1-0	P Carlucci 
4. R Allen           1-0	K Hoban
5. M Collier         ½-½	G Duwel

20 players on 1/1. This section was full of shock results. This event was notable for the absence of John Bisson. John started the tournament and ran it for the first 15 years, since when he has played. He has not been in the best of health and therefore felt unable to face 6-hour sessions, but he turned up to watch the first round and meet all his old friends.

Round 2 (20 October)

Not much time for sightseeing as I was trying to get an internet link. The Peninsula Hotel let me email the first report from their computer, but eventually I found a telephone number that would work. It was not a great day to be out anyway, rather misty, and with strong winds. An upcoming highlight for the players is a trip to various real ale pubs on Tuesday night.

OPEN 

Round 2 20/10/03

1. T Hillarp Persson  1-0	C Wismayer
2. T Eckersley-Waites 0-1	A Webster
3. R Bellin           ½-½	G Lock
4. AM Brown           0-1	R Gwaze
5. M Burrows          1-0	A Goris
6. M Ruston           1-0	A Reijneveld
7. K Kahar            ½-½	K de Kruif
8.  P Rowe            1-0	K Thurlow
9. D Bareham          ½-½	J Waterfield
10.C Ippel            1-0	D Rosen
(all started on 1/1)

This was an altogether more lively round. The top seeds were generally in control, but Robert Bellin had a difficult game with Gavin Lock. Both players found themselves with half an hour for the last 30 moves, and the game ended in a draw. Mark Ruston had a good win, and Kees de Kruif did well to hold Krunal Kahar. I managed to blunder a pawn on move 10, and Peter Rowe avoided all the attempts to complicate matters. C J Ippel (NL) has won the brilliancy prize before (against me), and he played in his usual uncompromising style.

Ippel,C - Rosen,D [A00] Guernsey (2), 20.10.2003 1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 d4 3.Nce2 e5 4.Ng3 Nf6 5.Bc4 Bd6 6.d3 h6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.a3 0-0 9.Qe2 Na5 10.Ba2 c5 11.Nh4 b5 12.Nhf5 Kh7 13.0-0 Ng8 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Bxf4 16.Rxf4 g6 17.Nh4 g5 18.Rxf7+ Rxf7 19.Bxf7 gxh4 20.Nh5 Rb8 21.Rf1 Rb6 22.Qf3 Ne7 23.Nf6+ Kh8 24.Qh5 Qf8 25.Ne8 Kh7 26.Bg6+ Nxg6 27.Rxf8 Nxf8 28.Qf7+ Kh8 29.Qg7 mate

There are 7 players on 2/2, T Hillarp Persson (Swe), A Webster (Eng), R Gwaze (Zim), M Burrows (Eng), M Ruston (Eng), P Rowe (Gsy), C Ippel (NL)

Holiday Tournament (under 1760 Elo, 145 BCF) 

1. F Bakkes     0-1 	A D Brown
2. MB Pollard   0-1	K Biswas
3. R Neumeijer  1-0	RW Allen 
4. M Stanners   1-0	JR Finch
5. D Twitchell  1-0	P Smith 
(all started on 1/1)

There were some difficult games here as well. Karl Biswas did well to turn his game round. I will spare the blushes of the player in the Holiday tournament who played 6….QxP, only to realise to his horror that NxQ was a more than adequate response. There are eight players on 2, K Biswas (Eng), A D Brown (Eng), A Collins (Eng), M J Stanners (Eng), P van Bakel (NL), M Walker (Eng), R Neumeijer (NL), D Twitchell (Eng)

Round 3 (21 October)

A fine sunny morning encouraged some of us to go for a walk, quite a shock for the less energetic players. As I feared, the local paper's chess report was headlined, "Rowe shocks regular Thurlow". Having puzzled over the grammar, I decided it was fair enough. The Guernsey players get good press coverage from the local paper, as you would expect. Radio Guernsey takes an interest as well, as does Channel TV. Some photographs may be found on www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey My erstwhile opponent has also produced a quiz for the competitors, which is keeping us amused.

OPEN Round 3 21/10/03

1. M Burrows (2)      0-1	T Hillarp Persson (2)
2. A Webster (2)      1-0 	M Ruston (2)
3. R Gwaze (2)        1-0	P Rowe (2)
4. M van Herck (1½)   1-0	C Ippel (2)
5. C Dorrington (1½)  0-1	R Bellin (1½)
6. D Bareham (1½)     0-1	J Havenaar (1½)
7. G Lock (1½)        ½-½	K Kahar (1½)
8.  J Waterfield (1½) 0-1	G Ballon (1½)
9. K de Kruif (1½)    0-1	T Pym (1½)
10.A Reijneveld (1)   1-0	R von Saldern (1)

There were even more tough games today. Tiger had a complicated battle and it looked unclear for a long time. Andrew seemed to be more in control, but Robert G was kept busy late into the session. Leading scores: T Hillarp Persson, A Webster, R Gwaze 3/3, M van Herck, R Bellin, J Havenaar, G Ballon, T Pym 2½

Round 4 pairings - Hillarp Persson plays Webster, Bellin plays Gwaze

Holiday Tournament (under 1760 Elo, 145 BCF)

No easy games here either….. M Stanners, P van Bakel, M Walker 3/3, K Biswas, D Twitchell, P Foster, R Neumeijer 2½

In the evening there was an organised trip to the beer festival at the "Cock and Bull". The enterprising landlord coincidentally arranged a festival during the tournament a few years ago. When he opened the doors, he was trampled by several thirsty chessplayers, and had the wit to find out when the next tournament was. Now he carefully arranges the event to clash!

Round 4 (22 October)

A frustrating day for the visitor - torrential rain in the morning, then it brightened up at 2pm! Some brave souls set out anyway, but there was a clear advantage for those who had hired a car. The trip to the beer festival seemed to go well. And there was some lively chess…..

OPEN (sponsored by Islands Insurance)

1. T Hillarp-Persson(3) 1-0      A Webster (3) 
2. R Bellin (2½)        ½-½      R Gwaze (3)
3. J Havenaar (2½)      0-1     T Pym (2½)
4. G Ballon (2½)        ½-½     M van Herck (2½)
5. AM Brown (2)         1-0     M Burrows (2)
6. P Rowe (2)           0-1     A Reijneveld (2)
7. K Kahar (2)          1-0     I Heppell (2)
8.  K Goater (2)        0-1     M Goldberg (2)
9. M Ruston (2)         1-0     D Rosen (2)

Tiger won a fascinating game to take the sole lead, as the two Roberts drew. Local hero Peter Rowe had another long battle before succumbing. T Hillarp-Persson 4/4, T Pym and R Gwaze 3½, lots of players on 3. Round 5 - Gwaze -Hillarp-Persson, Pym - Kahar (the battle of the England juniors) The behaviour of all the juniors has been excellent, and it is worth mentioning that Tiger Hillarp-Persson and Andrew Webster are coaching the juniors in the morning, then trying to win the tournament in the afternoon, not an easy task!

Hillarp-Persson,T - Webster,A [E71] Guernsey (4), 22.10.2003 1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.h3 0-0 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Bd3 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8 10.Nf3 c4 11.Bc2 b5 12.a3 Na6 13.0-0 Rb8 14.Re1 Nc5 15.e5 dxe5 16.Nxe5 Bb7 17.Qd2 a5 18.Ng4 Qb6 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Re6 Rxe6 21.dxe6 Qxe6 22.Re1 Qc6 23.Nd5 Bh4 24.Qd4 h5 25.Ngf6+ Bxf6 26.Nxf6+ Kg7 27.Nxh5+ Kh6 28.Qg7+ Kg5 29.Re5+ Kh4 30.g3+ Kxh3 31.Bf5+ gxf5 32.Nf4# 1-0

Previous open games - Burrows,M - Hillarp-Persson,T [B06] Guernsey (3), 22.10.2003 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2 Nd7 6.f3 b5 7.a4 b4 8.Nd1 c5 9.c3 bxc3 10.bxc3 Qa5 11.Bd3 Ngf6 12.Ne2 0-0 13.Nb2 Rb8 14.Nc4 Qd8 15.0-0 cxd4 16.cxd4 d5 17.Na5 dxe4 18.fxe4 Bb7 19.Nxb7 Rxb7 20.e5 Nd5 21.Bxa6 Rb3 22.Bh6 Bxh6 23.Qxh6 Nxe5 24.dxe5 Qb6+ 25.Kh1 Qxa6 26.Nd4 Ne3 27.Rfe1 Rd3 28.Nf3 Nf5 29.Qf4 Rc8 30.Re4 Rc2 31.e6 f6 32.Rb1 Kg7 33.Qb8 Rxf3 34.gxf3 Qd3 35.Qf4 Rf2 36.Rg1 Rxf3 37.Qg4 Rf2 38.h4 Qc2 39.Rg2 Rxg2 40.Qxg2 Qxe4 41.Qxe4 Ng3+ 42.Kg2 Nxe4 43.a5 Nc5 44.Kf3 g5 0-1

Webster,A - Ruston,M [A34] Guernsey (3), 21.10.2003 1.c4 b6 2.Nc3 Bb7 3.e4 c5 4.Nf3 g6 5.d4 Bg7 6.d5 d6 7.Bf4 Nd7 8.Qd2 h5 9.Bd3 Ngf6 10.h3 a6 11.0-0 Qc7 12.Rfe1 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Be3 h4 15.b4 Nd7 16.Na4 0-0 17.Rab1 Bc8 18.Rb3 Qd6 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.Qa5 f5 21.f3 f4 22.Bf2 Qf6 23.Nxc5 Nxc5 24.Qxc5 Qg5 25.Kh1 Qh5 26.Bf1 Bf6 27.Qc7 1-0

I was sitting next to the following game and wondered what on earth was going on…. Morcom,H - Goater,K [C41] Guernsey (3), 21.10.2003 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Nxe5 dxe4 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6 Nf6 9.Qe5+ Kf7 10.Bc4+ Kg7 11.Nf4 h6 12.Be6 Bb4+ 13.c3 Nc6 14.Qf5 Qe8 15.Bxc8 Rxc8 16.Ne6+ Kf7 17.d5 Ne7 18.Ng5+ hxg5 19.Qe6+ Kg6 20.Bxg5 Nexd5 0-1

Holiday Tournament (sponsored by the Peninsula Hotel)

1. P van Bakel (3)     ½-½     M Walker (3)
2. D Twitchell (2½)    1-0     P Foster (2½)
3. R Neumeijer (2½)    0-1     K Biswas (2½) 
4. N Tidy      (2)     1-0     AD Brown (2)
5. M Pollard   (2)     ½-½     R Hurn   (2) 

A draw on top board allowed the pack to join the lead. M Walker, D Twitchell, M Stanners, P van Bakel and K Biswas all on 3½/4

There was one particularly ghastly game, but I have promised to protect the identity of the loser….

Mr X - Mr Y [B01] Guernsey Holiday (4), 22.10.2003 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.dxe6 Bxe6 5.d4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qe7 (At this point, white noticed a discovered check was threatened, but unfortunately, he had a Ferdinand moment, and played...) 7.Qa4+?? Bd7+ 0-1

Round 5 (23 October)

Another blast of rain and high winds greeted the players this morning. But it cleared up later and by lunchtime there was bright sunshine. The high winds have the benefit of shifting the clouds rapidly. A piece of local history - 60 years ago today, HMS Charybdis was sunk in the English Channel, not far from Guernsey. There were many casualties and some of the dead were still in their teens. Thinking about that for a moment stops you complaining about the weather.

The local press is quite active this year. The Evening Press has carried reports and both Radio Guernsey and Island FM have given results on their news bulletins. Channel TV turned up to interview various people including tournament organiser Peter Wilson, and me. They filmed play for quite some time as well. The broadcast was expected yesterday, but appeared to be displaced by a crisis involving Jersey cows. It was shown today and they did a good job, with the exception of rather mysteriously calling Peter Wilson, "Peter Falla".

Steve Boniface is arbiter, but has been assisted by Mary McDermott and Peter Wilson, both of whom are international arbiters as well. Mary was not very well last year so it's good to see her back in action.

Tonight sees the tenpin bowling competition. In the old days there was a 5-a-side football competition, but numbers interested dropped off. The only time I played, an opposing team from Netherlands had some chap in his 50s playing. That's the spirit we thought, until he dribbled round the entire team and scored in about 10 seconds. Apparently, he was an ex-professional footballer!

OPEN (sponsored by Islands Insurance) Round 5

1. R Gwaze (3½)     ½-½     T Hillarp-Persson (4)
2. T Pym (3½)       0-1     K Kahar (3)
3. A Webster (3)    1-0     G Ballon (3)
4. C Wismayer (3)   ½-½     R Bellin (3)
5. A Reijneveld (3) 1-0     AM Brown (3)
6. M van Herck      1-0     M Ruston (3)
7. M Goldberg (3)   0-1     G Ellison (2½)
8.  K de Kruif (2½) 0-1     J Havenaar (2½)
9. K Thurlow (2½)   ½-½     RP Taylor (2½)
10.G Lock (2½)      0-1     K Goater (2)

Robert Gwaze went for the win but was unable to break through. Krunal Kahar had a good win against Tom Pym. Andrew Webster got back to winning ways, but Robert Bellin was unable to overcome Clive Wismayer. Leading scores - Tiger Hillarp-Persson 4½, A Reijneveld, M van Herck, A Webster, K Kahar, R Gwaze 4.

Pym,T - Kahar,K [B46] Guernsey (5), 23.10.2003 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Nge7 7.f4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 b5 9.Qd2 Bb7 10.Bd3 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.0-0-0 Be7 14.Kb1 0-0 15.Qe2 Qxg2 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Rhg1 Bf3 19.Qe5 Bf6 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Rxg2+ Bxg2 22.Rg1 Kh7 23.Rxg2 Rg8 24.Re2 Kg6 25.c3 Kf5 26.Bd4 Rg4 0-1

Holiday Tournament (sponsored by the Peninsula Hotel)

1. M Walker (3½)     ½-½     D Twitchell (3½)
2. M Stanners (3½)   ½-½     P van Bakel (3½)
3. K Biswas (3½)     0-1     P Carlucci (3) 
4. M Cawston (3)     1-0     N Tidy (3)
5. M Pollard (2½)    1-0     R Neumeijer (2½) 

This is still desperately close. Paul Carlucci took the opportunity to catch the leaders.

Round 6 (24 October)

The weather improved in the early part of the day, although we had a spectacular thunderstorm in the evening. So it was time for a stroll through the cobbled streets of St Peter Port, or "town" as it's known locally. This allowed plenty of time for the old English sport of dodging the roadworks, which Guernsey seems to have embraced recently. The Channel Islands are in an ambivalent state as far as Europe is concerned, so one is spared the iniquitous VAT. Meanwhile there was some serious chess….

OPEN (sponsored by Islands Insurance) Round 6 24/10/03

1. T Hillarp-Persson (4½) 1-0     A Reijneveld (4)
2. M van Herck (4)        ½-½     A Webster (4)
3. K Kahar (4)            1-0     R Gwaze (4)
4. R Bellin (3½)          1-0     T Pym (3½)
5. J Havenaar (3½)        0-1     C Wismayer (3½)
6. G Ellison (3½)         0-1     M Burrows (3)
7. AM Brown (3)           ½-½     C Dorrington (3)
8.  G Ballon (3)          1-0     M Goldberg (3)
9. M Simmons (3)          ½-½     K Thurlow (3)
10.K Goater (3)           1-0     M Ruston (3)

Tiger had a tough battle but always seemed to have the edge. Board 2 came down to an equal ending, and although Andrew kept trying, there was no way through. Krunal Kahar produced a splendid win. I had a game of immense ineptitude. Having tried a slightly risky line, I realized that the correct move would finish me off around move 20, but luckily he missed it and I managed to scramble a draw.

Kahar,K - Gwaze,R [A06] Guernsey (6), 24.10.2003 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3 d5 3.e3 Nbd7 4.Bb2 e6 5.Be2 Bd6 6.d4 0-0 7.0-0 a5 8.a4 c6 9.Nbd2 Qc7 10.c4 Qb8 11.Qc2 Re8 12.Bd3 h6 13.Rae1 Bb4 14.Re2 dxc4 15.Nxc4 Nd5 16.Nfe5 N7f6 17.f4 Be7 18.Qd1 Nb4 19.Bb1 b5 20.g4 bxc4 21.g5 Kf8 22.Rg2 Nbd5 23.bxc4 Nxe3 24.gxf6 Nxd1 25.Rxg7 1-0 (if 25....Bxf6, 26.Rxf7+ Kg8, 27.Bh7+ Kh8, 28.Ng6M)

Holiday Tournament (sponsored by the Peninsula Hotel)

1. P Carlucci (4)          ½-½     M Walker (4)
2. D Twitchell (4)         1-0     M Stanners (4)
3. P van Bakel (4)         ½-½     M Cawston (4) 
4. R Allen (3½)            ½-½     M Pollard (3½)
5. P Wood (3½)             ½-½     K Biswas (3½) 

Fairly solid all the way down, but Dave Twitchell pounced to take the lead going into the final round. People in the bar were saying, "Where's Twitch?" - the answer was he was watching the long battle on board 3.

Round 7 (25 October)

OPEN (sponsored by Islands Insurance) - Round 7

1. K Kahar (5)          ½-½     T Hillarp-Persson (5½)
2. A Webster (4½)       0-1     R Bellin (4½)
3. C Wismayer (4½)      0-1     M van Herck (4½)
4. R Gwaze (4)          1-0     G Ballon (4)
5. D Rosen (4)          0-1     M Burrows (4)
6. A Reijneveld (3½)    0-1     K Goater (3½)
7. K Thurlow (3½)       ½-½     J Havenaar (3½)
8. C Dorrington (3½)    1-0     DG Ellison (3½)
9. K de Kruif (3½)      0-1     T Eckersley-Waites (3½)
10.T Pym (3½)           1-0     A M Brown (3½)

Kevin Thurlow reports: The top board game lasted all of 9 moves before it was drawn at Tiger's suggestion. The other draw in the top ten was at least heading for a drawn ending. Despite the fact that Jan Havenaar has played the last 28 Guernsey tournaments, and I have played 25, we have never played each other before! The other games were more exciting. Actually board 2 got exciting before it started. Robert Bellin protested about the pairings (see below, Robert Bellin's comment on the pairings):-

Webster (2425) - Bellin (2383)
Wismayer (2136) - van Herck (2198)

as the top two seeds on the score group were playing each other. Normally the black players would be switched, but van Herck -Webster happened yesterday, hence the pairing. Robert said that rather than have the top two seeds play each other, it should be Webster -Wismayer and Bellin -van Herck. Unfortunately, this would ruin the colour sequence. The arbiter (Steve Boniface) explained all this and said the pairing was correct. Robert said he would not play unless he could see the rule in black and white. This left Steve two options, either to say, "That's the pairing - get on with it", or read the rules and find where the rule actually said colour was more important than seeding. He chose the latter, then had a lengthy read of the rules, and finally found confirmation he was right. (The rules are not exactly clearly-written.) Robert then agreed to play, but by then 20 minutes had elapsed, and Andrew had very sportingly not made a move whilst the argument was settled. Starting the game with Andrew 20 minutes down would be very unfair, so the players agreed to reduce the time by 10 minutes each. After all that, Robert won.

Robert Bellin comments: Just to set the record straight, I did not say the pairings should be as Kevin states. What I did say was that Andrew Webster and I should not play each other. The pairing of players would then have been forced, but the colours would then normally have given me Black (to which I would have had no objection). As I said to the arbiter at the time, I consider elevating consideration of colour sequence over that of seeding in the last round and with prize money at stake to be completely wrong. I also had a vague idea at the back of my mind that something to that effect had actually gone into the rules. It seems I was wrong on that, and that it must just have been one of my own thoughts on improving things. If that is indeed the case, then I do think the matter should be looked at again.
    I also did not say that I would not play if I was not shown something in black and white, I actually said I would probably not play. There is a difference.
    I should also add that the reason Andrew Webster did not move and just let his clock run whilst the matter was being investigated (there was no 'argument' as Kevin has it) was probably not unconnected with the fact that he had agreed with me the previous evening that the pairing was wrong. Indeed, I expect most players would agree that it is 'competitive common sense' (as I put it to the arbiter at the time) to place considerations of rating and seeding over those of colour sequencing where the last round is concerned.

There was plenty of fighting chess, and one or two dramatic blunders. Peter Rowe hit the headlines with his win over me in round 2, but sadly he followed this with five straight losses for his worst finish ever. I am not claiming supernatural influence, but if any future opponents consider winning against me, they might like to consider the adverse effect it could have on their subsequent play.

Prizewinners
1st T Hillarp-Persson (Swe) 6/7 - £1,200
2nd-4th K Kahar, R Bellin, (Eng) M van Herck (Bel) 5½ - £366.66 each
5th= R Gwaze (Zim), M Burrows, K Goater (Eng) 5 - £50
Veteran - G Ballon and M Goldberg (NL) 4 - £57.50
Junior - C Dorrington, T Eckersley-Waites (Eng) 4½ - £55
Under 2000 GP - T Pym (Eng) 4½ - £55
Under 1800 GP - S Pozzo (Eng) 4 - £50
Channel Islands Prize - J Cummins (Gsy), M Simmons (Jsy) 3½ £30

The Channel Islands prize was not planned this year but an anonymous donor rectified that situation.

Holiday Tournament (sponsored by the Peninsula Hotel)

1. M Cawston (4½)     1-0     D Twitchell (5)
2. P van Bakel (4½)   ½-½     P Carlucci (4½)
3. M Walker (4½)      ½-½     R Allen (4) 
4. M Pollard (4)      1-0     N Tidy (4)
5. C Evans (4)        ½-½     JR Finch (4)

There were several draws here, but only after long battles. The top board game was lengthy as well.

Prizewinners
1st M Cawston (Eng) 5½/7 - £300
2nd = P van Bakel (NL), P Carlucci, D Twitchell, B Derrett, M Walker, M Pollard, M Stanners 5 - £53.57
Veteran - R Allen and R Kearsley (Eng) 4½ - £25
Lady - M Dokter (NL) 3½ - £50
U1400 GP - M Beggs (Eng) 4 - £50
U1200 GP - J Brown (Eng) 2½ - £50
Channel Islands - JR Finch, O Rowe 4½ - £20 (The same donor provided this prize)

This is written ahead of the prizegiving, which will take place after the closing dinner. The brilliancy prize will be announced then, as well as the prize for the quiz that Peter Rowe organised. Then some of the players will dance the night away, some will inhabit the bar, and of course some will behave with complete restraint and get an early night.

The Guernsey tournament always starts on the third Sunday in October, but next year, FIDE (with reckless disregard for important matters like the Guernsey Festival), have arranged the Olympiad to start at the same time. As the organisers will all be at the Olympiad, as Guernsey are enthusiastic participants, the dates have had to be changed. Next year's tournament will be from October 3-9th. Unfortunately this just overlaps with the end of the Isle of Man event, but no other dates were possible. The hotel has quite a busy calendar of course. It is unlikely to do much damage. Isle of Man chose to clash a few years ago, by suddenly arranging their event for the same week, but few players appear in both events. The bottom line is that it is a choice between a slight overlap and not having a tournament at all.

As for 2003, the Peninsula hotel was as good as ever and the tournament organisers did a great job. There was only one dispute, and it was handled very sympathetically. Tonight the organisers get a chance to relax before continuing plans for next year!

Postscript

Tiger Hillarp Persson judged the most brilliant game prize. It has been a running joke for some years that the junior coach merely decides which junior gets the prize. However this time there could really be no arguments. The prize went to Krunal Kahar for his win over Robert Gwaze. It was a great game and I doubt that any others came close. The quiz was won by Kees de Kruif. The final dinner was excellent and some players have already booked their rooms for next year.

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