We welcomed a record capacity (180) entry to the 34th Nottingham Rapidplay, held as usual at Nottingham High School. This was ECF-rated as normal and also FIDE-rated for the first time (but bear in mind that FIDE only now publishes ratings above 1400). We also used the congress.org site for the first time, enabling online payments rather than cheques in the post and cash on the day.
We are very grateful to the Nottinghamshire Chess Foundation for providing the finance to pay for prizes for an Improvers’ section, which attracted 47 players, many new to over-the-board chess, and also for underwriting any financial losses (thankfully, not required).
Thanks are due to: the players who turned up early and helped us to set up and those who stayed behind after the last round and helped to put away the equipment and rearrange some tables and chairs; the control team of Phill Beckett, Stephen Humphreys, Simon Scott, John Swain and Hambel Willow; NCA Treasurer, Stuart Humphreys, who combined playing in the Major with various administrative tasks and who undertook the not inconsiderable job of paying the prize-winners after the event; finally, the parents who staffed the provision of hot drinks – Mr and Mrs Gunarathne, Mr Richmond and Mr and Mrs Sykes – enabling £150 to be raised for Ukraine humanitarian relief.
The results were:
(Word report including links to cross tables can be found here)
Open
1st: Simon Schweizer
2nd= GM Mark Hebden, IM Jonah Willow
Under 1950 Rating: Giannis Ter-Govorkian, Edouardis Ter-Gevorkian
Slow starters (no more than one point from the first three games):
Julian Cast, Matthew Connor
Major (under 1900)
1st: Joseph Greco
2nd= Daniel Broughton, Matthew Inglis, Barnaby Paul, Frank Richmond
Under 1750 Rating: Daniel Jones
Slow starter: David Flynn
Intermediate (under 1700)
1st: Cai Owen
2nd: Sebastian Griffin-Young
3rd/ Under 1550 Rating: Joseph Hurst, Phil Watkinson, Marcus Atherton, Ted Ronald, Engam Harshavardham
Slow starters: Martyn Winn, Maksim Krasnov
Minor (under 1500)
1st: Ufuk Kachak – £200
2nd/3rd= Christopher Benjamin, Luke Gaul, Ives Lau, Seb Walker
Under 1350 Rating: Alan Shaw, Miheli Gunarathne
Slow starter: Albert Biermann
Improvers (under 1300)
1st: Ambrose Lam
2nd: Amudhavel Aadharshini
3rd= William Shelley, Catherine Keetley, Mohanaditya Poluru, Leo Orehhov
Under 1100 Rating: Nadia Prokofjeva
Slow starter: Harry Stanley