Tony Locke Rapidplay - Round 5

The 5th round of the Tony Locke Rapidplay has now been made. There are still a number of games from earlier rounds outstanding but the leaders at this stage are Matt Stemp, Svein Kjenner, and Clive Bellinger, though there are a lot of players only half a point behind. For the purposes of making the draw games not played so far have been assumed to be draws.

While there were only 6 rounds originally planned, the tournament controller reserves the right to add a 7th round if there is no clear winner after 6 rounds.

Draw for round 5:

Clive Bellinger	V	Svein Kjenner
Matt Stemp	V	Felix Schnell
Mark Johnson	V	Norbert Voelker
Brian Remmer	V	Nathan Barnes
Denzel Gonzales	V	Phil Daley
Dave Chatfield	V	John Duff-Cole
Ed Goodman	V	Pete Smith
Martin Harris		BYE

Currently the outstanding games are (if any of these matches have taken place, results have not been reported):

WHITE		BLACK
Phil Daley	V	Felix Schnell
Felix Schnell	V	Mark Johnson
Martin Harris	V	Ed Goodman
John Duff-Cole	V	Pete Smith
Mark Johnson	V	Brian Remmer
Felix Schnell	V	Clive Bellinger
Nathan Barnes	V	Denzel Gonzales
Phil Daley	V	Mark Johnson

NECL Update

In Division 3, Colchester C have played five matches and are top of the table with a 100% record. They still have three matches to play but are on track to secure promotion to Division 2. Colchester D are in 2nd place but have played more games than some of the teams below them. Two wins in a row have moved them up to a score of 50%.

In Division 2, Colchester B have a 100% record from six matches. Their two remaining games are against the teams currently in 2nd and 3rd (Chelmsford B and Clacton A). One more win should be enough for promotion to Division 1, though the B team don't have another match until late April and if other results go their way they could already have the title wrapped-up before they play again. Last season Colchester B finished in 2nd place (behind the A team).

The race for 1st place is much closer in Division 1. A draw against Writtle A and a win against Writtle B mean that Colchester A are now in 2nd place, behind Writtle A. A poor first match of the season means Colchester are unlikely to win the division - though it is still possible if Writtle A and Chelmsford A drop points. Whatever the results of the remaining games, Colchester A have had a good first season back in the top division.

Tony Locke Rapidplay - Round 4

The 4th round of the Tony Locke Rapidplay has now been made. There are still a number of games from earlier rounds outstanding but two players so far - Matt Stemp and Svein Kjenner - have won all three of their matches. For the purposes of making the draw games not played so far have been assumed to be draws. Three players have been removed from the draw for round 4 as they have not played in the 1st three rounds.

Draw for round 4:

WHITE		BLACK
Svein Kjenner	V	Matt Stemp
Felix Schnell	V	Clive Bellinger
Nathan Barnes	V	Denzel Gonzales
Norbert Voelker	V	Dave Chatfield
Phil Daley	V	Mark Johnson
Brian Remmer	V	John Duff-Cole
Pete Smith	V	Martin Harris
Ed Goodman		BYE

Currently the outstanding games are (if any of these matches have taken place, results have not been reported):

WHITE		BLACK
Clive Bellinger	V	Denzel Gonzales
Phil Daley	V	Felix Schnell
Felix Schnell	V	Mark Johnson
Martin Harris	V	Ed Goodman
John Duff-Cole	V	Pete Smith
Mark Johnson	V	Brian Remmer

The answer to the question in the previous post cannot be shown in a viewer. Black played 1...Rxd3+!, White replied 2.Rxb4 removing the knight guarding Black's rook, but it is an illegal move as the king is still in check. Black, playing quickly, failed to notice and captured White's rook. White then took the rook on d3 and had an easily won pawn endgame. If the illegal move had been noticed Black had a simple win and would have had enough time on the clock to finish the game.

NECL player of the year

The Al Scibor prize is awarded to the adult player with the best percentage score in the NECL league - it has been won by Colchester players for the last two years (and the winners' main rivals have been mostly Colchester players as well).

Back in the 2013/14 season, Eldar Lachinov was player of the season closely followed by Mike Wagstaff and Pete Smith. Nathan Barnes and Phil Daley also scored more than 70%.

Last season, Alex Orava was player of the season closely followed by Svein Kjenner, Nathan Barnes, Matt Stamp and Ian Gooding. Simon Denney and Mark Johnson also scored more than 70%.

This season? Again it is looking good for Colchester players. Currently in the lead having scored 100% from 9 games is Norbert Voelker. In 2nd place is Svein Kjenner, also on 100% but from 7 games. Pete Smith is in joint 10th with (in order) Felix Schnell, Clive Bellinger, Martin Harris, Mike Wagstaff, Matt Stemp, Nathan Barnes and Ian Gooding also all scoring 50% or more from at least 4 games.

There was one key game that decided the winner of the trophy last year. The position below is taken from the Hughes, P - Barnes, N game in the Colchester A - Witham B match. Black is winning, though running short of time, and a win in this game would mean Black would win the Al Scibor trophy. How did Black make sure that this didn't happen? The answer is far from obvious...

January ECF grades

The January 2015 ECF Grading List has been published. The standard play grades for active Colchester players are:

Ref	Name	Age	Standard	Previous
256466L	Gooding, Ian		189B	190B
302172L	Voelker, Norbert		182E
186371L	Stemp, Matt		172D	174E
301977A	Schnell, Felix		167E
297026A	Orava, Aleksandr		163D	165E
299554C	Kjenner, Svein		154D	147E
120924D	Wagstaff, Michael		148C	147C
140673F	Barnes, Nathan		146A	158B
250046C	Bellinger, Clive		133C	130D
155695C	Daley, Phil		121C	120D
150405J	Harris, Martin		118A	120A
213710A	Smith, Peter		111C	119C
117812L	Remmer, Brian		107C	109D
301854E	Gonzales, Denzel		105F
293018D	Johnson, Mark		104B	100B
298130A	Jaufarally, Mohammud		102A	100A
283272A	Harris, Peter	17	95D	91D
227455D	Duff-Cole, John		93B	89C
256466L	Goodman, Ed		84C	74B
290797F	Wood, Dave		26A	24A

A few players have increased their grades - with Ed Goodman (+10) and Svein Kjenner (+7) having the most significant increases.

 

The following players have a standard play grade for the first time (or reappear on the list) - Félix Schnell, Norbert Voelker and Denzel Gonzales.

 

The rapidplay grades for active Colchester players are:

Ref	Name	Age	Rapidplay	Previous
186371L	Stemp, Matt		180F
140673F	Barnes, Nathan		155E	160F
299554C	Kjenner, Svein		148D	151F
250046C	Bellinger, Clive		136F	136F
293018D	Johnson, Mark		109D	107D
150405J	Harris, Martin		101D	94E
298130A	Jaufarally, Mohammud		91B	101A
227455D	Duff-Cole, John		87F
155695C	Daley, Phil		85F
256466L	Goodman, Ed		74F	78F
283272A	Harris, Peter	17	68E	39F
301407B	Parker, Leon	16	54F	46F
290797F	Wood, Dave		58A	52A

There are also a number of other Colchester players who have played some rapidplay graded games in the last half-season (but not enough to have a grade yet).

 

A few players have increased their grades - with Peter Harris (+29), Leon Parker (+8), Martin Harris (+7) and Dave Wood (+6) having the most significant increases.

 

The following players have a rapidplay grade for the first time (or reappear on the list) - Matt Stemp, Phil Daley and John Duff-Cole.

Club Championship - round 3

The draw for the third round (out of 5) of the club championship has been made. Clive Bellinger is the only player on 2/2 from the first two rounds, though there are a number of incomplete games so others could join him. For the purposes of making the draw, incomplete matches have been counted as being draws - scores will be updated as matches are completed. Third round matches should be completed by 30th March at the latest.

 

Round 3

WHITE		BLACK
Clive Bellinger (2)	V	Felix Schnell (1.5)
Nathan Barnes (1.5)	V	Svein Kjenner (1)
Norbert Voelker (1.5)	V	Phil Daley (1)
Mark Johnson (1)	V	Martin Harris (1)
Brian Remmer (0.5)	V	Pete Smith (1)
John Duff-Cole (0)	V	Ed Goodman (0)

 

Incomplete matches from previous rounds

WHITE		BLACK
Svein Kjenner	V	Mark Johnson
Phil Daley	V	Pete Smith
Pete Smith	V	Nathan Barnes
Brian Remmer	V	Svein Kjenner
Felix Schnell	V	Phil Daley

Premature resignation

After a poor result in their first game, Colchester A have won four matches in a row. The most recent match was a 3-1 away win against Witham A to move them up to 2nd place in Division 1. Svein was first to finish, while he was definitely winning was his opponent's resignation premature?

[Event "NECL League div 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.01.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Kjenner, Svein"] [Black "Pearce, Dave"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B11"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r2qr1k1/1b2bppp/1p3n2/p1pp4/2P5/2BQ1N2/PPB2PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] {This game ended fairly quickly. After} 19. Bxf6 {Black resigned. Some commented that it was premature. I also had that feeling, even though I knew Black position should be lost. But there is still room for mistakes...} ({After } 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 (19... gxf6 $4 {is mate in two with} 20. Qxh7+ Kf8 21. Qh8#) 20. Qxh7+ Kf8 21. Rfe1 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Re1e8] Black has difficult problems. Important is the Bishop on b7, allowing the following variations: If} Rxe1+ { my plan was} (21... g6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 (22... Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 fxg6 24. Qxb7 $18) 23. Qxb7 {White is winning. But I think Black should have continued the fight.} ) 22. Rxe1 g6 23. Bxg6 ({According to the machine} 23. Ng5 {was better. The Knight can of course not be taken. The engineline goes} Bg7 24. Nxf7 Kxf7 25. Bxg6+ Kf8 26. Re5 $1 {it would have been fun to play this move, but I am afraid I would not ever even consider these lines. That is more for engines and postal players.} Bc8 27. Re8+ Qxe8 28. Bxe8) 23... fxg6 24. Qxb7 $18 { If Black tries} dxc4 {White can play} 25. Re6 {with the idea} Qd1+ 26. Ne1 Bxb2 $4 27. Qe7+ Kg8 28. Rxg6+ Kh8 29. Qh4+) 1-0