Diary - 2019/20 Season

After 3 last minute drop-outs, 13 players braved the elements, including Mr Secretary Smith's daghter, Phoebe, who showed impressiive commitment by flying over from Australia to play in the event. The tournament consisted of a five-round Swiss under the Fischer time control system of 8 minutes each with 10 seconds added after every move. The opening for each round was drawn by lot from a list of 23 gambits. This format ensured that most of the players (except the Camborne secretary, of course!) were soon out of their comfort zone. As last year Debbie provided a substantial and tasty buffet which was much appreciated by everyone, the star of the show this year being the delicious sausage rolls.

With one round to go Ian George led by a ½-point ahead of a group including Jeff Nicholas. Ian and Jeff met in the last round with Jeff as black facing the Morra Gambit against his Sicilian. An exciting game ensued in which Ian sacrificed a piece for an attack which met with a stout defence from Jeff who eventually won the game for victory in the tournament, a good display from him given that gambits are not usually his favoured style of play. Ian was 2^nd= along with Richard Smith and Ian Renshaw with grading prizes going Richard Humpleby (U140) and Maria Evdokimova (U100). Maria's son, Ivan, had a very tournament, scoring 3/5 and winning the junior prize.

The openings were:

• 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 (King's Gambit)
• 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 (Falkbeer Counter Gambit)
• 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5; 4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O (Muzio Gambit)
• 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 (Scotch Gambit)
• 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 (Morra Gambit")

The fimal standings were as follows, Falmouth/Truro players marked with an asterisk

• 4.0: *Jeff Nicholas (1^st £30)
• 3.5: Ian George, *Ian Renshaw, Richard Smith (2^nd £10 each)
• 3.0: Percy Gill, Richard Humpleby (U140 grading prize £10), *Ivan Gerasimenko (Junior prize £10)
• 2.5: Colin Sellwood
• 2.0: *Bryan Jones, *Hugh Brown, *Maria Evdokimova (U100 grading prize:£10), Philip Spargo
• 1.0: Phoebe Smith

Ian George

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After a gap of two seasons, the Kerrier Cup was held on February 2nd at Carnon Downs. Unfortunately the date clashed with junior events and other regulars were unable to attend so the entry of 16 was smaller than expected.

The pre-tournament favourite was Grant Healey, but he was comprehensively crushed by Toby Willis in round 1.Second seed Lloyd Retallick was held to a draw by David Jenkins.

The two top seeds then met in the second round, Grant winning and throwing the tournament wide open. Percy Gill and Ian George became the leaders on 2/2. Their round 3 game was decided when Percy donated a rook. Meanwhile Lionheart Smith slayed Toby's Dragon, and Colin Sellwood blundered into a stalemate draw against Tom Oates.

The last three rounds saw consecutive wins by Mick "ultra-solid" Hill who produced perhaps his best-ever tournament score in Cornwall. Colin was leading after round 4, but Percy snaffled an exchange which won the game after Colin missed a big chance to win material back. As black, Ian beat Toby using the Benko to join Mick and Percy on 4/5. Ian chalks up his fourth win of the Kerrier Cup on tie-break, tying the record held by the late David Saqui, and becomes Cornwall Individual Rapid Play Champion

Robin Kneebone

Robin modestly downplays his own role as organiser and controller but his efforts ensured that the players were able to play in a most enjoyable and competitive event. (IMG)

Final Standings

Camborne players marked (*), Falmouth/Truro players marked (**)

• 4.0: *Ian George, *Percy Gill, Mick Hill (Calstock). £20 each
• 3.5: *Colin Sellwood
• 3.0: **Toby Willis (£20 U150), *Grant Healey
• 2.5: *Richard Smith, Lloyd Retallick (Newquay), David Jenkins (Calstock) and **Beatrice Steele (£10 each U120)
• 2.0: **Ian Renshaw, *Colin Long, stuart Lee (Liskeard)
• 1.5: *Thomas Oates
• 1.0: *Bryan Atkinson

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This match was played on Saturday 18^th January at Plymouth Bridge Club

Full results here

A big thank you to everyone for making the trip in terrible weather, Especially Prof David Jenkins who came in at short notice as a very late replacement.

We had 9 draws by Lloyd, Robin, Jamie, Percy, Jan, Richard, Jeff, Colin, and David against a really strong Devon team. Each opponent was about 20 to 30 grading points higher on average.

Lovely to see a fantastic return to county chess, after a 10 year hiatus, by Ian George with our only win (see Game of the Week)

Richard Smith

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This match was played on Saturday 18^th January at Plymouth Bridge Club

It was played in a very friendly atmosphere. Another big thank you to Tony Tatam for providing and setting up all the sets, clocks and scoresheets. Plus, Tony worked tirelessly, all afternnon, to provide tea, coffee, cake and biscuits to all the players and spectators.

Cornwall were 2 - 0 down before the start - due to unforseen circumstances and too late to get replacements. Nevertheless, there was some great chess played by Toby Willis, Colin Sellwood and Jason Henderson.

It was great to see some new Cornish players and those had hadn't played for Cornwall for quite a while. A big thank you to all who made it to Plymouth. Jan Rodrigo, for example, travelling by train from St Ives.

Full results here

Richard Smith

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This year's festive quickplay was our most successful yet. 24 players, 13 form Camborne and 11 from Falmouth/Truro, competed in a five-round Swiss. Joint winners with 4 points were Robin Kneebone, Percy Gill and Tom Oates. The highlight of the evening was the munificent and varied buffet laid on by our treasurer, Debbie Smith, who also provided a constant stream of liquid refreshment with the assistance of Tracey Oates. Everyone seemed to have a good time and more than 50 prizes were distributed to players and non-combatants alike with nobody going home empty-handed.

The fimal standings were as follows, Falmouth/Truro players marked with an asterisk

• 4.0: *Robin Kneebone, Percy Gill, Tom Oates
• 3.5: Jeff Nicholas, Colin Sellwood, Martin Pope
• 3.0: Richard Smith, *Toby Willis, *Boris Kostadinov, Colin Gardiner
• 2.5: Philip Spargo, *Bryan Jones, Colin Long, Bryan Atkinson
• 2.0: David Jenkins, *Ian Renshaw, *Hugh Brown, *Maria Evdokimova
• 1.5: *Jamie Packham, Ivan Gerasimenko, *Ray Proost, *Tamara Burgess
• 1.0: Rebecca Gardiner
• 0.5: Pat Scully

The evening was enlivened by the presence of a time traveller in Wild West dress.

You are invited to use your skill and judgment to identify this person. Was it:

• "Buffalo Bill" Cody
• Hopalong Cassidy
• Colin Sellwood, the "Clijah Kid"
• Wyatt Earp
• Jack Palance playing gunfighter Jack Wilson in "Shane"

Ian George

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The first match of the season, at Victory Hall, Exminster, resulted in a win for Cornwall by 9½ - 6½. Thanks to all who played and provided transport. Particular thanks to Debbie Smith who provided a range of refreshments. Full results are here and some games will feature in Game of the Week when I receive them.

Richard Smith

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This year's event was held at the Parkhouse Centre on September 14^th. There 19 entries including a welcome appearance by new Bude member GM John Nunn who won the 1^st prize with 6/6. Matthew wilson and Giles Body were equale 2^nd on 4½. Grading prizes were won by Brian Gosling, Ken Alexander, Ian Rescorla (Under 155) and Hazel Welch (Under 120).

Final Standings

• 6: John Nunn
• 4½: Matthew Wilson, Giles Body
• 4: Ken Alexander, Brian Gosling
• 3½: Lloyd Retallick, Philip Wood, Ian Rescorla
• 3 : Toby Willis, Martin Quinn, Hazel Welch
• 2½: Geoff Lingard, Nick Butland, Bob Jones, Christine Constable, Salli Gosling
• 2 : Hugh Brown, Lloyd Russell
• 1: Ivan Gerasimenko

Geoff Lingard v GM John Nunn

Peter Clarke represented England in the Olympiads from 1954 to 1968. In 1966, when the event was held in Havana, Cuba, he played top board. At the end of the tournament Fidel Castro gave each top board a specially commissioned chess set and chess table that had been used in the competition and paid for it to be shipped back to the respective countries. The table and set are still in the family’s possession and they brought it down from Derbyshire to be used as the top board in this tournament.

Ian George

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