Martin Kelly and Graeme Mccormick at the British

Also enjoying the British Championships were regulars Martin Kelly and Graeme Mccormick. Each playing in the rated sections week tournaments and a weekender - plenty of chess.

Graeme Mccormick came joint first - in the Under 1750 tournament (click here to see Graemes games): The final leader board -

Whilst in the Under 1600 Martin Kelly came joint 7th (click here to see Martins games). The final leader board -

For the Weekender

Graeme Mccormick played in the Soanes Tournament and came joint 19th with 2.5 points out of 5. The final leader board -

Martin Kelly came joint 27th in the Yates - out of 68 competitors with 2.5 points -

A report incoming direct from Martin Kelly - in his own style

"Graeme McCormick and I had a "Wales" of a time in Llandudno although my "clan did know" where we went. The local Wetherspoon was opposite our hotel, we went up the tram to the mountain top because it was too windy for the cable car (very Alpine)and I got to see Elkie Brooks in concert at the Venue Cymru where the chess took place! I felt like the biblical Jonas, who apparently was in Wales too ( or was that whales?).

As for the chess itself, over 1000 took part. I'm glad I didn't play in the over 50s as it was won by a certain GM John Nunn and I didn't want to score "nunn"! Graeme scored 2.5/5 in the Soane's Weekender but jointly won the Under-1750 with a magnificent 4/5! So it wasn't a "grim" time for Graeme!

Last year, I was unbeaten in 10 games in Bournemouth, finishing second and third in two under 1600 events. This gave me a ECF grading of 119 or 1593 ELO ( compared to my current UCU rating of 1301!). This time, I again entered two similar events, the Yates Weekender and the midweek Under-1600. I played 5 Englishmen, 2 Scots, a Welsh, a Ukrainian and an Indian. I played three openings twice-the Vienna, the French Advanced and the Scotch. Could I extend my unbeaten run at the British to 20? Let's see!

Game 1 in the Yates against Scots Mark Smith was an exciting, sacrificial Vienna (1.e4 e5; 2.Nc3 Nf6; 3.f4 d5; 4.fxe5 Nxe4; 5.d3 Qh4 ch) but we both only got half a "mark"! Next I was Black against Welsh man Paul Taylor- "suited" me against his Scotch Game- another early draw! A longer game ensued against Ukrainian Steve Szwajkin but it was another draw. At least he laughed when I told him my only Ukrainian joke: "Me Tarzan; Ukraine"! Next, my English opponent John Hodges "hedges" his bets and "dodges" defeat against my Slav and draws in 15 moves!   The final Yates game against Englishman Nathan Weesing saw a clear advantage for my French Advanced where I drew in 14 moves, afraid of scoring "nathan"!

W. M.Kelly; B. N.Weesing                                   1.e4 e6; 2, d4 d5; 3.e5 c5; 4.c3 Nc6; 5.Nf3 Qb6; 6.Bd3 cxd4; 7.cxd4 Bb4 ch !?; 8.Nc3 Bd7; 9.Bh3 Nh6; 10,0-0 Nf5?; 11,Bxf5 exf5; 12Nxd5 Qd8; 13. Nxe4 Nxb4; 14, Qb3! 0.5-0.5?? Another unbeatable world record- 5 draws in a 5 round tournament!

Next was the midweek Under 1600. My first, facing a Sicilian defence against England's Andrew Hughes was not a "Hughes" game in terms of length- another draw. In fact, seven of my ten games were under 22 moves and my two wins were 69 and 48 moves respectively- is there a moral here somewhere? Has my get up and go got up and gone? You decide!

My next two games were wins putting me into second place! I gave the "bird" to my opponent's Bird's Opening - was he an Englishman or a "Scot"- both as he was Scott Hammett! See our game below. My third game against real Scot- not so "handy Andy" McCullogh- saw me win a French Adanced where my opponent played the same Nf5? move played by Weesing above! My fourth game against Indian Ananthe Anulkuna was a short Scotch Game draw after which I went to the local "Delhi" for something to eat! My final draw with my favourite Vienna against Englishman Steve Ashworth resembled my last game in the Yates in that I took an early draw in a favourable position, thereby missing second place. I still wonder was "Ash worth" a draw but he did "ash" me nicely for a draw! Overall, a lovely holiday and 20 unbeaten games!

W. S.Hammett; B.M.Kelly                            1.f4 d5; 2.Nf3 c5; 3.e3 Nc6; 4.Bb5 Bd7; 5.b3 e6; 6.Bb2 Nf6; 7.0-0 Be7; 8.Nc3 0-0; 9.Ne2 a6; 10.Bd3 Ne4!; 11.Bxe4 dxe4; 12.Ng5 Bxg5; 13.fxg5 Qxg5; 14.Nf4 f5; 15.Qe2 Nb4!; 16.a3 Nxc2; 17.Rac1 Bb5!; 18.Qh5 Qxh5; 19.Nxg5 Bxf1; 20.Kxf1 Nxe3; 21.dxe4 g6; 22 Nf6 ch Kf7; 23.Rxc5 Rfc8; 24. Rxc8 Rxc8; 25.Nxh7 Rc2; 26. Bd4 Rc1ch; 27.Kf2 Rc2ch; 28.Kg3 Ra2; 29.Ng5ch Ke7; 30.a4 Kd7; 31.Bc5 b5; 32.axb5 axb5; 33.Nh3 Rc2; 34.b4 e5; 35.Ng5 Rxc5!!; 36.bxc5 b4 and B. wins in 69 moves!                                                                    Rookie ( Martin Kelly)"