Monarch Insurance Open, Isle of Man
This very strong Swiss attracted a seven-strong Irish contingent, including three Ulster players, Keith Allen, Dermot Murtagh and John Nicholson. Irish champion Colm Daly drew with the co-winners Shipov and Sutovsky while Allen (now resident in the Isle of Man) beat strong English GM John Emms.
Final scores:
1-2 GM Emil Sutovsky (2587) and GM Sergei Shipov (2658) 6½/9
3-10 GM Nigel Short (2675), GM Lev Psakhis (2581), GM Sergei Tiviakov (2611), GM Petr Kiriakov (2554), IM Jonathan Parker (2523), GM Aleksander Schneider (2551), GM Chris Ward (2473) and GM Bogdan Lalic (2550) 6/9
Irish players:
GM Alexander Baburin (2593) 5½; Joe Ryan (2280) 5;
FM Colm Daly (2378), Keith Allen (2233) and Sam Collins (2097) 4½;
John Nicholson (2023) and Dermot Murtagh 2.
Games:
Nicholson,J - Hickman,J: Notes based on comments by Nicholson
Allen,K - Emms,J: Notes by McAlister
