Bangor Chess Club Congress

The Bangor Chess Club Annual Congress returned to the calendar after a year's absence. This year the event was not actually held in Bangor, but in neighbouring Groomsport, where the Bangor Club now has its home premises. The tournament was held in two rated sections. In the Masters Tom Clarke won his first 4 games and in Round 5 played Stephen Scannell, who had only dropped a half-point at that stage. After an extremely hard-fought game, Tom finally pushed his f-pawn through to queen in the endgame to claim the title with a round to spare. In the final round Clarke was content with a "grandmaster draw" with John Masterson, while Scannell, champion in 1997, 1998 and 1999, bounced back with a win over Michael Holmes to claim second prize. In the Challengers Louis Holmes won his first four games and 2 draws in the last two rounds were sufficient to finish first, a half-point ahead of David Collins and Richard Proctor, President of the host club. The good news is that the tournament will definitely be returning next year, having clinched sponsorship from the local Council.

MASTERS: 16 PLAYER 6 ROUND SWISS:
1. T. CLARKE 5.5
2. S. SCANNELL 4.5
3=4. G. ANNESLEY, J. MASTERSON 4.0
5=6. M. HOLMES, N. PILKIEWICZ 3.5
7=10. B. JAMISON, D. McALISTER, S. McCANN, P. McLOUGHLIN 3.0
11. D. MALLAGHAN 2.5
12=14. T. DOUGLAS, D. MORELAND, A. WHITE 2.0
15. T. ALCORN 1.5
16. T. PARKER 1.0

CHALLENGERS: 16 PLAYER 6 ROUND SWISS:
1. L. HOLMES 5.0
2=3. D. COLLINS, R. PROCTOR 4.5
4. B. BELLINGER 4.0
5=7. N. COOPER, D. LAVERY, K.McCARTAN 3.5
8=10. Alex BECKETT, H. LOWRY-O'REILLY, M. McKIMM 3.0
11=12. E. BELL, M. KANE 2.5
13=14. K. BROWNE, M. SEIDMAN 2.0
15. P. MORRISON 1.5
16. N. HOOD 1.0