UCU February Rapidplay
In the Open perhaps the crucial result was Tom Clarke's victory in Round 4 over Stephen Scannell. Going into the final Round Clarke and Michael Holmes were leading on 4.5 points with Scannell their nearest challenger a point behind. In Round 6 Scannell moved up to tie with Holmes by beating him in their individual encounter, while Clarke drew a hard-fought game with Nicholas Pilkiewicz, who had also earlier held Scannell to a draw.
In the Challengers nobody escaped without tasting defeat. In Round 6 John Canning and Louis Holmes (who were leading on 4.0) were respectively paired with Chris Kelly and David Collins (who were both on 3.5) with victory going to the latter duo. Unusually the joint-winners had both lost in the first round - Kelly to Holmes and Collins to Calum Leitch.
Prizewinners: Open (1600+): 1. Tom Clarke 5.0/6; 2-3 Michael Holmes, Stephen Scannell 4.5
Challengers (Under 1600): 1-2 Christopher Kelly, David Collins 4.5/6; 3-5 John Canning, Louis Holmes, Damien Lavery 4.0
