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Five-way tie for Ulster Rapidplay title

The Ulster Rapidplay Championship was held as usual over the Christmas-New Year Holiday period at the Belfast Boat Club.

The six-round Swiss open was played on the 28th December 2008 and outright champion for the last two years, Stephen Scannell, looked to be heading for a hat-trick after winning his first four games and enjoying a full-point lead over his nearest rivals.

However a Round 5 defeat by Michael Holmes and a draw with Gareth Annesley in the final round meant that Scannell had to share the title this year with four others- Holmes, Annesley, John Cairns and Calum Leitch.

Grading prizes went to Richard Gould,  Ananda Srinivasan, Aaron McCully and Kevin Robbin.

Place Name                   Rtg  Club          Score

 1-5  Michael Holmes         2009 RVH           4.5  
      Stephen Scannell       2108 QUB           4.5  
      John Cairns            1983 Fisherwick    4.5  
      Gareth Annesley        1874 RVH           4.5  
      Calum Leitch           1619 QUB           4.5  
 6-8  Aaron McCully          1260 RVH           4    
      Richard Gould          1504 QUB           4    
      Anandagopal Srinivasan 1504 Fisherwick    4    
9-10  David Seaby            1175 Fisherwick    3.5  
      Kevin Robbin                              3.5  
11-15 Timothy Douglas        1838               3    
      Mark Newman            1696 Bombardier    3    
      Martin Kelly           1438 Fisherwick    3    
      William Storey         1315 Lagan         3    
      Christopher Kelly      1686 Lagan         3    
 16   Cathal Murphy          1000 RVH           2.5  
17-21 Radhika Gupta               Fisherwick    2    
      Kiran Robbin                              2    
      Alan Burns             1422 CIYMS         2    
      Raghav Gupta                Fisherwick    2    
      Conall Newman               Bombardier    2    
22-23 Geoff Hindley          1020 Lagan         1.5  
      Harshith Maruthireddy                     1.5  
 24   Matthew Chapman                           0
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