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Alan Burns Lacksidasical December 2017

The first of the series of Alan Burns Lacksidasicals took place on Sunday 10th December.

These events are designed to be a fun afternoon of chess. With four tournaments over the year on Sunday afternoons with a grandprix prize for the series. With a time setting on the clocks of 20mins + 5 sec increment the games are pressured but do allow for some thought.

The weather was inclement cold, icey and Snowey so again setup with a feeling that we might not get many players.

A phone call and a couple of players are stuck in traffic - so we started a little late. With 7 players there was the nice opportunity for me to play - and I very stupidly said I it was an opportunity for me to win! - I was to eat my words .....

Round 1

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name           Loc  Total

 1 Robert Lavery   1590 [0]      1:0    Nial Troughton 1448 [0]  
 2 Vincent O'Brien 1222 [0]     .5:.5   Mark Newman    1556 [0]  
 3 Ian Woodfield   1511 [0]      1:0    Colin Burcombe 1000 [0]  
 4 Paul Anderson   984  [0]      0:1    Ram Rajan      1478 [0]  
by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

 

Vincent O;Brien was beating me and only for a mistake - leaving his Rook enprise gave me the opportunity of saving the game from defeat. All the other games went to rating.

Round 2

Results

No Name           Loc  Total  Result   Name            Loc  Total

 1 Ram Rajan      1478 [1]      1:0    Robert Lavery   1590 [1]  
 2 Mark Newman    1556 [.5]     0:1    Ian Woodfield   1511 [1]  
 3 Nial Troughton 1448 [0]      1:0    Vincent O'Brien 1222 [.5] 
 4 Colin Burcombe 1000 [0]      1:0    Paul Anderson   984  [0]  

Ram had a good win against Robert and opened the field - Whilst I lost to Ian - sacrificing too many pieces ... Ram and Ian went into the next round leading the competition.

 

Round 3

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name           Loc  Total

 1 Ian Woodfield   1511 [2]      1:0    Ram Rajan      1478 [2]  
 2 Robert Lavery   1590 [1]      1:0    Colin Burcombe 1000 [1]  
 3 Mark Newman     1556 [.5]     0:1    Nial Troughton 1448 [1]  
 4 Vincent O'Brien 1222 [.5]     1:0    Paul Anderson  984  [0]  

A big fight off for the lead. Ian beats Ram. Robert stays in contention and beats colin. With 8 players a five round swiss means you are playing most of the players. Nial beats Mark - not a good day - but some excellent positions - just not enough time..

 

Round 4

Results

No Name           Loc  Total  Result   Name            Loc  Total

 1 Robert Lavery  1590 [2]      0:1    Ian Woodfield   1511 [3]  
 2 Ram Rajan      1478 [2]      1:0    Nial Troughton  1448 [2]  
 3 Colin Burcombe 1000 [1]     .5:.5   Vincent O'Brien 1222 [1.5]
 4 Paul Anderson  984  [0]      0:1    Mark Newman     1556 [.5] 

I finally get a point off Paul. Ian takes the lead with Ram staying in contention with only a point between them. Colin gets a good draw against Vincent.

 

Round 5

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name           Loc  Total

 1 Nial Troughton  1448 [2]      1:0    Ian Woodfield  1511 [4]  
 2 Vincent O'Brien 1222 [2]      0:1    Ram Rajan      1478 [3]  
 3 Paul Anderson   984  [0]      0:1    Robert Lavery  1590 [2]  
 4 Mark Newman     1556 [1.5]    0:1    Colin Burcombe 1000 [1.5]

Ian looses to Nial and Ram Rajan wins against Vincent so both are on 4 points - the winner will be decided by tie break - medium buchan, buchan, progressive. Colin beats me - an excellent result. I sacrificed one pawn, then another and then another - a pawn too far and Colin defended and then pushed some pawns and I lost ....

A day of brilliant chess, complicated positions, sacrifices and time trouble and good coffee you couldnt ask for anyrhing better (maybe some wins!).

 

Alan Burns Lacksidasical Dec 2017

Standings

Place Name            Feder Loc  Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

 1-2  Ian Woodfield   UCU   1511 4         8.5  14.0   14.0
      Ram Rajan       UCU   1478 4         8.0  12.0   12.0
 3-4  Robert Lavery   UCU   1590 3         9.5  13.5    9.0
      Nial Troughton  UCU   1448 3         9.0  14.5    8.0
  5   Colin Burcombe        1000 2.5       6.5  10.5    6.0
  6   Vincent O'Brien UCU   1222 2         7.0  11.0    6.5
  7   Mark Newman     UCU   1556 1.5       7.5  11.5    4.5
  8   Paul Anderson   UCU   984  0         7.5  13.0    0.0

Ian wins on Tie break and Ram comes second both on 4 points.

Colin Burcombe wins the grading prize.

The next one in the series will be in the New Year - have a good christmas - enjoy the Ulster Blitz Championships on Saturday 30th December and watch this space for the next Alan Burns Lacksidasical.

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