Cockermouth Chess Club
Tournaments
Carlisle rapidplay - September 2009:
Carlisle rapidplay was organised in Austin Friars School, on the 13th September 2009. Five games were to be played in the day with a time control of 30 minutes. Thirty-seven players entered the senior leagues. Cockermouth was well represented with 6 club members attending the tournament: John Jarmany, Neil Jones, Philippe Gleizon, Nigel South, William Henderson and Peter Blackmore. With the new grading system, we all played in the open section with the only exception of Peter Blackmore who played in the U140 section
Although we all displayed some very good games, there was no outstanding performance this year. The best performace was achieved by Neil Jones who finished in 5th place of the open with 3.5 points having only lost the last round against Paul Bielby, and drew earlier on against Michael Green.
John supported by his club mates
South Lakes Congress -June 2009:
As every year, the South Lakes Congress was held in the Cumbria Grand Hotel in Grange-over-Sands during the first week-end of June. Cockermouth Chess Club was well represented this year with 6 members of the club playing in the top four sections of the tournament:
- Open: Roger Hart
- Major: David Jarmany and Philippe Gleizon
- Intermediate: Neil Jones
- Minor I: Bill Henderson and Peter Blackmore
All performances were good. Roger Hart got the Cumbria grading prize finishing with 2½ points.
David Jarmany and Philippe Gleizon got both 3 points. Although happy with their performance in this very challenging section, they both felt a little bit disappointing for not getting more. Starting his last round David was looking for prize as he had already 3 points. Alas, he lost his last game, which was better for him, being under severe time pressure. Philippe Gleizon conceded only one loss against a strong young opponent he already met in Durham last year. However, Philippe was more disappointed to only draw his two games in rounds 2 and 3, that were clearly winning for him. In the first one, he understimate the strength of his opponent passed pawn and had to resort to a perpetual check to secure a draw. In the second one, he was up in material and time, but his opponent managed ti exchange almost all the pieces, leaving Philippe with a difficult rook+bishop v.s.rook endgame, which was eventually drawn by mutual agreement.
A busy Sunday morning at the South Lakes Congress
The best performance of Cockermouth was achieved by Neil Jones who shared the first prize with Richard Desmedt (Wombwell) after finishing with 4 points and having conceded only two draws. Well done Neil !
Finally Bill Henderson and Peter Blackmore scored 2½ and 2 respectively. They had the surprise to be paired against each other on round 3. That game eventually ended as a draw...
All results for the South Lakes Congress 2009 can be found on the Cumbria Chess Association web site.
Smile and concentration for David and Roger. Both games were won...
"Hmm...What shall I do with that extra knight?"
Neil Jones prepares his combination.
Cumbria Individual Championship - March 2009:
The Cumbria Individual Chess Championship was held in Austin Friars (Carlisle) from 27th February to 1st March 2009. The turn-out was better than last year with marginally more players from the South of the County, maybe because Carlisle is easier to access than Cockermouth. Cockermouth Chess club was well represented with six of its members participating to the event: John Jarmany, David Jarmany and Philippe Gleizon played the Open section, Neil Jones played the Major section, Bill Henderson and Peter Blackmore played the Minor section.
This year again, the title of County champion went to Robert Patla who finished with the perfect score of 5/5. Cockermouth players were not undeserving though:
- John Jarmany finished second of the Major League after losing only to Robert Patla with the black pieces.Before, his win to Matthew MacKenzie, one of the strongest Cumbrian players, was brilliant and will no doubt enter in his chess anthology.
- David Jarmany finished in third position, again after losing against Robert Patla with the black pieces in a very tough game, and to his brother in the last round.
- Neil Jones finished first of his section. After the last round, the organiser, Syd Cassidy, was facing a dilemma as Bob Mitcheson from Barrow and Neil were both winning with 4 points. The players then agreed to play a rapid game (10 min) as tie-break. Neil eventually won the game and the title after his knight forked Bob's queen and king in a complicated position.
- Bill Henderson finished second of his league and left the trophy he won last year, to Bill Hardwick on a very close score. The result was actually a tie but Bill Henderson had a half point bye.
Robert Patla holding his trophy at the Cumbria Chess Individual Championship 2009
A tough game full of brilliancies
Finally, Peter Blackmore and Philippe Gleizon were less successful, finishing with 2 and 1 points of their section respectively.
The final grid results of the championship can be found on the Cumbria Chess Association web site.
Concentration on an important game
Bill Henderson holding the Greenhalgh Board trophy
And this game was eventually a draw...
Neil Jones playing Ian Mackay
