Hampshire Chess Championship 2018 Major & Minor

The 2018 Hampshire Congress had three sections, the Open including the Hampshire Individual Championship was covered in the previous post. The other two sections were the Major (under 160 ECF) and the Minor (under 125)

Details on the round by round and final scores for both tournaments are detailed below.

The tournament was played at the Lysses House Hotel in Fareham over six rounds, one on Friday, three on Saturday and two on Sunday. Half point byes were allowed for players in the first five rounds.

Hampshire Chess Congress Major
Hampshire Chess Congress Minor
John Dunleavey Prize
Games

If you played in either of these and have any games or comments you would like me to add please contact me.

From the Hampshire Chess Association website there was a review of the tournament by Broadstairs Chess Club’s Robert Page who was joint winner of the Major.

For a list of the winners of the Hampshire Individual Championship and links to any articles I have written the table on the Hampshire Individual Championship is the best place to look. In addition, the table on the Hampshire Tournaments will detail these and any other tournament articles I have completed. Both of these are available from the menu at the top of the site as well.

Hampshire Chess Congress – Major

Nineteen players entered the Major section. As the results from the ECF grading site do not include byes their table will not be 100% accurate and the nature of these tournaments is that players will withdraw determining 100% accuracy is difficult. However, I have tried to piece together each round using John Wheeler’s report on the tournaments as well.

Major – Round 1

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Nick Burton	158	1	John R Sellen	131	0
David R Agostinelli	129	1	Lukasz Marek Piecha	156	0
Brendan O'Gorman	154	½	Kevin Sawers	127	½
John Belinger	124	1	Simon Venables	148	0
Melissa Hamilton	122	½	Joseph A Coburn	143	½
Robert G Page	141	1	Amanda Jones	123	0
Christopher Smith	139	0	Pankaj Tomar		1
John R Webb		1	Ian G Matthew		0
Jeremy Hudson	132	½	Bye
Charles Charalambous	98	½	Bye
William Ellinger	115		Bye

A couple of upsets with David Agostinelli beating Lukasz Marek Piecha and John Belinger doing the same against Simon Venables. A couple of the higher graded players were also held to draws. Nick Burton who used to play for the Eastleigh BR (now part of Chandlers Ford) before moving North made and excellent return winning his game as top seed.

Major – Round 2

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
David R Agostinelli	129	0	Nick Burton	158	1
Pankaj Tomar		0	Robert G Page	141	1
Joseph A Coburn	143	½	John Belinger	124	½
Jeremy Hudson	132	1	John R Webb		0
Lukasz Marek Piecha	156	0	Melissa Hamilton	122	1
Charles Charalambous	98	1	Brendan O'Gorman	154	0
Kevin Sawers	127	0	Amanda Jones	123	1
Simon Venables	148	1	Ian G Matthew	136	0
John R Sellen	131	½	Christopher Smith		½
William Ellinger	115

Nick Burton and Robert Page were the only players to remain on 100% defeating David Agostinelli and Simon Venables respectively. Four players were just behind on one and a half points, Brendan O’Gorman, John Belinger, Melissa Hamilton and Jeremy Hudson. Melissa impressively beat the 156 graded Lukasz Marek Piecha. Although this looks to have been a blunder from a pawn up by the higher graded player when he left his Rook on f5 on prise.

Major – Round 3

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Nick Burton	158	½	Jeremy Hudson	143	½
Robert G Page	141	½	Brendan O'Gorman	154	½
John Belinger	124	1	Melissa Hamilton	122	0
John R Webb		½	David R Agostinelli	129	½
Pankaj Tomar		1	Joseph A Coburn	143	0
Amanda Jones	123	0	Simon Venables	148	1
Christopher Smith	139	0	Kevin Sawers	127	1
John R Sellen	131	½	Charles Charalambous	98	½
Ian G Matthew	136	1	Lukasz Marek Piecha	156	0
William Ellinger	115

The top two boards were drawn, and John Belinger beat Melissa Hamilton. These three players remained half a point ahead of five players going into the Saturday evening games. After losing his first three games the second highest graded player Lukasz Marek Piecha decided enough was enough and withdrew.

Major – Round 4

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Joseph A Coburn	143	½	Kevin Sawers	127	½
Amanda Jones	123	0	Pankaj Tomar		1
Jeremy Hudson	132	0	Simon Venables	148	1
Melissa Hamilton	122	½	Charles Charalambous	98	½
John R Sellen	131	½	Bye
Christopher Smith	139	½	Bye
Ian G Matthew	136	½	Bye
Nick Burton	158	½	Bye
Robert G Page	141	½	Bye
Brendan O'Gorman	154	½	Bye
John Belinger	124	½	Bye
John R Webb		½	Bye
David R Agostinelli	129	½	Bye
William Ellinger	115
Lukasz Marek Piecha	156	0	Withdrawn

Just four games were played as nine players decided to take a Saturday evening bye. Pankaj Tomar and Simon Venables were the main benefits of playing in the evening as they won their games. The other two games were drawn. Going into round five Robert Page, Nick Burton, John Belinger remained in the lead with three points.

Major – Round 5

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
John Belinger	124	½	Nick Burton	158	½
Robert G Page	141	1	Jeremy Hudson	132	0
Brendan O'Gorman	154	1	Joseph A Coburn	143	0
Simon Venables	148	0	David R Agostinelli	129	1
Kevin Sawers	127	1	Melissa Hamilton	122	0
Pankaj Tomar		½	John R Webb		½
Ian G Matthew	136	1	John R Sellen	131	0
Charles Charalambous	98	½	Christopher Smith	139	½
Amanda Jones	123	½	William Ellinger	115	½

Robert Page beat Jeremy Hudson, whilst the other two leaders Nick Burton and John Belinger drew. This meant Robert was in the sole lead before the last round. Brendan O’Gorman beat Joe Coburn and Dave Agostinelli won against Simon Venables which meant two joined Nick and John half a point behind.

Major – Round 6

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Robert G Page	141	½	Nick Burton	158	½
Brendan O'Gorman	154	1	John Belinger	124	0
David R Agostinelli	129	½	Jeremy Hudson	132	½
Kevin Sawers	127	½	Simon Venables	148	½
Ian G Matthew	136	1	Joseph A Coburn	143	0
Charles Charalambous	98	½	William Ellinger	115	½
Melissa Hamilton	122	½	Christopher Smith	139	½
John R Webb		0	Withdrawn
Pankaj Tomar		0	Withdrawn
Amanda Jones		0	Withdrawn
John R Sellen		0	Withdrawn

The leader Robert Page drew with Nick Burton and Brendan O’Gorman beat John Belinger to finish in joint first place with four and a half points from five games. Nick Burton and Dave Agostinelli shared third place on four points. Dave Agostinelli also won the under 140 grading prize.

Hampshire Congress 2018 Major Final Table

The 2018 Hampshire Chess Congress Major final positions.

Rank	Name	Grade	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Rd 6	Score
1	Robert G Page	141	14+	12+	2=	bye =	11+	3=	4½
2	Brendan O'Gorman	154	4=	13+	1=	bye =	9+	7+	4½
3	Nick Burton	158	17+	5+	11=	bye =	7=	1=	4
4	Kevin Sawers	127	2=	14–	16+	9=	10+	6=	3½
5	David R Agostinelli	129	19+	3–	15+	bye =	6+	11=	4
6	Simon Venables	148	7–	8+	14+	11=	5–	4=	3
7	John Belinger	124	6+	9=	10+	bye =	3=	2–	3½
8	Ian G Matthew	136	15–	6–	19+	bye =	17+	9+	3½
9	Joseph A Coburn	143	10=	7=	12+	4=	2–	8–	2½
10	Melissa Hamilton	122	9=	19+	7–	13=	4–	16=	2½
11	Jeremy Hudson	132	bye =	15+	3=	6=	1–	5=	3
12	Pankaj Tomar		16+	1–	9–	14+	15=		2½
13	Charles Charalambous	98	bye =	2–	17=	10=	16=	18=	2½
14	Amanda Jones	123	1–	4+	6–	12–	18=		1½
15	John R Webb		8+	11–	5–	bye =	12=		2
16	Christopher Smith	139	12–	17=	4–	bye =	13=	10=	2
17	John R Sellen	131	3–	16=	13=	bye =	8–		1½
18	William Ellinger	115					14=	13=	1
19	Lukasz Marek Piecha	156	5–	10–	8–				0

Hampshire Chess Congress – Minor

The Hampshire Minor section had twenty-five players entering. A good mix of Hampshire players and players from outside the County was seen in the tournament. The ECF Grading Crosstable does not include the byes but has additional information on the players and the tournament.

Minor – Round 1

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Ben Harte	124	1	Paul Eyles	106	0
David Lambton	121	1	Alan R Fraser	98	0
David J Archer	105	0	Geoffrey A Foxon	121	1
James Wallman	97	0	Keith C Spooner	118	1
David Nelson	117	1	Sam J Murphy	95	0
Brian V Cochran	94	0	Ryan Cheung	116	1
Richard J Meredith	114	1	Soham Kumar		0
David T Murchie	79	0	Daniel Shek	114	1
Phil B Pinto	109	1	Don Creasey	77	0
David Jerome	77	0	Paul S Collis	106	1
Tim G Cutter	112	½	Bye
Michael R Pope	122	½	Bye
Matthew Deacon	85	½	Bye
Nicholas Deacon		½	Bye
Johan Mathew	102

The higher graded player won every game, which is pretty unusual. Four players took a Friday evening bye.

Minor – Round 2

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Ryan Cheung	116	1	Ben Harte	124	0
Paul S Collis	106	0	David Lambton	121	1
Geoffrey A Foxon	121	1	Richard J Meredith	114	0
Keith C Spooner	118	½	Phil B Pinto	109	½
Matthew Deacon	85	0	Tim G Cutter	112	1
Nicholas Deacon		0	David T Murchie	79	1
Michael R Pope	122	1	Daniel Shek	114	0
Paul Eyles	106	1	Brian V Cochran	94	0
Alan R Fraser	98	1	David Jerome	77	0
David J Archer	105	0	Soham Kumar		1
Don Creasey	77	½	James Wallman	97	½
David Nelson	117	½	Bye
Sam J Murphy	95	½	Bye
Johan Mathew	102

Ryan Cheung, David Lambton and Geoffrey A Foxon all won their second-round games and moved into round three on 100% A number of players were just half a point behind.

Minor – Round 3

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
David Lambton	121	1	Geoffrey A Foxon	121	0
Tim G Cutter	112	0	Ryan Cheung	116	1
Phil B Pinto	109	1	Michael R Pope	122	0
Keith C Spooner	118	½	David Nelson	117	½
Ben Harte	124	1	Alan R Fraser	98	0
Richard J Meredith	114	½	Paul Eyles	106	½
Daniel Shek	114	1	Soham Kumar		0
David T Murchie	79	1	Paul S Collis	106	0
James Wallman	97	0	Matthew Deacon	85	1
Sam J Murphy	95	1	Nicholas Deacon		0
Johan Mathew	102	1	Don Creasey	77	0
David J Archer	105	½	Brian V Cochran	94	½
David Jerome	77	0

Ryan Cheung and David Lambton kept their 100% records beating Tim Cutter and Geoffrey Foxon respectively. Phil Pinto beat Michael Pope to be the only player on two and a half points.

John Dunleavy Prize

In this round the John Dunleavy Prize Best Game Prize was won by to 9-year-old Matthew Deacon (black) against James Wallman. An excellent tactical finish.

Minor – Round 4

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Ryan Cheung	116	1	David Lambton	121	0
Daniel Shek	114	1	Phil B Pinto	109	0
David Nelson	117	1	David T Murchie	79	0
Matthew Deacon	85	0	Richard J Meredith	114	1
Paul Eyles	106	½	Tim G Cutter	112	½
Michael R Pope	122	1	Sam J Murphy	95	0
Alan R Fraser	98	0	Johan Mathew	102	1
Don Creasey	77	0	David J Archer	105	1
Soham Kumar		0	James Wallman		1
Keith C Spooner	118	½	Bye
Brian V Cochran	94	½	Bye
Paul S Collis	106	½	Bye
Geoffrey A Foxon	121	½	Bye
Ben Harte	124	½	Bye
Nicholas Deacon		0
David Jerome	77	0

Five players took the Saturday evening bye. But the two leaders met, and Southampton University’s Ryan Cheung came out on top to move into the lead with the impressive maximum points from four games. Phil Pinto lost to fast improving junior Dan Shek. David Nelson also won and with Dan and the losing David Lambton were all in second place a full point behind Ryan.

Minor – Round 5

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Ryan Cheung	116	1	David Nelson	117	0
Richard J Meredith	114	1	Daniel Shek	114	0
Phil B Pinto	109	1	Ben Harte	124	0
Geoffrey A Foxon	121	1	Keith C Spooner	118	0
David T Murchie	79	1	Paul Eyles	106	0
Johan Mathew	102	½	Michael R Pope	122	½
Paul S Collis	106	½	Matthew Deacon		½
David J Archer	105	1	Sam J Murphy	95	0
Brian V Cochran	94	0	Soham Kumar		1
Alan R Fraser	98	1	Nicholas Deacon		0
James Wallman	97	1	David Jerome	77	0
Don Creasey	77	½	Bye
David Lambton	121	0
Tim G Cutter	112	0	Withdrawn

Ryan Cheung continued his winning ways, this time beating David Nelson. Chandler’s Ford Dick Meridith beat Dan Shak, Phil Pinto defeated top seed Ben Harte and Geoffrey Foxon did the same against Keith Spooner. David Lambton took a Sunday morning bye, and these five players were one and a half points behind Ryan in joint second place.

These results meant Ryan had won the tournament with a round to spare.

Minor – Round 6

Player	Grade	Result	Player	Grade	Result
Geoffrey A Foxon	121	0	Ryan Cheung	116	1
Phil B Pinto	109	½	Richard J Meredith	114	½
Daniel Shek	114	½	David Lambton	121	½
Michael R Pope	122	½	David T Murchie	79	½
David Nelson	117	1	Johan Mathew	102	0
Ben Harte	124	1	James Wallman	97	0
David J Archer	105	½	Keith C Spooner	118	½
Paul Eyles	106	1	Matthew Deacon	85	0
Paul S Collis	106	1	Alan R Fraser	98	0
Brian V Cochran	94	1	Sam J Murphy	95	0
Don Creasey	77	0	Nicholas Deacon		1
Soham Kumar		0	Withdrawn
David Jerome	77	0

Ryan did not rest on his laurels and won his final game against Geoffrey Foxon. The real battle was for second place and Dick Meridith and Phil Pinto drew their game to end on four points. They were joined by Dave Nelson who beat Johan Mathew.

The under 100 grading prize was won by David Murchie with his impressive 3 and a half points.

Hampshire Congress 2018 Minor Final Table

The 2018 Hampshire Chess Congress Minor final positions.

Rank	Name	Grade	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Rd 6	Score
1	Ryan Cheung	116	21+	11+	19+	5+	7+	8+	6
2	Phil B Pinto	109	24+	13=	10+	4–	11+	3=	4
3	Richard J Meredith	114	17+	8–	9=	20+	4+	2=	4
4	Daniel Shek	114	6+	10–	17+	2+	3–	5=	3½
5	David Lambton	121	18+	16+	8+	1–	0	4=	3½
6	David T Murchie	79	4–	23+	16+	7–	9+	10=	3½
7	David Nelson	117	22+	bye =	13=	6+	1–	14+	4
8	Geoffrey A Foxon	121	12+	3+	5–	bye =	13+	1–	3½
9	Paul Eyles	106	11–	21+	3=	19=	6–	20+	3
10	Michael R Pope	122	bye =	4+	2–	22+	14=	6=	3½
11	Ben Harte	124	9+	1–	18+	bye =	2–	15+	3½
12	David J Archer	105	8–	17–	21=	24+	22+	13=	3
13	Keith C Spooner	118	15+	2=	7=	bye =	8–	12=	3
14	Johan Mathew	102			24+	18+	10=	7–	2½
15	James Wallman	97	13–	24=	20–	17+	25+	11–	2½
16	Paul S Collis	106	25+	5–	6–	bye =	20=	18+	3
17	Soham Kumar		3–	12+	4–	15–	21+		2
18	Alan R Fraser	98	5–	25+	11–	14–	23+	16–	2
19	Tim G Cutter	112	bye =	20+	1–	9=			2
20	Matthew Deacon	85	bye =	19–	15+	3–	16=	9–	2
21	Brian V Cochran	94	1–	9–	12=	bye =	17–	22+	2
22	Sam J Murphy	95	7–	bye =	23+	10–	12–	21–	1½
23	Nicholas Deacon		bye =	6–	22–		18–	24+	1½
24	Don Creasey	77	2–	15=	14–	12–	bye =	23–	1
25	David Jerome	77	16–	18–			15–		0

Games

The games from the Major were entered by Arthur Brameld and can be played through and downloaded here. I don’t have any games from the minor tournament.