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Last update: Tuesday February 24, 2004 16:11

50th Richmond Rapidplay, 9 November 2003

The 50th Richmond Rapidplay took place at the White House Community Association, Hampton on Sunday 9 November, controlled by Adam Raoof. A total of 101 players took part in the four sections.

Grand Prix leader Danny Gormally showed his class by winning the Open section with a score of 5½/6, only conceding a draw to Zimbabwe's Robert Gwaze, who shared second place with Jovica Radovanovic, and numbering IMs Richard Pert and Simon Williams amongst his victims.

The Major looked especially competitive this time round, with several players just below 150, but it was Paul Kelly, who, in between selling books at his excellent Mind Sports Ltd bookstall, took first place on 5½/6. His only draw came against Paul McIntyre, who, despite taking a half-point bye in the first round, finished on 5/6.

It was the Intermediate section that provided most of the day's excitement. 7-year-old Peter Williams won his first four games, but in the fifth round he was defeated by Senthuran Sathyanandha, of Barnet Knights and Hertfordshire. Senthuran took a quick draw in the last round, giving Peter the chance to share first place if he could defeat Richmond Junior Club's Deputy Director, Scott Kenyon. At the end of a thrilling game a draw was agreed, leaving Senthuran on his own in first place, and Peter in a three-way tie for second with Nick Johnson and Franco Kuan.

The Minor resulted in a well-deserved success for Lewis Thurtell of Richmond Junior Club, who, after many near misses, finally managed to finish in front. Dinesh Jain finished in second place, and two of RJCC's fastest improvers, James Kerr and Sal Neglia, shared third place with Ruvim Paunovic of City of London School.

Prizewinners:

OPEN: (17 players)
1st Danny Gormally (SE London) 5½/6
2nd= Robert Gwaze (Zimbabwe) 4½/6
Jovica Radovanovic (East Molesey)
U190 Robin Haldane (SW London) 3½/6

MAJOR: (23 players)
1st Paul Kelly (Hastings) 5½/6
2nd Paul McIntyre (Maidenhead) 5/6
U140 Naomi Miller (Oxford) 4/6
Jinwoo Song (New Malden)

INTERMEDIATE: (28 players)
1st Senthuran Sathyanandha (Barnet) 5/6
2nd= Nick Johnson (Twickenham) 4½/6
Franco Kuan (Croydon)
Peter A Williams (Alton/RJCC)
U100 Scott Kenyon (Hounslow/RJCC) 4/6
Neeilan Ravindran (Surbiton/RJCC)

MINOR: (33 players)
1st Lewis Thurtell (Hampton/RJCC) 5½/6
2nd Dinesh Jain (Northwood) 5/6
3rd= James Kerr (Twickenham/RJCC) 4½/6
Salvatore Neglia (W London/RJCC)
Ruvim Paunovic (City of London School)

Full crosstables of the results of this tournament are available on the Richmond Junior Chess Club web site: www.rjcc.org.uk.

Please note the dates of our next Rapidplays:
51st Richmond Rapidplay: Sunday 11 January 2004
52nd Richmond Rapidplay: Sunday 29 February 2004
53rd Richmond Rapidplay: Sunday 16 May 2004
54th Richmond Rapidplay: Sunday 19 July 2004

For further information phone Richard James on 020-8898 0362 or 020-8898 1190 or e-mail richard@chesskids.com