Nothing can be better than coming together with a group of enthusiasts on a glorious Sunday afternoon in a beautiful setting and enjoying plenty of chess.

What a brilliant way of remembering our friend and fellow club member Alan Burns.

This years Alan Burns series of tourmanments run by the NICS Chess club came to an end with some exciting chess and the awarding of the Grandprix prize

Todays tournament was in the format of an Intense. As many as possible rounds with each player having 15mins each on the clock.

We were fortunate to have our regulars - Robert Lavery, Mikhal Pavlov, Daniil and Dmitry Zelenchuk, Ian Woodfield  Nial Troughton, Calum Leitch. Also Damien Lavery the King of the short fast game.

We were however missing the leader of the Grandprix - Brendan Jamison (GM slayer) who was keen to play but was out of the country. So how did the Grandprix stand at the start of this tournament. There is a fight for position between Seniors Robert Lavery and Mikhail Pavlov and Junior Daniil Zelenchuk all within 2 points:

Round 1

No Name                  Loc  Total  Result   Name             Loc  Total

 1 Damien Lavery         1751 [0]      1:0    David Jackson    1450 [0]  
 2 Daniil Zelenchuk      1295 [0]      0:1    Calum Leitch     1748 [0]  
 3 Mikhail Pavlov        1616 [0]      1:0    Ram Rajan        1236 [0]  
 4 Peter Wilson          1232 [0]      0:1    Niall Troughton  1607 [0]  
 5 Peter McGuckin        1565 [0]      1:0    Dmitry Zelenchuk 1138 [0]  
 6 Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [0]      0:1    Ian Woodfield    1541 [0]  
 7 Robert Lavery         1603 [0]     .5:.5   BYE                        
 8 Chris Armstrong       1418 [0]     .5:.5   BYE                        

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

The first round was an attempt to prove the rating system - with all games going to rating.

Round 2

No Name             Loc  Total  Result   Name                  Loc  Total

 1 Niall Troughton  1607 [1]      0:1    Damien Lavery         1751 [1]  
 2 Calum Leitch     1748 [1]      1:0    Peter McGuckin        1565 [1]  
 3 Ian Woodfield    1541 [1]      0:1    Mikhail Pavlov        1616 [1]  
 4 Robert Lavery    1603 [.5]     1:0    Chris Armstrong       1418 [.5] 
 5 David Jackson    1450 [0]      0:1    Peter Wilson          1232 [0]  
 6 Dmitry Zelenchuk 1138 [0]     .5:.5   Daniil Zelenchuk      1295 [0]  
 7 Ram Rajan        1236 [0]      1:0    Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [0]  

An upset Peter Wilson beats David Jackson, Chris Armstong gets a good draw against Robert Lavery.

Round 3

No Name                  Loc  Total  Result   Name             Loc  Total

 1 Damien Lavery         1751 [2]     .5:.5   Calum Leitch     1748 [2]  
 2 Mikhail Pavlov        1616 [2]     .5:.5   Robert Lavery    1603 [1.5]
 3 Peter McGuckin        1565 [1]      0:1    Niall Troughton  1607 [1]  
 4 Peter Wilson          1232 [1]      1:0    Ian Woodfield    1541 [1]  
 5 Daniil Zelenchuk      1295 [.5]     1:0    Ram Rajan        1236 [1]  
 6 Chris Armstrong       1418 [.5]     0:1    Dmitry Zelenchuk 1138 [.5] 
 7 Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [0]      1:0    David Jackson    1450 [0]  

The two top players face each other head to head. A draw and the lead is up for grabs. And some major upsets. With Adrian beating David, Dmitry taking out Chris and Peter Wilson scoring over Ian Woodfield.

Round 4

No Name             Loc  Total  Result   Name                  Loc  Total

 1 Calum Leitch     1748 [2.5]    0:1    Mikhail Pavlov        1616 [2.5]
 2 Peter Wilson     1232 [2]      0:1    Damien Lavery         1751 [2.5]
 3 Niall Troughton  1607 [2]     .5:.5   Robert Lavery         1603 [2]  
 4 Ian Woodfield    1541 [1]      0:1    Daniil Zelenchuk      1295 [1.5]
 5 Dmitry Zelenchuk 1138 [1.5]    0:1    Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [1]  
 6 Ram Rajan        1236 [1]      0:1    Peter McGuckin        1565 [1]  
 7 David Jackson    1450 [0]     .5:.5   Chris Armstrong       1418 [.5] 

Round 4 and the highest players have 2.5 points. Daniil keeps adding points with a score over Ian Woodfield, Mikhail stops or pauses Calums run to the front.

Round 5

No Name             Loc  Total  Result   Name                  Loc  Total

 1 Damien Lavery    1751 [3.5]    1:0    Mikhail Pavlov        1616 [3.5]
 2 Robert Lavery    1603 [2.5]    0:1    Calum Leitch          1748 [2.5]
 3 Daniil Zelenchuk 1295 [2.5]    1:0    Niall Troughton       1607 [2.5]
 4 Peter McGuckin   1565 [2]      1:0    Peter Wilson          1232 [2]  
 5 Chris Armstrong  1418 [1]      1:0    Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [2]  
 6 Ram Rajan        1236 [1]      1:0    Dmitry Zelenchuk      1138 [1.5]
 7 David Jackson    1450 [.5]     0:1    Ian Woodfield         1541 [1] 

Damien takes the lead. Calum takes joint second. On the bottom table David and Ian arent having the best of tournaments. A quick play tournament can be diffilcult. Its easy to make mistakes and miss things. Hence I was quite pleased we had an event number of players so I didnt need to play.

Round 6

No Name                  Loc  Total  Result   Name            Loc  Total

 1 Daniil Zelenchuk      1295 [3.5]    0:1    Damien Lavery   1751 [4.5]
 2 Mikhail Pavlov        1616 [3.5]    1:0    Peter McGuckin  1565 [3]  
 3 Calum Leitch          1748 [3.5]    1:0    Niall Troughton 1607 [2.5]
 4 Ian Woodfield         1541 [2]     .5:.5   Robert Lavery   1603 [2.5]
 5 Chris Armstrong       1418 [2]      0:1    Ram Rajan       1236 [2]  
 6 Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [2]      1:0    Peter Wilson    1232 [2]  
 7 Dmitry Zelenchuk      1138 [1.5]   .5:.5   David Jackson   1450 [.5] 

Round 7

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name                  Loc  Total

 1 Damien Lavery   1751 [5.5]    0:1    Ian Woodfield         1541 [2.5]
 2 Mikhail Pavlov  1616 [4.5]    0:1    Daniil Zelenchuk      1295 [3.5]
 3 Peter Wilson    1232 [2]      0:1    Calum Leitch          1748 [4.5]
 4 Niall Troughton 1607 [2.5]    1:0    Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [3]  
 5 Robert Lavery   1603 [3]     .5:.5   Dmitry Zelenchuk      1138 [2]  
 6 Peter McGuckin  1565 [3]      1:0    Chris Armstrong       1418 [2]  
 7 Ram Rajan       1236 [3]     .5:.5   David Jackson         1450 [1]  

Ian woodfield dents Damien Lavery's lead. Daniil wins over Mikhail Pavlov. Calum continues his reach for the lead. Dmitry has an excellent draw against Robert. Whilst Ram draws against David. Lots of upsets in the second to last round.

Some examples of the positions found during the competition. Exciting, complicated, blunders and brillliancies....
Position from game: Niall Troughron v Adrian Dornford-Smith Alot of pieces tied up - lots going on...	Position from game: Robert Lavery v Dmitry Zelenchuk Whites pieces look good. Black has a passed protected pawn.
Position from game: Ram Rajan v David Jackson Ram is full throttle attack on David's King but at the cost of an exposed King.	Position from game: Damien Lavery v Ian Woodfield Ian has lost the exchange for what turns out to be an absolutely beautiful attack on Damiens uncastled King. If this was planned - absolute genius.

Round 8

No Name                  Loc  Total  Result   Name             Loc  Total

 1 Peter McGuckin        1565 [4]      0:1    Damien Lavery    1751 [5.5]
 2 Calum Leitch          1748 [5.5]    1:0    Ram Rajan        1236 [3.5]
 3 Adrian Dornford-Smith 1134 [3]      0:1    Mikhail Pavlov   1616 [4.5]
 4 Chris Armstrong       1418 [2]      0:1    Daniil Zelenchuk 1295 [4.5]
 5 Ian Woodfield         1541 [3.5]   .5:.5   Niall Troughton  1607 [3.5]
 6 David Jackson         1450 [1.5]    0:1    Robert Lavery    1603 [3.5]
 7 Dmitry Zelenchuk      1138 [2.5]    1:0    Peter Wilson     1232 [2]  

Round 8 the final round. and Calum and Damien are both joint leaders on 5.5 - the winner will be determined by the tied breakers- Medium Bucholz, Bucholz and progressive.

Standings

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

 1-2  Calum Leitch          UCU   1748 1748 6.5      27.0  35.5   28.0
      Damien Lavery         UCU   1751 1751 6.5      25.0  33.0   31.0
 3-4  Mikhail Pavlov        UCU   1616 1616 5.5      28.0  37.5   27.0
      Daniil Zelenchuk      UCU   1295 1295 5.5      27.0  35.5   21.5
  5   Robert Lavery         UCU   1603 1603 4.5      23.0  31.0   20.0
 6-8  Niall Troughton       UCU   1607 1607 4        27.5  36.0   19.0
      Peter McGuckin        UCU   1565 1565 4        25.0  33.5   19.0
      Ian Woodfield         UCU   1541 1541 4        24.5  32.5   16.0
9-10  Ram Rajan             UCU   1236 1236 3.5      23.5  31.5   15.0
      Dmitry Zelenchuk      UCU   1138 1138 3.5      19.0  26.0   13.0
 11   Adrian Dornford-Smith UCU   1134 1134 3        19.0  26.0   14.0
12-13 Peter Wilson          UCU   1232 1232 2        25.0  33.0   13.0
      Chris Armstrong       UCU   1418 1418 2        22.5  29.5   10.5
 14   David Jackson         UCU   1450 1450 1.5      20.5  29.0    5.0

Calum pips Damien to the first place. Damien coming second and Daniil winning the Grading prize.

The tournament over it took 15mins to workout the grandprix while the players put the sets away:

Daniil Zelenchuk - Outright winner of the Grandprix

Robert Lavery - the winner of the Senior Section

Adrian Dornford-Smith - the highest placed NCIS player.

See you all next year.