THE 37TH IAPS NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS
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W D L Length of Games Division (Final Position)
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T.W.G.Stables (c) 3 1 3 288 minutes The IAPS Championship, 21st out of 40
I.H.Stables 4 - 3 223 minutes The IAPS Championship, 16th out of 40
P.G.M.Dudgeon 5 2 4 284 minutes Division 2 - 7th out of 20
L.J.R.Thorne 5 3 3 299 minutes Division 1 - 12th out of 20
B.J.Edwards 8 2 1 387 minutes Division 1 - Winner! 1st out of 20
H.A.Riley 7 - 4 350 minutes Division 2 - Bronze Medal, 3rd out of 20
M.P.T.Clapham 7 - 4 373 minutes Division 2 - Bronze Medal, 3rd out of 20
A.W.Tear 4 2 5 409 minutes Division 3 - 12th out of 20
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Our first appearance at the IAPS National Chess Championships was a memorable one - where have we been all these years?! The combination of rewarding chess and fun other activities made for a marvellous three days in the middle of the Easter holidays for every member of our team. Who'll be lucky enough to go next year? The competition was superbly organised and one can't praise
Aldro
School and their staff too highly.
Isaac starts his IAPS Championship career with a win against a very competent opposition player from Millfield.
The U13's who play at a county standard or with adult clubs and have national grades played in the IAPS Championship. Toby and Isaac S represented us here and they came across some of the very best juniors in the country. They had one upset, early on the Wednesday morning, when both made errors in the opening and lost, but otherwise they more than held their own, Toby S finishing with a marvellous win due to superb play in the middle game, whilst Isaac S finished 16th nationally … some achievement considering he is eligible for this tournament for three more years …!
The other 80 children at the tournament were arranged into four 'mixed ability' groups of 20 for the chess on Monday. Luke T had a quite exceptional day in winning his group with three wins and two early judicious draws against strong opponents who'd both lost an early match … so Luke came out on top! Ben E was equal first in his group, with just one upset where he forgot opening theory and started pushing too many pawns too early! Both these two players made it into Division 1 for the Tuesday and Wednesday chess.
Luke and Montagu played in the same 'mixed ability' leagues on the Monday and soon found themselves on the top boards ...
Paddy D made a couple of mistakes and they cost him two matches … whilst others made mistakes, lost a piece, perhaps, then recovered, Paddy paid the ultimate price. He had to settle for a place in division 2. Hugo R joined him in division 2 as well. He started slowly, but played some impressive chess after lunch on Monday. Montagu C played above himself to match those in our team with more experience.
Powers of concentration ... the key to success at this level ... Montagu, it could be said, was the player of the tournament ... who else made so much progress?
Alex T agreed a draw in his first match, won his second and suddenly realised he was able to compete at this level!
Alex gets the better of one of the Twickenham Prep school pupils ... they were one of a number of schools who wore their own top with the school badge and chess club on it ... perhaps something for us next year?
The Tuesday and Wednesday chess saw us all competing against stronger opposition due to the shuffle into ability leagues. Luke T, playing at a very high level indeed, division 1, suddenly found the going more difficult - he won his last two matches in division one, but drew one and lost three of the first four. A few careless errors, but it was so good to see you starting to compete at this level, proper U13 chess standard here and more. Ben E was pleased to 'get off the mark' when he agreed a draw in match one, but he ought to have continued as he was ahead and better placed! It was the start of a remarkable run, however … one more draw, but four wins thereafter as he beat the best all the other schools had to offer. No praise can be too high for his achievement in winning division 1 … the best placed IAPS pupil nationally outside those who regularly represent their counties …!
Luke and Ben begin life in division 1 ... little did we know what Ben would go on to achieve at this stage!
Ben's first match on board 1, division 1 (see small card with '1' on it) ... he stayed there through to the end of the tournament as all hopefuls failed to match him!
Following three defeats, Luke returns to victory! Perhaps it was those lucky sun glasses ...
Ben receives his winning medal, watched by the successful Dulwich College Prep team in the background.
Our three division 2 boys came 3rd = and 7th out of the 20 in their league. Montagu C is late 'arriving on the scene' chess-wise but is catching up rapidly. He made such progress with every match, eagerly learning from any previous mistakes, and taking the bronze award, shared with Hugo R who also won 7 matches out of 11. Some achievement here! I was ever so impressed.
Hugo gets his act together on Monday afternoon ... here winning on board 2 in his group.
Paddy D continued to be unlucky. He won some games ever so well, but he couldn't put back-to-back performances together as any mistake cost him dearly. Why did he have to pay such a heavy price each time?! Winning by some distance, he overlooked a stalemate in his final game which summed things up … That said, you learnt more than anyone and you are such a talented player now.
Hugo receives his 3rd place award from International Master Mr. M.Turner ...
Alex T had a wonderful three days. He held his own in every match, concentrating ever so hard for longer than anyone else and learning so much, as we all did … a memorable three days indeed! Here's to 2010!
Posted on
Tue, April 7, 2009
by admin