This weekend’s Crewe Congress attracted 110 players from all around the country, including 13 players from our own club excluding two further members filling in to give games in odd number sections.
The club’s star performers were Lukasz Holcman(playing his first ever congress) and Chris Rhodes who were involved in a 4-way tie for 1st prize in the Intermediate section (U135) despite being ranked 8th and 21st respectively at the outset. Both players finished with scores of 4/5 with Lukasz performance rating at 140 (compare to current grade 123) and Chris at 156 (compare to 111).
The other prize winner was Nigel Gardner also making his congress debut, ignoring childhood events from some time ago. He collected the grading prize in the Minor Section scoring 3/5 with a rating performance of 99 compared to current grade of 70.
Other players with notable scores include Congress Administrator Neville Layhe with a creditable 50% and a performance of 156 vs current grade of 137 in the Major Section (U165). Doug Barnett scored 3/5 in the Intermediate section, with Richard Renegade and Dave Price scoring 2.5 in the same section. Junior Harry Gardiner was the lowest graded player in the whole congress, but should be proud of his score of 2/5 in his first ever senior congress with a performance rating 20 pts above his current grade and finishing in joint 18th position out of 28.
Many thanks should go to the Congress Team of Neville Layhe, Les Hall and Dave Price together with Matthew Carr (I.A) as the Arbiter. We have received many delightful messages from players including one from Alan Riddle playing in the Minor section which is shown below:
Hi Neville,
I’ve attended quite a number of congresses over the last few years but this is the first time I’ve felt motivated to contact the Organisers afterwards to congratulate them on a successful event and thank them for providing it.
The congress was friendly and well-run (good teamwork?) and the venue was excellent – even the special snack menu was reasonably-priced. Overall it is difficult to find anything to fault.
Something I specially liked was that the upper limit for the Minor was only 104. This must have boosted entries from lower-grade players like me. It was a welcome change from events where the Minor goes up to 120, 130 or even 135. At those events players graded under, say, 90, know that they are going to be hopelessly outgraded in least the first 2 rounds and the most they can ever look forward to is a grading prize. Please don’t ever think of raising that limit above 104!
Thanks again – I hope to be back next year.
Best wishes,
Alan Riddle
The Ibis hotel excelled itself in providing light and airy superb accommodation for chess players and overnight stays for them at reduced rates. The inexpensive snacks menu and “coffee for a £1” that they put on just for chess buffs, ensured that many of the jousters left their more traditional packed sandwiches at home.
Under these conditions the Congress was a joy to run and the team look forward to a repeat performance next year with perhaps a Rapid Play as a taster, earlier rather than later in the year.