Only 13 players have entered this years John Holmes Memorial Championships 7 round swiss. Time Controls 90/40 30/20 But what we are lacking in participation we make for with enthusiasm. Round 1 saw the shock defeat of Patrick Cook to John Frangakis, The game was going routinely for Pat moving into an endgame 2 pawns clear but hung a queen from an overworked rook defending a back row mate. Jing’s Dragon held firm against James, Scott emerged the exchange clear after early complications against Tim’s Alekhines. JB routinely crushed Young veteran Dazza who tried employing Lasker’s defense of the Queens Gambit. Mitchel’s Cara Kan held firm against John Abson. Rob and Mik had a crazy affair, Rob went down a piece early and that wasn’t the end of the complexities eventually emerging better and finishing the game on surer grounds than it begun. Joel Beggs had the first round bye and will have to wait to round 2 to show us what he’s got at these time controls.