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One hundred and sixteen (116) players, including nine present day club members, past members, Ballarat residents along with regional, metropolitan and interstate visitors, celebrated the 40th Begonia Open Chess Tournament at the Old Ballarat Gaol over the Labour Day long weekend (11-13 March 2006).
The stars of the event included five previous winners and six titled players (1GM, 4IMs and 1FM). Overall victory in the tournament was shared between three players on 6 points: defending champion and top seed David Smerdon(IM), Twelve time champion Daryl Johansen(GM) and winner for the first time Leonid Sandler(IM). Fourth place, half a point behind, was six time champion, Guy West(IM).
Best Score among the Ballarat Players was 4 points to Scott Stewart, while club champion Patrick Cook managed 3½ with a performance rating around 1750. Other club members to do well were Jamie Brotheridge, Rob Bailey, Joel Beggs, Peter Miitel, James Eldridge and Tim Commons who all scored 3 points. Rob Loveband, new to the club and tournament chess was delighted with his score of 2½, while John Frangakis (multiple Ballarat Chess Club Reserves Champion) continued his recent slump finishing on 1½ points.
Former Ballarat Chess Club members Bas van Riel and Geoff Davis scored 3½ and 3 points repectively while former club President Bill Coutts managed 2 points despite his valuable assistance to the committee throughout the tournament. The result of ex-club members, now Bendigo residents, Nigel Barrow and David Lumsdon was also noteworthy, both scoring an excellent 4½, while former Ballarat Schools teams champion (1986 - Ballarat High School) Steven Doon also did well on 3 points.
The tournament was its usual happy blend of intense competitive chess and pleasant sociability, as exemplified by the lively discussions in the gaol forecourt and the numerous visitors over the weekend, including former club officials Rod Jacobs, Peter Lumsdon and John Lavery.
A feature of this years milestone event were the many photo’s taken by our Publicity Officer Tim Commons, which can be viewed online. Finally, it remains to note the tireless and selfless contribution to the tournament of Director-of-Play, Kevin Perrin(IA), who ran his usual smooth event.
Thanks go to all the participants for making the 40th Begonia Open Chess Tournament a huge success. Congratulations to the winners. Take care and see you all and your friends same time and place next year! |
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