2005 John Holmes Memorial

Round 1

This tournament has some new players entering the field, which is great since the club has gradually lost some of it regulars over the past year.

The first round saw John Abson play Robert Bailey, Rob's assault proved fruitful and took the full point. Anthony Reynolds put up a good fight against Jamie Brotheridge, JB later saying his position was worse at a certain point of the game. Shane Sporle unluckily drew club champion Patrick Cook, Patrick ended up playing a nice solid game to win. Joel Beggs took on Darren Young, Dazza wasn't able to hold off Joel's attack.

John Frangakis outplayed new club member Michael Taylor. Peter Miitel won his game against Michael Schreenan, Mikil going in gun blazing at the wrong time. And James Eldridge got the best of newcomer Gene Bell with the dicey Blackmar-Diemar gambit.

Round 2

Robert Bailey and Patrick Cook played an interesting French, locked in intense battle Roberto threw out a draw offer, Pat accepted. Anthony Reynolds was able to defeat Gene Bell. Jamie Brotheridge came up against his most despised opening against James Eldridge, JB pulled out the Staunton against the Dutch defense and broke James' position up. James counter-attacked but it wasn't enough, JB ending up with the full point.

Shane Sporle drew another tough game against Kevin Perrin, Kev was able to create too many problems for Shane and secured the win. Tim Commons took the full point against Peter Miitel. Joel Beggs won his game against local pilgrim John Frangakis, putting himself on equal first with Jamie. Darren Young played fellow junior member Michael Taylor, Dazza won and notched up his first win for the tournament.

Round 3

Round 3 saw equal leaders Jamie Brotheridge and Joel Beggs go at it for first place, Jamie replied to Joel's e4 with the centre counter but later lost material and eventually resigned when the position became hopeless. Thus Joel's chess proficiency has put him clearly in lead on 3 out of 3.

Patrick Cook was lucky to escape with a draw against Tim Commons after he took a poisonous pawn and dropped a full piece. Just when the position looked futile for Pat, Tim returned the favor by gobbling a pawn with his bishop leaving himself open to a rook fork!. A draw was agreed in a rook endgame with Tim having a passed pawn on the queenside while Pat had kingside majority.

The game between Robert Bailey and Kevin Perrin was an interesting one, Rob started to build an attack on the king but Kevin countered then an armistice was offered by Rob and Kevin accepted. Peter Miitel played well against John Frangakis to get himself into a commanding position until in a moment of chess blindness gave away his poor old rook. Pete promptly resigned after John made the rook disappear.

Anthony Reynolds played the Danish gambit against John Abson, John held and later got the upper hand, slowing winning against the valiant youngster. Michael Schreenan got his first win in the tournament against Shane Sporle, the game reached a dire position for Shane being forced to either sac his queen or get mated. Gene won against Michael in a fast paced game while James Eldridge got a forfiet against Darren Young, Dazza withdrawing from the tournament due to work related obligations.

Round 4

Kevin Perrin versus Joel Beggs was a long mega game of chess, Kevin played the English opening and was soon up a pawn. Joel dug in and later tried to bulldoze his way in by throwing some "caveman" tactics Kevin's way, Joel's attack proved successful when Kevin dropped his queen and then later resigned.

John Frangakis played himself into touble allowing Patrick Cook to secure the win. Robert Bailey played the dutch and was met with the staunton gambit from Jamie Brotheridge, playing the opening well, Rob suddenly blundered a piece, then resigned when his position was lost. The game between Tim Commins and James Eldridge was a Sicilian that started off slowly then exploded into an exciting game with both sides attacking, in the end Jimmie was able to emerge from the chaos in front and followed through with the win.

Michael Schreenan won his game with Anthony Reynolds, Michael is now on 3 out of 4, an excellent result for him this tournament. Gene Bell lost his game with Shane Sporle while Michael Taylor had the bye.

Round 5

The game between frontrunner Joel Beggs and James Eldridge was a sicilian defense, Joel played a closed sicilian which put a strong positional strain on James until a pawn was won then a bishop followed, afterwhich James resigned. That puts Joel on 5 out of 5, seemingly unstopable, next round will be interesting when he comes up against club champion Patrick Cook.

Patrick Cook and Jamie Brotheridge was a close battle, which drew out into an endgame of prancing knights, pawn after pawn fell until it was clear neither side would win so a draw was agreed upon. Peter Miitel played a good game against Kevin Perrin, Peter applying the pressure from the start then building until the game was won.

Robert Bailey won against John Frangakis after John overlooked the potential of a passed pawn, the consequences were dire for John. John Abson won his game against Shane Sporle, Anthony Reynolds got a forfeit while Gene Bell had the bye.

Round 6

Patrick Cook played current tournament leader Joel Beggs, Joel expecting Pat’s favourite opening as white the Larsen’s had prepared but didn’t get what he was expecting. Instead, Pat played the English opening (1. c4). After some long tactical manoeuvring and trading of pieces the game came to a king a pawn endgame. Joel knowing only a draw would secure the win for the tournament attempted to lock the position up, but somehow Pat managed a king opposition move forcing Joel’s king back and giving clearance for a pawn to promote. Joel resigned after it was clear there was no stopping the advance. That’s the first loss in the tournament for the giant killer. This makes the tournament going into the last round very interesting, Joel still has the lead but by only half a point.

Jamie Brotheridge was under pressure in his game against Peter Miitel, Peter played well to create a good position in which to attack but made a blunder, JB fortunate to walk away with the win in such circumstances.

The game between James Eldridge and Robert Bailey was a French tarrash, Rob opted for centeral pawn dominance but left a flank to the king open. James started to attack around the kingside and place pressure on the uncastled king. Rob sacrificed the exchange in an attempt to counter but didn’t receive much componsation. Rob resigned after James defended with the two rooks against some rampant pawns.

Tim Commons and Anthony Reynolds had a lively game, Tim played the advance variation of the French and went on a pawn grabbing expedition with the queen. Anthony conjured up some interesting moves in order to regain lost ground but missed an exchange of pieces that lost a bishop. Tim later went on to win.

Kevin Perrin was confronted by the centre-counter by Gene Bell. Gene fell victim to a pin that lost his queen early in the game. John Frangakis won against Michael Schreenan. John Abson defeated Michael Taylor and Shane Sporle had the bye.

Round 7

Tim Commons offered a draw on move 1 against Joel Beggs, Joel declined and a Tim played Philidor’s defence, then on move 13 Joel offered a draw and Tim accepted. That secures first place for Joel on 5½ out of 7.

James Eldridge and Patrick Cook played an Alekhine’s defence, Pat gained a strong position when James was holding onto outstreched pawns and habouring a bad bishop. Pat also had a nice bishop pair providing sniper cover over the centre of the board. Jimmie tried to hold on but got too tangled up and fell victim to a rook fork, which would have lead to a loss of a bishop or a knight when he resigned. Thus, Pat finishes equal first with Joel.

John Holmes Memorial Round 7, Robert Bailey (mulling over his position against Peter Miitel)

Jamie Brotheridge won a hard fought game against Michael Schreenan, also putting him on equal first with Joel and Pat.

The game between Peter Miitel and Robert Bailey was a kind of Colle system where Peter got some initiative in the opening and won a pawn after Rob tried to swap off white squared bishops. Rob fought back by getting his queen and knight into the game that created many threats which ended up winning the exchange. Peter had two extra pasted pawns but later dropped a knight and resigned.

Shane Sporle played an excellent game against John Frangakis, John resigned when checkmate was imminent. John Abson won against Gene Bell. Kevin Perrin got a forfiet against Michael Taylor and Anthony Reynolds had the bye.

Congratulations go to three players: Joel Beggs, Patrick Cook and Jamie Brotheridge all sharing first place in the 2005 John Holmes Memorial.