The Southbourne Chess Club, a prominent chess club in Bournemouth, recently hosted the 1st Southbourne Summer Fun Open Blitz Tournament. The event took place in Dorset and attracted a total of 18 players, resulting in a fantastic turnout. Despite the warm summer evening, the players had a great time competing against each other.
The tournament results can be accessed by visiting the following link: [link]. One player who stood out during the tournament was Michael Duggan from Poole, who displayed exceptional skill and emerged as the undefeated champion. With an impressive score of 5 points out of 6, Michael claimed the £30 1st prize.
Another player who caught everyone's attention was James Forster from Southbourne. James put up a strong performance and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, securing the second position with an impressive 4½ points.
Richard Smith from Poole also exhibited great attacking play and earned the 3rd place with 4 points. Richard's performance won him £20 for the best Under 155 performance.
It's worth mentioning Simon Bown from New Milton, who won the Under 120 prize of £20 with a commendable score of 3½ points. This distribution of top prizes among different clubs highlighted the fairness and competitiveness of the tournament.
In addition to the cash prizes, all participants received at least a book prize. On top of that, five players were lucky enough to win additional prizes in the free raffle, which included a bottle of wine, 4 cans of lager, a chess DVD, and 2 chess books.
One of the notable aspects of the tournament was the introduction of time increments for a blitz tournament in Dorset. This innovation proved successful in ensuring higher quality games with more natural draws and fewer mistakes. Exciting games, such as the one between Mark Littleton and John Weatherlake, kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. Mark found himself with only 1 second on the clock but managed to manoeuvre quickly and secure a victory with over a minute remaining.
Another noteworthy game occurred between Frank Hamilton-Taylor and Paul Sandy, which lasted just over 25 minutes due to the high number of moves made. Each player surpassed the 100-move mark, demonstrating their determination and strategic abilities. Fortunately, the allocated 30 minutes per round prevented any time-related issues.
The tournament kicked off at 7:40 pm and concluded promptly at 10:10 pm, ensuring that there was no unnecessary time pressure on the players. Michael Duggan's exceptional performance and ultimate victory granted him the title of Summer Blitz champion, along with the £30 cash prize.
Overall, the event was a perfect blend of competition and camaraderie, thanks to the efforts of Southbourne Chess Club at Tuckton. The dedicated organiser, Martin Simons, made sure that each participant received a well-deserved reward. The hardworking team, particularly John Harris, played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the tournament behind the scenes.
In conclusion, the 1st Southbourne Summer Fun Open Blitz Tournament was a resounding success that provided all participants with an enjoyable chess experience. The event was a testament to the strong chess community in Bournemouth and the commitment of the Southbourne Chess Club to promoting and organising competitive chess events.
