Report on 2008 Congress

On May 9th to 11th the Nineteenth Frome Chess Congress was held at Selwood Middle School. 178 players entered and winners were:

Open :-

First prize was won by Keith Arkell (4NCL Bristol) with 4/5. Mark Lyell (West London) came second on 4/5. Third place was shared between Kay Hansen (Austria), Meri Grigorian-Lyell (West London) and Chris Ross (Perkins). Meri Grigorian-Lyell qualified for the 2008 British Championships. The under 170 grading prize was shared between Gareth Morris (Bristol & Clifton) and Alex Galliano (East Grinstead) on 2.5 points.

Major (U155):-

First place was won by Pavel Ondrejka (Rugby)) on 4.5/5. Second place was shared between Paul Jackson (Coulsdon) and Dominic Bennet (Bristol & Clifton) on 4 points. The Under 130 grading prize was won by Duncan Macarthur (Keynsham) on 3.5 points.

Intermediate (U125):-

First place was won by Mauro Farina (Bath) on 5/5 ahead of Greg Sweetland (Frome) on 4.5 points) and Peter Bending (Cheltenham), Noel Hendricks (Harambee), Geoffrey Naldrett (Insurance) and Megan Owens (Downend and Fishponds) on 4/5. The Under 100 grading prize was won by Nigel Mills (Yeovil) on 3.5 points.

Minor (U100):-

First place was shared by George Gammon (Downend & Fishponds) and Gareth Williams (Trowbridger) on 4.5/5. Third place was shared by Brian Aldwin (Exeter), K. Alexander (Tiverton), Chris Kenward (Salisbury) and A. Richardson (Didcot) on 4 points. The Under 75 grading prize was shared between Susan Chadwick (Brighton & Hove) and Mike Ward (Taunton) on 3.5 points.

Somerset trophies were won by: Tyson Mordue in the Open (Somerset Champion / Denys Bonner Trophy), Duncan Macarthur in the Major (Leon York Memorial Trophy), Mauro Farina in the Intermediate (Roy Hossell Trophy), Gareth Williams in the Minor (Cyril Chapman Trophy) and Alec Shute in the Minor (Jean Mackereth Trophy for best performance by an ungraded player).

Megan Owens won the Cuprinol Junior Trophy (Highest scoring West of England Junior in any section). Downend & Fishponds won the team competition.