Hampshire 2015 Congress Eastleigh 6-8/11

[Kevin Thurlow]

Hampshire Chess Association 2015 Congress.
(Eastleigh, 6-8 Nov, 2015)

Tony Corkett has retained the Hampshire Championship and the Silver Rook, but only by the narrowest of margins. Tony was one of three players who finished with 4 points, but the real winner was Rowan Brown with the splendid score of 5½ points. Rowan is from Sussex, and is not eligible to be the Hampshire champion.
Second place was a tie between Tony Corkett and Gavin Lock.
The Under-175 grading prize was won by Horia Bogdan with 4 points. Horia could have claimed a share of 2nd prize, but as sole winner of the grading prize, he received a bigger cheque.

In the Major Section Matthew Wilson again proved too strong for the opposition, scoring 5/6, although he did not have things all his own way. Raja Pentakota was runner-up, and took the Hampshire trophy, the Peter Marshall Cup, with 4½ points.
Third place was shared by Les Allen, Phil Foley and Gavin Fong, all with 4 points. And the Under-140 grading prize went to promising junior Frazer Graham.
.
The Minor Section was won convincingly by Stephen Gow, who won his last five games. Martin Baxter returned to chess after a long absence and achieved 2nd place with 5/6. Third place was shared by Ivor Kelly and James Wallman on 4 points.
The Under-100 grading prize went to Keven Lamb.

The Ladies prize was won by Maha Chandar, ahead of Gillian Moore.


Open
1st (5½ pts) Rowan Brown (Hove)
2nd= (4 pts) Tony Corkett (Fareham) and Gavin Lock (Horsham)
Under-175 Grading Prize (4 pts) Horia Bogdan (Southampton University).
13 started, 12 finished.

Major
1st (5 pts) Matthew Wilson (Paignton)
2nd (4½ pts) Raja Pentakota (Southampton) winning the Peter Marshall trophy.
3rd= (4 pts) Les Allen (Southampton), Phil Foley (Upminster) and Gavin Fong (Southampton University).
Under-140 Grading prize (3½ pts) Frazer Graham (Fareham).
23 started, 17 finished.

Minor
1st (5½ pts) Stephen Gow (Southampton University) holds the Parsons trophy for one year,
2nd (5 pts) Martin Baxter (Cowplain)
3rd= (4 pts) Ivor Kelly (Camberley) and James Wallman (Verwood)
Under-100 Grading Prize (3½ pts) Keven Lamb (Chandlers Ford).
20 started, 17 finished.

Ladies Prize (the Gillian Moore Cup)
1st (3 pts) Maha Chandar (Chandlers Ford)

John Wheeler (Sec, Hampshire C.A.) 9/Nov/2015