Paignton!

[Keith Arkell]

It's that time again - 'Paignton'!

However, these days it takes place at the Torquay end of Torbay, and is very well run by John and Christine Constable.
I first played in 1986, the year after Mickey Adams last played.

There have been far too many IM and FM entrants to mention, down the years, but here is the story of some of the GM entrants:
The series began in 1951 when Harry Golombek won ahead of former World Champion Max Euwe, with Donner in 3rd and Leonard Barden sharing 4th place.

I shared it with Chris Ward one year, and in 1992 Timoschenko played in an attempt to top up his winnings having just won Lloyds Bank Masters. Sadly (for him) a loss v IM Loz Cooper in the last round eased him out of the prizes altogether.

In 2008 Gawain Jones and myself entered, having just played each other on top board in the last round of the British Championship. I won on that occasion ( in Liverpool), but we shared Paignton with 6.5/7.

My records after that are a bit sketchy, but in 2014 I won ahead of GM Danny Gormally, FMs Dave Ledger and Steve Berry, and IM Richard Bates.
I have won 26 times altogether, finishing 2nd on the other two occasions. I claimed the World record about 5 years ago, for an International Open, and nobody challenged me.

This Year the top seeds are GMs Danny Gormally and myself, with IM Chris Baker also in the field.
My record in the, traditionally, 7 round event:

1986...5.5....1st
1987...5......2nd=
1988...7.......1st
1989...6.......1st
1990...6.......1st
1991...6.......1st=
1992...5.5....1st=
1993...5.5....2nd=
1994...6.......1st=
1995...6.......1st=
1998...6.5....1st
2002...5.5....1st=
2003...6.......1st
2004...6.......1st
2007...6.......1st
2008...6.5....1st=
2009...6.......1st
2010...6.5....1st
2011...6.......1st
2012...6.......1st
2013...6.......1st
2014...5.5....1st
2015...7.......1st
2016...6.5....1st
2017...6.5....1st=
2018...6.5....1st
2019...8/9...1st
2023...5/5...1st
2024..../7...

[Tim Spanton]

Update, please!

[Keith Arkell]

1 GM Danny Gormally: 6.5/7
2.GM Arkell............. 5.5
3= IM Chris Baker.......4.5
3= Paul Roberts.........4.5
3=Han Quixiang (very young!) 4.5
3=Tianyi Liu ( aged about 15 and charging up the ratings) 4.5

Well played Danny!

Curiously the last time Danny played I again scored 5.5, but on that occasion it was enough to win.

https://chess-results.com/tnr995032.asp ... =7&fed=ENG

[Tim Spanton]

1 GM Danny Gormally: 6.5/7
2.GM Arkell............. 5.5
3= IM Chris Baker.......4.5
3= Paul Roberts.........4.5
3=Han Quixiang (very young!) 4.5
3=Tianyi Liu ( aged about 15 and charging up the ratings) 4.5

Well played Danny!

Curiously the last time Danny played I again scored 5.5, but on that occasion it was enough to win.

https://chess-results.com/tnr995032.asp ... =7&fed=ENG

Pensioners Rule!

[Keith Arkell]

And well done Tim on winning the last 2 rds to nip into the group on 4.

[Tim Spanton]

And well done Tim on winning the last 2 rds to nip into the group on 4.

But not so well done that I drank so much yesterday afternoon that I have forgotten making my previous post ...

[Keith Arkell]

[MJMcCready]

I note there was only two GMs. Is this down from previous years?

[Derrick Walker]

No, an increase of one over last year.

And despite Keith's nostalgia for Paignton, it's called The Riviera Congress these days.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Keith was also the only GM playing in 2018 and 2019, the two years I was involved in running it.

(It's hard for an event like this to attract GMs unless they are local, because the expenses are comparable to those of a 9-rounder, but a 7-rounder doesn't have the incentive to offer conditions that the 9-rounder does.)

[Keith Arkell]

I note there was only two GMs. Is this down from previous years?

No, an increase of one over last year.

I listed most of the earlier GM participants in my initial post.

And despite Keith's nostalgia for Paignton, it's called The Riviera Congress these days.

Hence why I wrote 'Paignton' instead of Paignton.
Anyone who has previously played will share my nostalgia for the days when the event was actually played in Paignton, because of the splendour of the Oldway Mansions. Sadly the council fudged a sale of the venue and now it has become derelict, resulting in a move to Torquay about a decade ago. Since covid the event is no longer run by the DCCA, but instead is in the very capable hands of John and Chris Constable.

[Derrick Walker]

And despite Keith's nostalgia for Paignton, it's called The Riviera Congress these days.

Hence why I wrote 'Paignton' instead of Paignton.
Anyone who has previously played will share my nostalgia for the days when the event was actually played in Paignton, because of the splendour of the Oldway Mansions. Sadly the council fudged a sale of the venue and now it has become derelict, resulting in a move to Torquay about a decade ago. Since covid the event is no longer run by the DCCA, but instead is in the very capable hands of John and Chris Constable.

I only made the comment so others who may want to play next year can find it.