Final
Winner: 1. Sylvester Urban 13/14
2. Frank Lekkas 12
3 Eq Jim Papadinis; Brad Ashlock 8.5
This new tournament, with an emphasis on learning was won by Sylvester Urban with a very good score of 13/14. Frank Lekkas came second with 12. Equal third on 8.5 were Jim Papadinis and Brad Ashlock. The openings played were the Ruy Lopez, French, Sicilian, Queens Gambit, Nimzo Indian, Kings Indian and English with a different opening in each of 7 rounds where people played the same opponent twice - once with each colour. The big match came in round 3 when Frank and Sylvester (who are virtually best mates) drew 1-1 in their Sicilian games. Being an e4 player, the first half was always going to be easier for Frank, but he continued to play well in the d4 games, dropping only 1 game (to Brad in a Nimzo-Indian). Jim Papadinis, being a non-e4 player, found the first half much harder, but finished well in the d4 games. Brad Ashlock took points off Papadinis and Lekkas but also dropped some points to other players lower down, but was close to finishing third outright. The tournament has given some of the newer tournament players some valueable lessons about opening play and more importantly, how to prepare for a particular opponent. They can use this throughout their whole chess careers.
