Maxim outguns Baker in Torbay

by John Richards

13-15 November 1998

Chris Baker played the Swiss Gambit by taking a first round bye at the Torbay Open, but it did not all go according to plan. At first, it all seemed inevitable as Chris won in rounds 2, 3 and 4 to sit half a point behind the sole leader, Maxim Deveraux, who was on 100%. But in the final round, Chris got into an inferior position and was made an offer he could not refuse by Devereaux, who thus secured the £250 first prize and the British Championship qualifying place.

Members of the Bristol 4NCL squad featured prominently in the top places of the Open, in which there were 44 entrants. Paul Helbig, in particular, played well and was on the top boards throughout. Melanie Buckley and David Hodge met in the last round and slugged out a draw which denied both a place in the prize money.

Bristol Cabot's Mike Collier picked up the under-105 Grading Prize in the Intermediate.

The tournament was played in the excellent surroundings of the Riviera Centre, where this year's British Championships were held in July and August. There was a total entry of 202, and 38 players shared a total prize fund of over £1,800.

Open

1	M Deveraux	Hereford	4.5
2=	C Baker N Frost J Trevelyan P Helbig	4NCL Bigwood Tiverton and 4NCL Bristol Cardiff 4NCL Bristol	4
6=	M Buckley D Hodge T Thiruchelvam M J Franklin S J Homer	4NCL Bristol Torquay and 4NCL Bristol Richmond Richmond Exeter	3.5
U-175	T Thiurchelvam	Richmond	3.5
U-160	S J Homer	Exeter	3.5
Junior	D Hodge	Torquay and 4NCL Bristol	3.5

Major U-155

1=	W Ingham J Walker	Teignmouth Teignmouth	4.5
3=	B H Boomsma P Jaszkiwskyj P J Kelly	Palace Torquay Newham International Students	4
U-140	G D Collings R Pinder	Palace Torquay Yeovil	3.5
U-130	A P O'Reilly M C Price	Palace Torquay West London	3
Junior	R Scott	Tiverton

Intermediate U-125

1=	P Grist C Woolcock	Torquay Boys' GS and Teignmouth Barry	4.5
3=	R P Taylor N F Tidy M S Vann A R Willis	Ashfield Cobham Bourne End Exeter	4
U-115	P T Sandon D Scott	Whitstable Tiverton	3.5
U-105	M J Collier	Bristol Cabot	3.5
Junior	D Zoubaida	Richmond Juniors

Minor U-100

1	W Pope	Bodmin	4.5
2=	R Adams J H Bush F W Moreland J West M J Cuggy	Bury St. Edmunds Acton Newham Torquay Boys' GS Brixham	4
U-90	S Ariss R Cranage R Greenhalgh S Wingrove	Palace Torquay Paignton South Hams Isca, Exeter	3.5
U-75	I M Bowman J J Cole P Rastan	Liskeard Redditch Plymouth	3
Junior	A West	Torquay Boys' GS

Ralph Newman Cup: (Best score by a Devon player in the graded tournaments) J Walker (Major, on tie break).

Torbay League Individual Championships: D Hodge (Open), J Walker (Major, on tie break), P Grist (Intermediate), M J Cuggy (Minor, on tie break).