Bristol League Rapidplay, 5^th April 1997

Chris Baker strolled away with first place in the League Rapidplay, conceding a draw in the last round after five straight wins.

The tournament had a low entry, 38 players, but provided some very good competition for those involved. There were just nine players entered for the Open, so it had to be combined with the Major. Apart from Baker (219) and David Collier (189), there were no players over 160. What happened to all the top players?

David Collier slipped up in the first round, losing to Devon Thomas. After another loss, to Paul Butterworth, in round 4, no one looked like being capable of catching Baker.

Devon Thomas (133) had an excellent tournament in rating terms. Apart from his win against Collier, he also overcame the player with the third highest grading, George Crockart (159). He had Melanie Buckley (152) beat, but ran out of time while trying to finish her off with a queen against a bare king.

Open/Major (combined)

Chris Baker	Keynsham	5½	1st Open
E M White	Downend	5	1st U-150
David Buckley	Keynsham	4½	2nd Open
D O Collier	Clifton	4	3rd Open
M Furnevall	Grendel	3½	2nd= U-150
C D Thomas	Harambee	3½	2nd= U-150
M J R White	Downend	3½	2nd= U-150
P Butterworth	Grendel	3½	2nd= U-150
C Johnson	Grendel	3½	2nd= U-150
S Crockart	Hanham	3
T N Marke	Hanham	3
Melanie Buckley	Keynsham	3
G Crockart	Hanham	2½
G Thomson	Clifton	2½
M J Collier	Cabot	2½
Bjorn Meyer	Sea Mills	2½
R Allen	Clifton	2
M Farina	Keynsham	1½
M Banner	Keynsham	1
P Spiller	Downend	½

Minor

D MacArthur	Keynsham	4½	1st =
S Woolgar	Hanham	4½	1st =
Tony Harvey	Sea Mills	4	2nd =
D Hilder	Clevedon	4	2nd =
P Sartain	Keynsham	4	2nd =
M Shipton	Grendel	4	2nd =
R D White	Downend	4	2nd =
I Hilder	Clevedon	3½
P Carrick	Bath	3
G A Mill-Wilson	Yate	3
J Woodruff	Civil Service	2½
Sam Buckley	Keynsham	2
R Gage	Hanham	2
G Gammon	Downend	2
K Harvey	Sea Mills	2
C Axon	Horfield	2
A Jefferies	Cabot	1½
P Puddy	Downend	1½

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