A few simple rules ... limitless possibilities

The 21st Cheshire Tournament became the first event in the UK to use Fischer Time on new BGA electronic clocks. The 42 players successfully used the new system that gives extra time for each move played. The basic time was set at 40 minutes and ten seconds were added each move, remaining a B class tournament; only one game was lost on time (selecting the optional warning beep helped most avoid this) and fast players often had more time left at the end than they started with.

Most of the prize winners were from the two minibusfuls from Cheadle Hulme School. Ali Moin won a 13x13 prize for the most games played (winning 3 out of 9) and Sam Barnett for the best percentage/most wins (with 6 out of 6). These two were also among the eight youngsters who won two games and won some sweets. Five of the youngsters won all three games, namely Hugo Ryan (35k), Ben Geertman (25k), Rahul Surapaneni (19k), Joseph Curtis (17k) and Daniel Gascoyne (15k).

There was much fun and games at the Maidenhead-Hitachi Tournament. As usual it was held at the Whitebrook Park headquarters of Hitachi Europe, though news was shared that due to potential company relocation it might be the last. In between rounds, as well as playing 13x13 games, most of the ten youngsters taking part played different games with Alison, the non-playing organiser. In addition, as well as wine and mystery envelope prizes, the prize table contained a large selection of board games as shown right.

The winner of the tournament was the former Chinese professional, Chao Zhang (6d London), shown right. He beat Jon Diamond, Alex Kent and Andrew Simons to take the title.

The BGA's flagship tournament - the [45th] London Open - started as usual on Friday 28th December and ran until 31st December at its new venue of the London Go Centre. The event was limited in numbers because of it was being run at the London Go Centre for the first time and the organisers wanted to make sure things worked with a smaller venue, but still 89 players (including ghosts) took part. Next year they will be able to accept more registrations. Representing 14 countries, the players ranged from 30k to 7d, including some strong children, and there was a large party from Germany. The teaching this year was provided by European professional Ali Jabarin, from Israel, who is shown in an analysis.

The 45th London Open got under way on Friday 28th December at its new venue of the London Go Centre. The event had to be limited in numbers because of the size of the venue, but still more than 80 players sat down to play the first round. Representing 14 countries, the players ranged from 30k to 7d, including some children, and there was a large party from Germany. Top British youth player Tom Bradbury is seen right in a warm up game before the event started. The person to beat this year is likely to be Oh Ch-Min (7d) from France, who is seen at the bottom in his first round game. Teaching this year is being provided by European professional Ali Jabarin, from Israel, who is shown in an analysis below.

The annual Edinburgh Christmas competition - a challenging format of four 45-minute main-time rounds with overtime starting at 30 stones in 5 minutes - was won convincingly by club president, Boris Mitrovic (2d), who beat the other four players starting ‘above the bar’ and was the only entrant to win in all four rounds.

James Richards (1k), Alistair Wall (1d) and Roger Daniel (6k) each won three of their four.

The competition lost out badly to the weather, with only 17 of the 21 entrants actually playing at the event in the hall of St Columba’s by the Castle Episcopal Church.

Results

The 2018 Coventry Tournament was held on 24th November in its usual Warwick University location. This year 38 players took part and Philip Leung (4d University of Warwick) won the event for the third time in a row and the fourth time overall. This is particularly noteworthy as Philip was also the event organiser. Honghao Lu (2d Manchester University) and Peikai Xue (1d Central London) were first and second runner up respectively, with two wins out of three, both only losing to the winner. The picture shows Philip (right) with Peikai. James Taylor (8k University of Warwick) and Rowan Borrow (15k Cheadle Hulme School) were the other prize winners for three wins.

Results

The Three Peaks Tournament was held, as the previous two years, at the Wheatsheaf in the centre of the picturesque small Yorkshire town of Ingleton. 34 players took part, but six played just the Saturday. The tournament ended in a tie as both Matthew Cocke and Chao Zhang ended with four wins out of five. Chao had beaten Matthew but had lost to Peikai Xue, who was third (just ahead of Alistair Wall). Chun Yin Wong (8k) from Lancaster was the only other prize winner for four wins. Bob Scantlebury won the prize for being the first to enter and a prize this year was given to the youngest competitor, Ryan Zhang, who is only 5.

Results

29 players took part in the 49th Wessex Tournament, held as in the previous ten editions at St. Mark's Community Centre in Bath. Chao Zhang from London was the easy winner and is seen collecting the trophy from organiser Ian Sharpe (right). His young son Ryan also received a special prize for being the youngest and fastest player.

Three other players on three wins also won prizes: Toby Manning (1k Leicester), Eric Hall (6k Swindon) and James Taylor (8k Warwick University).

Results

On a fine autumn day, 41 players attended this year's Northern tournament, including players from as far away as Dundee. Helen Harvey was on hand, selling items from the N-W's BGA stock of Go equipment and books. Cheadle Hulme School (CHS) once more kindly hosted the event, providing an excellent venue.

The overall winner, whose name will complete the array of mini-shields on the face of the Red Rose trophy, was Honghao Lu (2d 'Jason' from Manchester), pictured collecting the trophy and top prize of £50 from MC of the main event, Chris Kirkham. Last year's winner Yangran Zhang (3d 'Eric' from Manchester) was runner-up.

22 players came to the London Go Centre to take part in the first T Mark Hall Rapid Play. Before the prize ceremony, Francis Roads said a few words to inform or remind the players who T Mark Hall was, how he liked fast games and how the London Go Centre was a consequence of his bequest to Go.

Winner of the tournament was Tunyang Xie (4d China) who won all five games. Second was Peikai Xue (1k London) on four wins and Zhanqi Kang (2d Winchester) was third.