Foreign Tournament Report

With the UK already promoted they just had to turn up and avoid a match point penalty. Unfortunately Scott Cobbold tried to arrange his game against Victor Chow on the Sunday before, but failed to make the game and the team occurred a two board point penalty. The others did show up with a win for Des Cann and close losses for Jon Diamond and Alison Bexfield, allowing second placed South Africa a three-one win to finish just one match point behind the UK and earn the play-off place.

The UK won their sixth match in row to put them in an unbeatable lead at the top of the C-League. They beat Slovenia by three games to one, with wins for Bruno, Scott and Tim. Their last match will be against South Africa who beat Denmark to stay three points behind, but only one point ahead of Spain.

League Page with game records

The fifth match of the C-League season was a five o'clock kick off against Kyrgyzstan. Scott, Jon and Tim won, but Bruno lost, meaning the team again won 3-1. As South Africa only drew with Slovenia, the team moved three points clear at the top of C-League with two matches to go.

League Page with game records

The fourth match of the season was against Spain. Bruno, Scott and Des won, but Toby lost, meaning the team again won 3-1. This cemented their lead at the top of C-League.

League Page with game records

Bruno Poltronieri wrote: I won my game by 17.5 against Ignacio Cernuda. I was slightly ahead after the opening after the result on the bottom side, but started a questionable fight on the left. My opponent played some equally questionable moves and we came out of it roughly even. I then gained my lead gradually in the endgame.

The third match of the C-League season was against third-placed Denmark. Bruno, Scott and Alison all won, but Tim lost, meaning the team won 3-1. South Africa drew with Kyrgyzstan so we moved up from second to first place.

League Page with game records

The 7th European Grand Prix Finale was held alongside the London Open at the London Go Centre on the weekend of 28th-31st December.

Ten top players, who had won places at qualifying events, took part, split initially into two groups. The UK's Damen Woo (shown here against Mateusz Surma with game broadcaster Tony Claasen) won his group unbeaten, as did Lukas Podpera in the other.

The second match of the C-League season was against Slovakia. Scott, Alex and Jamie all won, but Bruno lost, meaning the team won 3-1. South Africa also scored a second match win (against Norway) to put them top, with us just behind in second.

League Page with game records

The first match in the new season of the C-League was against Norway. Bruno, Scott and Tim all won, but Jon Diamond was a no-show meaning the team won 3-1. Slovakia beat Slovenia and South Africa beat Spain, both 3-1, but our penalty point for the no-show pushed us down to third. Kyrgyzstan and Denmark drew their match.

League Page with game records

As they ended second in the C-League, the UK team had to play a five-board play-off match against B-League’s Finland. The opposition fielded three 5d players and so seemed likely to win, and in fact did so by winning all five boards. So Finland stay in B-League, joined by Ireland who replace demoted South Africa. [See here for League Page with game records.]

The UK went into the last round of the Pandanet C-League with a slim chance of the top spot. This would occur if the team beat bottom of the league Georgia and leaders Ireland lost to Bulgaria. The UK team did their bit winning their match 3-1, with wins for Bruno, Alex and Jamie, whilst Scott lost. However Ireland managed a draw, after wins for Karl Irwin (played earlier) and John Courtney, but losses for Philippe Renaut and Matei Garcia.