Author: Gordon Lyall

  • Congratulations to David Paul, winner of the Club Champs—very closely followed by Itay Ben-Dom, who also takes the top Junior title. David also wins the important Grand Prix trophy, based on points allocated for every game played in the Club year. A great result for David who, if he wins the current Freebird 15-15 trophy, will, single-handedly,  take all the major titles in one year—a feat only ever achieved by Earl Roberts in 2001 and Andrew Stanton 1996 & 1997.

  • David Paul faced Itay Ben-Dom over the board tonight—a key game threatening David Paul’s lead in the Club Champs, a loss would have catapulted Itay into shared first place—but, alas, a draw was the result and almost ensures David his goal of securing all the major trophies for 2011. Mighty Mike O’Rorke scored a notable win against strongly rated Alastair McGowan and he now shares 3rd place with Gordon Anderson. Two more rounds remain in the Champs.

    Please support Wellington Chess Club Rapid tournament, to be held at Turnbull House on Sunday 20 November.

  • There are 3 more rounds of the Club Champs to go and David Paul still leads the pack, followed closely by Itay Ben Dom. Next week—26 October—we have a fun night, where we play some casual games; perhaps Club Captain David Paul will organise a casual blitz tournament.

    There has been some enquiries about the best free chess software for Club players to analyse and play games. After active research Kapiti Chess Club recommends Fritz 5.32. This programme cost over 100 US dollars when it first came out in 1998 and still packs a very powerful chess engine.

  • The Kapiti Rapid Tournament starts soon. Saturday October 8—just over a week away—players from the Wellington region and beyond assemble at Paraparaumu to play exciting competition chess. Kapiti players have free entry to the Tournament—cost normally $40—but must arrive at the community hall at 8am to help set the hall up. Please support Kapiti Chess and turn up on the day for an exciting 6 round tournament against new and interesting opponents—also, there will be plenty of prizes!

     

  • Section B of the Club Champs has resumed and 7 players are within 1 point of taking home the trophy. The next eight rounds will be closely fought and incumbent Kapiti Chess Club Champion, David Paul, will be gathering all the mojo he can muster to keep this trophy in his current war chest.

     

  • The fifth and final Blitz Tournament of the year is now over and Paul Frost dominated the evening finishing with a respectable 5.5 points, closely followed by Alastair McGowan on 5. Josh Bunker was the top scoring Junior with 2 points.

    With all results now in and tallied, David Paul is the Kapiti Chess Club 2011 Blitz Trophy winner—congratulations! Alastair McGowan and Mighty Mike O’Rorke follow closely. Johnny Hynes takes the Junior section, followed closely by Josh Bunker.

  • The first half of the Club Champs has been completed and incumbent David Paul barely holds the lead on 5.5 points after a mighty victory by Zoe Kingston—over David—in the last round of this section. Zoe, calculated as mechanical Swiss-watch, played steady chess to overwhelm her opponent—his first Club Championship loss in 4 year (also to Zoe).

    A plethora of members are within one point of the lead, including Junior Itay Ben-Dom on 5 points.

    Next Wednesday (15 September) we have the last round—round 5—of our 5 minute Blitz Tournament and the second half of the Club Champs begins on 21 September.

  • The 2011 Kapiti Rapid will be held this coming Saturday. Yes, we know the Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals start 6:00pm that day. But, we promise to finish on time and let you get away asap, if you really must get back to watch the match!

     

  • The chess-web-meister is on annual leave for a month and this commentary will resume in early September.

     

  • The dust has settled and Zoe Kingston and David Paul just are clear of the field by half a point. Gordon has a strong game tonight against Alistair McGowan and talented Itay Ben-Dom played strongly to draw against current club champion David Paul.

     

  • Club Champs are now well under-way, the field is slowly starting establish their positions. It takes several rounds for the dust to settle before we start to see the leaders appearing through the haze, who then become targets that all members want to beat in the heat of battle.

  • The Club Champs are now under-way and round one was played last week—results will be posted soon. The Champs continue for next week.

  • Round 4 of our Blitz Trophy series was played and David Paul took out the honours. Full results will be posted soon.

  • Congratulations to David Paul who has won the John Kingston Memorial Trophy and to Itay Ben-Dom, first placed junior. David easily beat Guy Burns tonight to pip runner-up, Alistair McGown, by 1 point.

    Next week—13 July—round 4 of our Blitz (5 minutes per player) will be held.

  • David Paul leads the field coming into the final round of the John Kingston Memorial Trophy (55 min. plus 5 sec. timeframe). He is closely followed—half a point—by Junior player Itay Ben-Dom. Only a defeat in the final round (6 July) will prevent David’s name being on the trophy this year.

    The following week—13 July—round 4 of our Blitz (5 minutes per player) competition is to be played.

    Demand for coaching is spasmodic and from this point, coaching will be available by demand only. If you are a junior or senior player, please arrange coaching by ringing Club Captain David Paul on 04-905 0898, or Club Captain Guy Burns on 04-9042002.

  • Talented Junior Itay Ben-Dom sought, saw and secured an opportunity to win his 60-60 John Kingston Memorial Trophy Tournament match against current Senior Club Champion, David Paul, enacted an error in the endgame, of a drawn game. The win places top junior Itay into the lead alongside David. Alistair McGowan breathes down their necks, a half point behind. Round six, of this 8 round event continues next week.

    Itay Ben-Dom capitalises on an error in the endgame, by David Paul to win Round 5 of the 60-60 John Kingston Memorial Trophy Tournament

    The great chess movie “Bobby Fischer against the World” will be coming to the Wellington Film Festival—Friday July 29 (2:00pm) and Sunday July 31 (2:00pm) at the Paramount Theatre Wellington—see a review of the documentary Here.

  • Last night was booked for a ‘social night of chess’ not a Tournament round as previously advertised. A casual 5 minute Tournament was held, which saw Paul Frost and David Paul share the honours with 5.5 points each. A play-off resulted in the first game drawn and the 2nd game won by David. Mike O’Rorke came a respectable 3rd.  Josh Bunker and Rick Lowe both played impressive chess beating Club President Guy Burns. Round 5 of the eight round 60-60 John Kingston Memorial Trophy Tournament resumes 15 June.

    Coaching will available 15 June for both Senior and Junior players at 7:00pm 15 June.

  • Strong competition continues in our 60-60 Tournament where David Paul continues to dominate the field. His nearest contenders are rising star Ian Liddell—playing outstanding chess—who, tonight, bet top-seeded John Whibley, and top Junior Itay Ben-Dom. Next week is round 5 of this eight round Tournament.

  • Great turnout at Waikanae due to KCDC needing to use Library room—Waikanae Senior Citizen Hall near the UtaUta St/Pehi Kupe St corner—we had 12 people play in the 60-60 Tournament. For those who did not make it and have not missed any games, you will be awarded  half a point. This is our policy when one game is missed in a Tournament (except for our 5 Minute Tournament).

  • Our 25 May Club night will be held in Waikanae, at the Waikanae Senior Citizen Hall near the UtaUta St/Pehi Kupe St corner—See map below.

    2 vehicles will be leaving the Kapiti Library at 7:20 for those who need transport. This is a ‘once-only’ and next week we are back at the Library.