28/04/2021
Over-the-Board Chess in Sheffield
(report by Peter Catt)
Organised
over-the-board chess returned to Sheffield last Sunday, 25/04/2021, for the
first time in over a year. The last game played under the auspices of
the Sheffield and District Chess Association was a first division match
between Chesterfield A and Darnall & Handsworth A on March 12th last
year. The Association’s general secretary and individual tournament
controller, Geoff Brown, captained his Darnall & Handsworth side to
victory on that occasion and was involved again in organising two
Covid-controlled mini-events outside Sheffield public houses at Kelham
Island.
SASCA’s
Jonathan Arnott won the Millowners Arms event with a maximum score, while
Geoff Brown and Ian Barker, both of Darnall & Handsworth, were joint
winners at Yellow Arch Studios. Just four players took part at each
open air venue with the participants wearing masks and ensuring boards and
pieces were cleaned before and after each game. The time limit for
the two tournaments was set at 15 minutes, plus a five-seconds-per-move
increment.
Also
taking part at the Millowners Arms were Andrew Birtwhistle from
Hillsborough, Dan Sturman from Woodseats, and Craig Chatterton from Darnall
& Handsworth. Rotherham’s Oliver Brennan and Nat Holroyd-Doveton
were the other two players at the Yellow Arch event.
Geoff
Brown is hoping to organise further outdoor events on a larger scale,
involving more venues, with the next one provisionally scheduled for May
23rd.
Postscript:
Games
results were subsequently posted to LMS, these being as follows:
Millowners Arms
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Round 1
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Total Scores
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Craig Chatterton
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½-½
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Daniel Sturman
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Jonathan W Arnott
|
1-0
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Andrew Birtwhistle
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Jonathan
W Arnott
|
3
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Andrew
Birtwhistle
|
2
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Round 2
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Craig
Chatterton
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½
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Daniel Sturman
|
0-1
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Andrew Birtwhistle
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Daniel
Sturman
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½
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Craig Chatterton
|
0-1
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Jonathan W Arnott
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Round 3
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Jonathan W Arnott
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1-0
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Daniel Sturman
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Andrew Birtwhistle
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1-0
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Craig Chatterton
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Yellow Arch Studios
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Round 1
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Total Scores
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Geoffrey D Brown
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1-0
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Oliver Brennan
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Nat Holroyd-Doveton
|
1-0
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Ian Barker
|
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Geoffrey
D Brown
|
2
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Ian
Barker
|
2
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Round 2
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Nat Holroyd‑Doveton
|
1½
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Oliver Brennan
|
0-1
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Ian Barker
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Oliver
Brennan
|
½
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Geoffrey D Brown
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1-0
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Nat Holroyd‑Doveton
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Round 3
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Nat Holroyd‑Doveton
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½-½
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Oliver Brennan
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Ian Barker
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1-0
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Geoffrey D Brown
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