Seven players contested the Fischer Random (Chess960) tourney on 28 July at the Navi, with Neil Dainty and Rob Reid emerging from the group stages to lock horns in the final. Neil repelled Rob's early attacks and seemed to have turned the game; but disaster struck when he left a rook en pris, leading to an unstoppable back-rank mating threat.
Thus ended a lively evening of often thrilling chess. Thanks to all for taking part.
Eight people took a full part in our recent Chess 960 tournament and several other members chipped in for a few games. We used a rapid-play time limit and played three Swiss rounds, with a final between Neil Dainty and me. In the middle game, Neil won a piece but gave it back a few moves later, with deadly consequences.
Most players seemed to revel in the unusual chances that arose from 960 possible starting positions, so I hope we’ll be able to hold another such tournament in the not-too-distant future.
Thanks go to Terry for arranging the Swiss; and thanks also go to Graham of the Navi for his mountaineering skills, which produced several more comfortable chairs.
