MCC Grand Prix

[Paul Cavezza]

Here is how things stand after Round 1 of the Bob Brooking Round Robins:

OPEN SECTION:

22.0 Domagoj DRAGICEVIC (4 games left)
21.5 James MORRIS (IM) (4 games left)
21.0 Kerry STEAD (4 games left)
21.0 Mirko RUJEVIC (IM) (1 games left)

Nobody else can catch these players. One will miss out on a prize - but 3 will take out the top three prizes.

UNDER 1800:

19.0 Ari DALE (4 games left)
18.5 Richard VOON
18.0 Rad CHMIEL (4 games left)
16.5 Jim PAPADINIS (4 games left)
16.0 Paul KOVACEVIC (4 games left)
14.5 Richard McCART (4 games left)

This group is the most interesting. Ari Dale is playing in the top section of the Brooking against Morris and crew and will thus find it harder to score the points required to keep his lead. But it is even worse for Richard Voon who is not playing at all and will drop out of the prizes if his rivals score enough points to overtake him! He will have to hope that Wyss and Beckman (who are both out of the running) can keep taking the points off Chmiel, Papadinis, Kovacevic and Richard McCart! The final result in this group could be almost anything!

UNDER 1500:

16.5 Gary BEKKER
14.0 Roger McCART
14.0 Anthony HAIN
9.5 Ben FRAYLE

This group is virtually wrapped up already! Gary Bekker has taken out first place with an entire tournament to spare!!! Roger McCart and Anthony Hain will both share at least third with only Ben Frayle able to improve his standing. Ben needs to win his round robin with 5/5 to take outright second, 4.5 points will get him a share of second whilst 4 points will leave him short of a grand prix prize.

More news next week after round 2 of the Brooking Round Robins!

Ey Grant, does the Christmas Swiss count for the GP?

[Kerry Stead]

Ey Grant, does the Christmas Swiss count for the GP?

This year's GP is Monday night events only.
I think the 2012 MCC GP includes weekenders as well as Monday events.

[Grant Szuveges]

Here is how things stand after Round 2 of the Bob Brooking Round Robins:

OPEN SECTION:

22.0: Domagoj DRAGICEVIC (4 games left)
22.0: Kerry STEAD (3 games left)
21.5: James MORRIS (IM) (4 games left)
21.0: Mirko RUJEVIC (IM) (1 game left)

Kerry Stead's win over Ari Dale has ensured that he will win a prize - even if he loses his last 3 games. Rujevic needs to beat Sylvester Urban to catch Stead and Dragicevic. The big game which may decide the grand prix will be this week between Morris and Dragicevic. Dragicevic is guaranteed a prize and Morris only needs half a point more to do the same. Rujevic must win - but someone else must keep losing for Rujevic to take a prize home.

UNDER 1800:

19.0: Ari DALE (3 games left)
19.0: Rad CHMIEL (3 games left)
18.5: Richard VOON
17.0: Jim PAPADINIS (3 games left)
17.0: Paul KOVACEVIC (3 games left)

The main change since last week is that Richard McCart has been knocked out of the race. Papadinis and Kovacevic stay in the hunt with 3 more games left each! Richard Voon has to wait and hope that Papadinis and Kovacevic can't score 1.5/3 in those games, or his prize slips away! The big news though is that Rad Chmiel has now climbed up to equal Ari Dale's score at the top of the table and is thus firming as a favourite for the under 1800 first prize (as Ari is playing stronger opponents in the top section of the Round Robins). This is still the most exciting group!

UNDER 1500:

16.5: Garry BEKKER 1st
14.0: Roger McCART =2nd
14.0: Anthony HAIN =2nd

Ben Frayle lost his game on Monday night and thus can no longer win a prize - meaning that Gary Bekker has taken out first prize in the Under 1500 with Roger McCart and Anthony Hain equal second!

[Grant Szuveges]

Here is how things stand after Round 3 of the Bob Brooking Round Robins!

OPEN SECTION:

22.5: James MORRIS (IM) (3 games left)
22.5: Kerry STEAD (2 games left)
22.0: Domagoj DRAGICEVIC (3 games left)
21.0: Mirko RUJEVIC (IM) (1 game left)

James Morris is now looking in the box seat to take out first prize! He is equal first at the moment with 3 games remaining. Sharing equal first with him is Kerry Stead, however Kerry only has 2 games left. Domagoj Dragicevic is half a point behind but with 3 games left and only needs a draw (from the 3 games) to knock Rujevic out of the prizes and ensure himself a prize.

UNDER 1800:

20.0: Ari DALE (2 games left)
19.0: Rad CHMIEL (2 games left)
18.5: Richard VOON
18.0: Jim PAPADINIS (2 games left)
18.0: Paul KOVACEVIC (2 games left)

Still really exciting here! Ari Dale managed to defeat Domagoj Dragicevic to go a point clear whilst Rad Chmiel lost to Kovacevic. Voon looks almost certain to drop out now and the final round game between Papadinis and Kovacevic has even more riding on it than before. Dale's final 2 opponents are Penrose and Urban, whilst Chmiel needs to play Beckman and Wyss.

UNDER 1500:

1st Garry BEKKER, =2nd, Anthony HAIN and Roger McCART

[Grant Szuveges]

Here is how things stand after Round 4 of the Bob Brooking Round Robins, with one game to go for each of the players involved!

OPEN SECTION:
24.0: Domagoj DRAGICEVIC (1 game left)
23.5: James MORRIS (IM) (1 game left)
22.5: Kerry STEAD (1 game left)

Dragicevic is now in the box seat to win, however he will have to win his final game. A draw will allow Morris to equal his score should he (Morris) also win. Stead has sewn up third place but could share second if he can win and Morris loses. I think Dragicevic and Stead are actually playing against each other in the final game - dont take that as gospel though as I havnt checked it! Morris's final opponent is Justin Penrose.

UNDER 1800:

21.0: Ari DALE (1 game left)
19.0: Rad CHMIEL (1 game left)
19.0: Jim PAPADINIS (1 game left)
19.0: Paul KOVACEVIC (1 game left)

Voon has been knocked out and Ari Dale has assured himself first prize - even if he loses his final game (against Sylvester Urban). The interest here involves which of Chmiel, Papadinis and Kovacevic will take home 2nd and 3rd places, and who (if any) will drop out of the prizes! Chmiel couldve been a point clear by beating Beckman but lost what was apparently "a nice game" according to his opponent. Chmiel's final opponent is Felix Wyss, whilst Papadinis and Kovacevic are playing against each other - not only for the Grand Prix but also for the first prize in their round robin! Both have 4/4 and we are set for a great final showdown!

UNDER 1500:

1st Garry BEKKER, =2nd, Anthony HAIN and Roger McCART

[Grant Szuveges]

Domagoj Dragicevic has won the MCC Grand Prix with a win over Kerry Stead in the final round of the Bob Brooking Round Robins! However things were actually quite exciting with my sources telling me that Stead missed mate in 5 in the game! James Morris finished second only half a point behind Dragicevic with Stead third!

25.0: Domagoj DRAGICEVIC
24.5: James MORRIS (IM)
22.5: Kerry STEAD

In the under 1800, Ari Dale finished 2 points clear of the pack despite playing in the harder section of the Brooking Round Robins. Rad Chmiel and Paul Kovacevic came equal second with Kovacevic winning the middle round robin group with 5/5. Its great to see players like Paul winning a prize in the grand prix as these are the sorts of players who the grand prix has been created for - loyal players who play in every event but dont always win something.

22.0: Ari DALE
20.0: Rad CHMIEL
20.0: Paul KOVACEVIC

In the under 1500, Gary Bekker took the honours with Roger McCart and Anthony Hain equal second.

16.5: Gary BEKKER
14.0: Roger McCART
14.0: Anthony HAIN

Full results soon!

[Garrett]

Congrats Dom and the other winners !