The deadline for entries for the 2016 award is 31 January 2017; so there is still time to nominate a game (which need not have been played by the person making the nomination). The detailed rules can be found here but briefly to qualify for consideration a 2016 game must be a win or a draw by a player qualified to represent Wales in a FIDE competition against a non-Welsh opponent graded over 2250 and FIDE-rated at least 150 points above the entrant at the time the game was played. We are also reviewing the rules for this competition and comments are invited.
Entries should be sent to Howard Williams (howard.swnynant@btinternet.com).
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Howard Williams
The games so far identified by the judges as meeting the above criteria are in chronological order:
(1) Kett, Tim (2192) ½ – ½ Camus de Solliers, Guillaume (2360) 4NCL, 23.01.2016
(2) Rendle, Tom (2370) 0 – 1 Kett, Tim (2192) 4NCL, 24.01.2016
(3) Strugnell, Carl (2215) 1 – 0 Naumkin, I (2413) 32nd Cappelle Open, 13.02.2016
(4) Sygnowski, Tomasz (2275) 0 – 1 Brown, Thomas (2092) 4NCL, 14.02.2016
(5) Bates, Richard A (2332) ½ – ½ Kett, Tim (2179) 4NCL, 14.02.2016
(6) Arizmendi Martinez, J (2507) ½ – ½ Strugnell, Carl (2215) 32nd Cappelle Open, 14.02.2016
(7) Skousen, N (2294) ½ – ½ Jameson, David (2103) Reykjavik Open ISL, 15.03.2016
(8) Sands, David (2142) ½ – ½ Walker, David J (2308) 4NCL, 20.03.2016
(9) Maryasin, Boris (2323) ½ – ½ Thornton, John D (2028) ESTT, 19.04.2016
(10) Lederman, Leon (2264) ½ – ½ Miles, Richard (1971) ESTT, 19.04.2016
(11) Morris, Charles F (2122) ½ – ½ Mariotti, Sergio (2294) [A00] ESTT, 21.04.2016
(12) Mishuchkov, Nikolai M (2304) ½ – ½ Miles, Richard (1971) ESTT, 22.04.2016
(13) James, David J (2159) ½ – ½ Greenfeld, Alon (2541) ESTT, 27.04.2016
(14) Chatalbashev, B (2545) ½ – ½ Kett, Tim (2209) SWI, 07.07.2016
(15) Rodriguez, Juan Talavera (2020) ½ – ½ Lauridsen, JM (2259) SWI, 08.07.2016
(16) Brown, Tom (2107) 1 -0 L’Ami, Alina (2339) SWI), 08.07.2016
(17) Ralphs, Nigel (2000) ½ – ½ Gretarsson, Hj (2550) SWI, 09.07.2016
(18) Arkell,K (2455) ½ – ½ Kett, Tim (2209) SWI, 09.07.2016
(19) Duncan, C (2292) ½ – ½ Ralphs, Nigel (2000) 103rd Ch-GBR, 26.07.2016
(20) Pleasants, Allan J (2038) ½ – ½ Kalaiyalahan, Akshaya (2288) 103rd Ch-GBR, 02.08.2016
(21) Bullen, Alex (2015) ½ – ½ Toczek, Grzegorz (2254) SW Summer Open, 29.08.2016
(22) Morris, Charles F (2127) ½ – ½ Getz, N (2445) 42nd Olympiad Baku, 02.09.2016
(23) Hammer, J (2651) ½ – ½ Jones, Richard S (2396) 42nd Olympiad Baku, 02.09.2016
(24) Smith, Olivia (2002) ½ – ½ Arakhamia-Grant, K (2381) Olympiad Women Baku, 06.09.2016
(25) Daly, C (2328) ½ – ½ Morris, Charles F (2127) 42nd Olympiad Baku, 08.09.2016
(26) Strugnell, Carl (2239) 1 – 0 Obodchuk, A (2402) 42nd Olympiad Baku, 09.09.2016
(27) Diermair, A (2478) ½ – ½ Sands, David (2122) 42nd Olympiad Baku, 10.09.2016
(28) Sands, David (2122) ½ – ½ Battulga, N (2402) 42nd Olympiad Baku, 11.09.2016
(29) Miles, Richard (2000) ½ – ½ Velickovic, Sa (2312) 32nd ECC Novi Sad, 06.11.2016
(30) Morris, Charles F (2132) 1 – 0 Shagbazyan, Tar (2423) 32nd ECC Novi Sad, 07.11.2016
(31) Vuilleumier, A (2350) 0 – 1 Morris, Charles F (2132) 32nd ECC Novi Sad, 08.11.2016
(32) Powell, Lloyd (2072) 1 – 0 Fioramonti, H (2325) 32nd ECC Novi Sad, 08.11.2016
(33) Rayner, Francis (2080) ½ – ½ Cunningham, Robin (2263) Hastings Masters, 29.12.2016
The scores of these games can be downloaded here. Any notes to these games (and any others) submitted by 31 January will be taken into account by the judges in reaching their decision
The judges will be having a look shortly at the basic rules of the competition (which has now been in existence since 2010) to see whether any changes for 2017 are warranted. The rationale for the existing rules is to recognise giant-killing efforts (or games that come close) by Welsh players against non-Welsh opposition, in line with Geof Tyrrell’s admiration for such endeavours.
Any suggestions or observations are welcomed and should be sent to Howard Williams by 31 January. One that has already been made is to do away with the 150 point difference test.
