Pairings and Cross Tables courtesy of Jon Griffiths
REPORTS by BRENT KITSON
SUNDAY
Well after rounds seven and eight this morning the Open has been flung wide open
The fog had gone and things seem well set....
Round Seven .........saw a tame draw in 18 moves between GM Peter Wells(254) and IM Richard Palliser(232).GM David Howell(272) won in superb fashion and with power against FM Ben Hague (212) according to onlooker Mike Dow (BRC president).GM Hebden (259)kept up his challenge and won .Mick Surtees(201), had a good win against GM Stephen Gordon(238).
Round Eight.............GM Mark Hebden (259)drew with David Howell (272)GM .......BUT THE BIG UPSET CAME WITH Jonathon Hawkins FM (235) beating leader Peter Wells GM (254).A queen sacrifice on move 25 by GM Peter Wells lead to an eventual loss for the leader. Richard Palliser IM (232) is now on 6.5 points after beating FM Ben Hague (212).
So the Open section is looking very interesting with all the H's ...Hawkins Howell and Hebden plus Palliser on 6.5/8 points and Wells on 6.0/8.00
Round Nine .............. crucially ....Hawkins plays Howell .......whilst Wells plays Arkell...................
Mark Hebden GM (259)beats Mick Surtees(201) early on......
FM Hawkins lost after touching GM Howell's hot bishop on move 42!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter Wells GM drew with Keith Arkell GM
STANDINGS WITH TWO ROUNDS LEFT ........................... David Howell 7.5 points Richard Palliser 7.5 points Mark Hebden 7.5 points
Howell versus Palliser must follow in round ten!!!!!!!!
SATURDAY
Weather-
Top GMs Howell/Wells/Hebden all arrived okay. Event well under way. Good Entry
First round
GM's Howell/Hebden/Wells all won
Jean-
Second round
All top players won again . Hebden taken to 82 moves but was a clear winner in the game
Third round
GM Keith Arkell (228) v GM David Howell (272)...............was a 22 move draw unfortunately......they'd drawn last year funnily enough
(sooner or later David Howell GM has got to face Peter Wells GM (254) as well as Mark Hebden GM (259))
Nigel Birtwhistle (202) had a good draw with Stephen Gordon GM (238)
6.43 AND I AM LEAVING THE EVENT SHORTLY
ROUND FIVE HAS THE FIRST KEY MATCH BETWEEN FORMER CHAMPIONS PETER WELLS AND MARK HEBDEN
MARK HAS A PASSED PAWN ALTHOUGH A BISHOP FOR THIS PASSED PAWN
HEBDEN OF COURSE IS THE QUICKER ON THE CLOCK.
THIS ONE COULD GO EITHER WAY............. OBVIOUSLY THEN WHOEVER THEN PLAYS HOWELL IN ROUND 6 COULD AFFECT THINGS
SO FAR HOWELLS NOT PUT A FOOT WRONG.
WILL HEBDEN AND WELLS END UP A DRAW?
IF NOT THE WINNER WOULD THEN BE IN A POSITION TO PUT PRESSURE ON HOWELL
Evening Finale
The 6th round of the first day saw the two tournament favourites of the Open meeting each other.
Unfortunately it ended in a draw (Rook, pawn, king versus Rook,pawn,king)
So it looks as though either Howell or Wells could go on to win the tournament
No slip ups or someone could easily be runner up!
Wells has always won The British Rapidplay each time he's entered apparently. Will David Howell let Peter Wells in?
Tomorrow we will see.Mark Hebden and Jonathon Hawkins could yet influence things!
Further live coverage on Sunday
David Howell GM and Mark Hebden GM
JOINT WINNERS OF BRITISH OPEN RAPIDPLAY 2009 score 9/11
Peter Wells GM THIRD on 8.5/9
Richard Palliser GM FOURTH on 8/11
Major...... Kevin Yeomans and Rhys Cumming 8.5/11 joint first
Intermediate.....Andrew Hards 9 /11 Winner
Minor...............Joint first Brian Yarker and Rod Burroughs 8.5/11
Sunday One day event........Phil Watson/Guy Batchelor/Stephen Burke...Joint Winners....4/5
Junior
Under 12 Winner Harry Li 5/5 100 percent !!!!
Under 16 " Edward Chiu 4.5/5
Under 10 " Zheming Zhang 4/5 (combined in U-
Under 14 " Miles Edward-
Saturday One Day Event (U-
Under 11 trial Daniel Abbas 5.5/6.0
A very good Sunday with a very good finish in the Open with some exciting late round games.