Saturday March 2nd saw Gosforth Chess Club play host to a 6-round, 10-minute per player, charity tournament in aid of the Alzheimer Society. A wide-ranging field of players turned up to support the event, covering all ages, unrated to Master-strength, and representing many local clubs, including Forest Hall, Jesmond, Newcastle, Newcastle University, South Shields, Tynemouth and Tynedale.
The random draw adopted saw some big hitters facing off, with Andrew Dunn and Kavin Velmurugan triumphing over FMs Tim Wall and Andrew Burnett respectively.
By the time the final round arrived, David Mooney was half a point behind Andrew Dunn and needed to win to leapfrog his rival. In a tense game he did just that, taking the trophy with 5.5/6, half a point clear of Dunn, Burnett and Wall.
The under 1800 trophy went to Marco Checchi with 4 and the under 1400 was won by Jere Koskela, while the real winner was the Alzheimer Society for whom Β£386.86 was raised.
An enjoyable time was had by all, newcomers to the game and veterans alike.
The club plan two more charity events this year, in May (Homeless) and September (Ukraine). If you have a cause you would like us to support please mail mickriding@hotmail.co.uk.
To close, here are a couple of games from the tournament:
Burnett, Andrew – Cornwall, Gary [E05]
Gosforth Charity blitz, 02.03.2024
1.d4 ξ¨f6 2.c4 e6 3.ξ¨c3 d5 4.ξ¨f3 ξ§e7 5.g3 0β0 6.ξ§g2 c5 7.dxc5 dxc4 8.0β0 ξ§xc5 9.ξ¨e5 ξ₯c7 10.ξ§f4 ξ¦d8 11.ξ¨xc4 ξ¦xd1 12.ξ§xc7 ξ¦xa1 13.ξ¦xa1 ξ¨a6 14.ξ§d6 ξ¨e8 15.ξ§xc5 ξ¨xc5 16.ξ¦d1 ξ€f8 17.b4 ξ¨d7 18.a4 ξ¦b8 19.ξ¨b5 a6 20.ξ¨a7 ξ€e7 21.a5 ξ¨ef6
22.ξ¨d6 1-0
Mohindra, Raj – Burnett, Andrew
Gosforth Charity blitz, 02.03.2024
1.e4 c5 2.ξ¨f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ξ¨xd4 ξ¨f6 5.ξ¨c3 g6 6.f3 ξ¨c6 7.ξ§e3 ξ§g7 8.ξ₯d2 0β0 9.0β0β0 d5 10.exd5 ξ¨xd5 11.ξ¨xc6 bxc6 12.ξ§d4 e5 13.ξ§c5 ξ§e6 14.ξ§xf8 ξ₯xf8 15.ξ¨xd5 cxd5 16.ξ€b1 ξ¦b8 17.c4 ξ§f5+ 18.ξ§d3 e4 19.fxe4 dxe4 20.g4 ξ₯a3 21.b3 exd3 22.gxf5
22…ξ¦xb3+ 23.axb3 ξ₯a1#
0β1
Northumberland Chess Association 