T9. Fischer Random

A “Fischer Random” (also known as Chess960) Tournament was on Friday, 8th July, 2016. Players were each given 10 minutes with a 5 second increment per move.

The Tournament ran for five rounds; each round featuring a computerised random selection from one of 960 possible starting configurations (thanks to Owen Courtis for setting this up).

By adopting a randomized starting position, Fischer Random Chess takes players out of the forest of theoretical opening variations, into unfamiliar scenarios requiring creative thinking.

Reza Daneshvar adapted best to the strange new landscape, conceding only half a point to Michael Sugrue, to take out first place overall.  Please see below for results:

Round 1

No Name              Result   Name           

 1 Davis, G (5)        0:1    Sugrue, M (1)  
 2 Daneshvar, R (2)    1:0    Sopovski, S (6)
 3 Smith, J (7)        1:0    Barber, G (3)  
 4 Courtis, O (4)      1:0    Ashworth, C (8)

Round 2

No Name             Result   Name            

 1 Sugrue, M (1)      1:0    Courtis, O (4)  
 2 Smith, J (7)       0:1    Daneshvar, R (2)
 3 Barber, G (3)      1:0    Sopovski, S (6) 
 4 Ashworth, C (8)    0:1    Davis, G (5)

Round 3

No Name              Result   Name           

 1 Daneshvar, R (2)   .5:.5   Sugrue, M (1)  
 2 Davis, G (5)        0:1    Barber, G (3)  
 3 Courtis, O (4)      1:0    Smith, J (7)   
 4 Sopovski, S (6)     1:0    Ashworth, C (8)

Round 4

No Name             Result   Name            

 1 Sugrue, M (1)     .5:.5   Barber, G (3)   
 2 Courtis, O (4)     0:1    Daneshvar, R (2)
 3 Sopovski, S (6)    0:1    Davis, G (5)    
 4 Ashworth, C (8)    0:1    Smith, J (7)

Round 5

No Name             Result   Name            

 1 Barber, G (3)      0:1    Daneshvar, R (2)
 2 Ashworth, C (8)    0:1    Sugrue, M (1)   
 3 Davis, G (5)       0:1    Courtis, O (4)  
 4 Smith, J (7)       0:1    Sopovski, S (6)

Final Standings

Place Name            Feder Rtg  Loc Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

  1   Daneshvar, Reza       1743     4.5       7.5  13.5   13.5
  2   Sugrue, Michael       1867     4         7.5  12.0   12.5
  3   Courtis, Owen         1634     3         8.0  12.5    9.0
  4   Barber, Geoff         1635     2.5       8.0  14.5    8.0
 5-7  Smith, Jack           1200     2         7.5  12.0    7.0
      Davis, Geoff          1458     2         7.5  11.5    6.0
      Sopovski, Sam         1300     2         6.5  11.0    4.0
  8   Ashworth, Chris       1000     0         7.0  13.0    0.0