Hampshire U125 Championship 2001

As well as the Hampshire Individual Championship a U125 tournament was also held. This also had increased numbers, with three more entries than last year. It was good to see players of all grades entering, with the lowest grade being 54, whilst the highest was 122. 

With the success of the Hampshire U125 team in the last few years, the tournament was keenly contested, with many stalwarts of this team entering. In fact in round five the current captain met his predecessor, with Mick Garrod playing Ken Retallack. At this stage of the tournament, both players were doing excellently with Ken being joint first on 3.5/4 and Mick just half a point behind on 3/4. Mick gained the upper hand in this contest, beating Ken and went into the final round half a point behind the leader and top seed P.Lord, on 4.5/5. Mick had lost to P.Lord in the 4th round.

Ken did not give up though, winning his last game against veteran Tony Summers of Southampton Chess Club, to finish on 4.5/6. With Mick only managing to draw against the ungraded J.Foster of University, both players shared 2nd place. Nothing was stopping P.Lord though, who won his last game against B.Culverhouse to finish unbeaten and a deserved winner on 5.5/6.

P.Lord's 6 opponents

As well as these three winners, D.Murchie graded 86 won the U100 grading prize, with a score of 3/6.

As P.Lord is not a Hampshire player, the Hampshire U125 trophy went to Mick Garrod.

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