37th Stockport Rapidplay Congress, 2025

157 players competed in the 37th Stockport Rapidplay across the 4 sections.

We were saddened to announce the passing of Peter Taylor at the beginning of the event. Peter started the Congress back in 1987 (incidentally, before I was born!) and was organising it every year without fail until 2020. After we had a two year break due to Covid, Peter remained very involved but gradually began to take a smaller role. Still this was the first event at which he wasn't present, but he had been busy behind the scenes producing the pairing cards and results slips!

This year's event saw a few innovations (perhaps long-overdue) including the use of computer pairings, and an incremental time control. Hopefully these quality-of-life changes were well received! This was also the first year we didn't host a prizegiving ceremony after the event. In years past the rush to compile the final results, and work out who had won what and how much, led to players and supporters waiting around for a long time - that's if they didn't have a train to catch! It also put a good deal of pressure on the controllers at the end of a long day. I hope the ceremony wasn't missed by too many people, but if it's something you'd like to see us bring back next year, please feel free to provide us with some feedback (and on other changes, and anything else too!).

The Open Section was shared by two former winners, Nigel Davies (2018, 2023) and Adam Ashton (2010, 2015, 2019)  on 5/6 after their 5th round match-up couldn't separate them.

5 players finished on 4/6 and shared 3rd place, amongst them Joel Bartlett and Tetsuaki Sanada sharing the U2000 rating prize.

A highly competitive Major section was won outright by Eric Bennett with 5/6. Eric triumphed last year in the Intermediate (6/6), so if he returns next year, there may be a new contender to win the Open!

5 players finished joint 2nd on 4.5/6, splitting 2nd and 3rd place.

The U1725 rating prize was won by Mark Birch (4.5/6) and the U1675 by Leo Cheung (4/6) with Andy Coe (4.5/6) picking up the Veteran prize which is contested across all sections, and Stockport League Trophy for the Major.

A small junior prize of £25 was shared by Sithun Da Silva and Mahin Rughani (who 2 years ago won a grading prize in the Minor and is now winning prizes in the Major!) on 4.5/6.

In the Intermediate section the situation was more straightforward. Dave Jones won outright with 5.5/6, followed by Colin Weller on 5/6. 3rd place was shared 3-ways by Joe Day, Oliver West, and Suleiman Nisar on 4.5/6. Suleiman also won the U1540 rating prize. Suleiman split 3rd place in the Minor last year picking up a junior prize as well.

The U1470 prize went to Declan Johnston on 4/6 and the Junior prize was split by Shlok Maheshwari (last year's Minor winner) and Matthew Grimley.

The Stockport League Trophy was won by Joe Day of Stockport Chess Club.

The Minor section had a huge entry once again this year despite a reduced rating limit with 66 players competing on the day. Besting them all on this occasion was Dyfan Steele, a junior from Wales who finished with 5.5/6. 2nd place saw a 4-way tie between Tom Marsh, Mohammed Andeel, Taarush Goel and Joe Highland on 5/6. They split 2nd and 3rd place with Tom Marsh also picking up the U1330 prize, Taarush Goel the U1300, and Joe Highland the Junior prize.

The remaining rating prizes were won by Mohanditya Poluru in the U1210 on 4.5/6; Sachin Osmond in the U1150 and Ethan Te for the Ungraded players, both on 4/6; and Lexin Tao and Tony Kiely on 3.5 shared the U1000 prize.

The U12 junior prize was won by Ben Abraham on 3.5/6

The Stockport League Trophy in the Minor was won by Taarush Goel of Altrincham Chess Club.

We were so pleased to see so many returning players again this year - it means we must be doing something right! I hope this event lived up to our usual standards, and that everyone enjoyed their day (whether results went your way or not). We'd love to see you back next year whether it will be your 38th event with us or your 2nd. Please remember to get your entries in early next year, as we did unfortunately have to turn a few of the very late entries down despite making every effort to accomodate everyone who was interested.