1ST CARDIFF MASTERS 17/2/97 - 21/2/97

This 10-player Category 4 all-play-all tournament, directed by FIDE Events
Organiser Adam Raoof, was the first ever of its kind to be held under the
auspices of the Welsh Chess Union (WCU) and the first IM event to be held in
South Wales. It proved to be an outstanding success in that three players scored
IM norms: James Cobb won the event outright with 6.5 to gain his first norm, while 13-year-old Luke McShane added to his recently-acquired first norm from the Caledonian tournament in Scotland (also organised by Adam Raoof) half a point behind, along with Danny Gormally who also secured his second IM norm. Indeed, Cobb and Gormally reached their six point target with a round to spare, while McShane supplied a dramatic finale by winning his last round game as White against Gormally to win his qualification after a shaky start to the event.

The venue was the Cardiff Moat House Hotel, who provided generous
facilities for players and organisers alike, and the overall atmosphere was
superb, with tremendous sportsmanship shown by all the participants. The mood
between rounds was very sociable despite the tough schedule: two rounds a day with Fischer time controls (40 moves in 100 mins plus 30 secs added per move; then 20 in 40 mins + 30 secs per move).

Cobb began in excellent form, winning against IMs Tozer and Mannion with Black and White respectively, before being ground down by McShane in 58 moves. He then consolidated with a hard-fought draw with Williams, a win against the back-marker Saunders, and a draw with Gormally, before finishing with wins against Ionescu and Daly. His last round draw with IM Siebrecht assured him of undisputed first place. The result was very popular locally as James is a member of the Cardiff Chess Club and is studying at Cardiff University. It was also an early present for his 20th birthday, due a fortnight after the Masters!

McShane's start was uncertain: he was rather lucky to survive Williams' ingenious play in the first round, and looked unconvincing when sharing the point with Saunders in round 2. His win against Cobb, followed by the full point against the out-of-form Ionescu, started to justify his top seeding, but a loss to Daly in mid-tournament left him needing three points from four games against the three IMs and the current leader Gormally. A 60-move draw with Black against Siebrecht was followed by a 50-move win over Tozer. Mannion took a perpetual check which left McShane requiring the full point against Gormally in the last round, a task which he performed with his usual lack of inhibition. 

Gormally showed why he has come so far in a comparatively short time. After a
hard-earned draw against the dangerous Daly in the first round, he had a quiet
draw with Williams before defeating Siebrecht with Black, Saunders with White
and Tozer with Black to set himself a straightforward target for the second
half. His sole loss, to McShane, came after he had already achieved his norm.

The tournament was controlled by International Arbiter Kevin Staveley, Executive Director of the WCU, with assistance from Ian Eustis of the WCU, and the prizes were presented by Frank Hatto, President of the WCU. The event was made possible thanks to financial help from the Friends of Chess, the WCU, and ChessEvents Ltd., and the cooperation of the Cardiff Moat House Hotel.

It is hoped that the success of this competition will lead to further high-level
events in Wales, if sponsorship can be secured. Any offers?