Posted below is the article on the Club Lightening Tournament from today’s edition of the Hebden Bridge Times. Thanks to John Kerrane for providing these pages with the copy so swiftly. I have also added in exclusive video footage of the final round shoot out between Messrs Wedge and Wedge-Roberts. Readers will have to excuse the poor quality of the video which I took on my mobile phone.
“On Monday evening at the Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge Chess Club held their now-traditional curtain-raiser to the new Calderdale League season, the Annual Lightening Tournament.
This event is intended to be a not-too-serious way for members to get together at the start of the season, and get in a bit of practice. At 10 seconds a move, the chess is fast and furious, and usually not too accurate, with often unexpected results.
This year, 16 members took part, and the contest was even closer than usual, with all the leading contenders dropping points in the early rounds. By the final round, the championship depended on the game between the holder, Dave Wedge, and his own son, Matthew, with the old hand just beating the young lion on adjudication after a very close game. The final placings were Dave Wedge first, with 5/6, followed by Nick Sykes, 4½/6, in second place, and Dave Shapland, Matthew Wedge-Roberts and Martin Syrett equal in third with 4/6.