The fourteenth annual Rapidplay Chess Congress took place at Bury Town Hall on Sunday. A total of 85 players from across the North of England and Wales contested six rounds of cut-throat chess for £750 prize money.

Illness, the weather and clashes with other events reduced the entry in particular to the Open Section, where the absence of stars meant that the games were all hard-fought, and no-one emerged unbeaten. The winner was Marcial Flores of Eccles with 4.5/6, and 4 players shared second place, Richard Beach (Stockport), Martin Sheard (Barnsley, Ali Jaunooby and Alan Walton (both of 3C's).

The Under 155 Grade Section prize was shared by Mitchell Burke of 3C's, Robert Dean (Pudsey), Bob Newton (Heywood), and Simon Woodcock (Atherton), all with 4.5/6. 

The Under 105 Section prize went to Brendan Newell (Brooklands) with a perfect 6/6 score, And second was Bury's Brian Forrest with 5/6. Brendan Brown (Clitheroe) and Ian Mitchell (Rochdale) shared third.

The Lodwig Gruchlik Memorial Trophy, for the highest scoring Bury player, went to Brian Forrest.

Including subsidiary Grade prizes 22 players shared the prizes.

Thanks are due to returning sponsors, Metcalfe & Co Accountants of Bury, and insurance group Winterthur Life, as well as to the bookstall from Chess Direct, and for the hard work by controllers Julian Clissold and Rod Middleton, and particularly to Bury Chess Club's Anthony Lee who organised the event with help from Mick Norris and Bernard Sharples.