N.B. the text below appeared on the old BCM website in 1999

Bob Jones has kindly sent results from the 49th Paignton Chess Congress, held in the rococo ballroom of Oldway Mansion, Paignton. Although entries were slightly up overall, the strength of the Premier was a little weaker than usual.

Ron Bruce Premier - Round 7 results (Final Round)

 1. I. Thompson    (4½)   1-0  D. Littlejohns    (4½)   
 2. M. White        (4)   ½-½  S. Peters          (4)   
 3. P. Hempson      (4)   1-0  M. Macdonald-Ross (3½)   
 4. J. Bass        (3½)   1-0  J. Menadue        (3½)   
 5. B. Cafferty    (3½)   1-0  R. Barton         (3½)   
 6. F. Parr*       (3½)   0-1  RK. Thomas        (3½)   
 7. D. Hodge       (3½)   ½-½  F. Vreugdenhil    (3½)   
 8. A. Brusey       (3)   ½-½  J. Hickman         (3)   
 9. H. Lamb         (3)   0-1  J. Wheeler         (3)   
10. RH. Pearce      (3)   ½-½  J. Parkin          (3)  
11. A. Crombleholme (3)   1-0  J. Rety           (2½)  
12. Fulton         (2½)   1-0  D. Regis          (2½)  
13. E. Hurwitz      (2)   0-1  I. Ponter         (2½)  
14. Burke          (1½)   0-1  J. Cock            (1)  
15. P. Benson       (2)   0-1  Watson             (1)

* the press release originally received had D.Parr but we know that Ian Thompson played Frank Parr in round one so this is more likely to be Frank Parr rather than his son David. A second possibility is that the round 7 player was indeed David Parr and that Frank Parr dropped out before the end of the tournament. JS

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Ron Bruce Premier - Final Positions:

1st Ian D Thompson 5½/7 - £250 plus a British Championship qualifying place,
2nd Peter W Hempson 5,
3rd= David Littlejohns, M White, Stephen Peters, John Bass, Bernard Cafferty, RK Thomas 4½
9th= David Hodge, F Vreugdenhil, John Wheeler, Alan Crombleholme 4

Under 2145: RK Thomas 4½
Under 2040: D Littlejohns, John Bass
Veterans Book Prize: Michael Macdonald-Ross

Challengers

1st RG Elwell 6/7
2nd RJ Eversham 5½

Minor

1st FR Elliott (Brentwood) 6½/7
2nd= ED Moller (Haslemere), V Benozi (ITA) 5½
Under 110: JB Farrell (Metropolitan) 5
Under 90: A Doust 5

Highest Score by a Devon player (Tea-Room Trophy): D. Scott (Exeter) 5

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Report (by Bob Jones)

In spite of the closeness throughout the first 5 rounds, class eventually told, as the top seed, Ian Thompson, won his last two games to emerge with 5½/7, clear winner of the Ron Bruce Premier and a British Championship Qualifying Place.

Thompson's Rd. 6 win left him in the joint lead with David Littlejohns of Taunton, whose play throughout the tournament had been something of a revelation for a player with the relatively modest grade of 159. Perhaps it was the chance of qualifying for the British Championships, to be held at Millfield School, near his home town, that had had a galvanising effect on his play. Certainly, Thompson couldn't take anything for granted as both players had much to play for in the game.

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File Updated

Date	Notes
4 July 2025	First upload to BritBase, 14 games (though I made a similar upload to the old BCM website when I was editor in 1999!)