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They
couldn't keep up with Jones - the world circular chess champion
for 2005
Posted
20 August 2005
A 19-year old mathematician has clinched the world circular
chess title for 2005, in the midst of the Da Vinci Code
movie set.
Michael Jones, from Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, won the
£200 first prize in an exciting tournament held
inside the Chapter House of Lincoln Cathedral.
Michael, who is due to start a mathematics degree at
Warwick University, beat four experiened players on
his first visit to the annual event.
He won all four of his games, defeating Dutch player
and 2000 champion Herman Kok in the last round, and
received the victors' trophy and cheque from VIP guest,
Lincoln MP Gillian Merron (pictured right). |
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The teenager, who played chess from the age of seven, is a
regular competitor in traditional square chess in leagues
in Lincolnshire, Peterborough and Huntingdonshire. He also
played at Spalding Grammar School, Lincolnshire.
In the first round random round, which was drawn by VIP guests
the Deputy Mayor of Lincoln, Councllor Steven Allnutt and
City Sheriff Mrs Chris Noble, Michael faced off a strong challenge
from Eamonn Hunt, who represented Ireland.
He was then paired with Nottinghamshire player Mike Clark,
and Lincoln player John Holland, before meeting Mr Kok (a
former Amsterdam square chess junior champion) in the final.
A special £50 prize for the best new entrant went to
David Stamp, also from south Lincolnshire, who was also the
runner-up.
After his victory, Michael said: "I did have a fair amount
of luck, because there were a couple of times when I managed
to win when I thought things were not going my way.
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"The
Cathedral and the Chapter House is a very interesting
venue to hold a chess tournament, and it makes a difference
from the sorts of places that competitions are usually
held.
"It was good that visitors to the Cathedral were
able to come in and look around while the games were
being played."
Just a few hours earlier, the Chapter House had been
used as the film set for the new Hollywood movie The
Da Vinci Code, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom
Hanks, Sir Ian McKellen and Audrey Tautou.
Competitors and visitors to the Chapter House had a
privileged view of part of the film set (temporary murals
depicting saints) which remained in place, while the
production crew |
cleared scaffolding and equipment from
other parts of the Minster. It is understood that the artwork
has been presented to the Cathedral as a gift from the film-makers.
Circular Chess Society president David Reynolds said: "We
could not have wished for a better place to hold the championship
in its 10th year. There was a lot of interest from people
who were looking around the Cathedral, which of course was
shut while filming was taking place.
"We are very pleased to welcome new competitors and Michael
Jones thoroughly deserves his victory.
"We are also very grateful to the Cathedral authorities
and to the production crew of the Da Vinci Code for working
so hard to make the Chapter House available for our competition."
The Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Rev Dr John Saxbee, sent a message
of congratulations to the winner and competitors.
Click here for the
results
Click here for the
picture gallery
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