A massive thank you to everyone who helped to make our Blitz Chess Tournament a huge success. That includes all players, spectators, sponsors, staff and the executive at the National Liberal Club as well as our many other supporters. It was a fantastic evening in support of Under One Sky with the ancient game of chess a clear winner. Who said chess couldn't be exciting?

Tournament entrants were asked for a minimum donation of £25 to Under One Sky via GoFundMe/UnderOneSky (Charity number: 1198901).

Total raised: £1,496

Photographer

Nick Cornwall kindly recorded the event for future Under One Sky promotional use. Please let us know if you do not wish to be included in stills.

Pictured above Edvin Morell (White) v Dashiell Shaw (Black) in the final. Watching on intently from left Andrew Rogozinski, Mohammed Amin, John Barton and Leela Widger—all serious chess players in their own right. Photo courtesy of Nick Cornwall.

Semi-Finals

1. Andrew Rogozinski v Edvin Morell 0-1

2. Izaan Khan v Dashiell Shaw 0-1

Table 1: Final standings for the Soho group in the Swiss system qualifying rounds. Organisers of the Tournament decided that the qualifier in first place would take the black pieces against the third placed qualifier, who takes the white pieces, for the first semi-final. The qualifier in second place then takes black against the fourth placed qualifier in the second semi-final. Colours for players in the final were decided randomly. To reduce or eliminate ties, Buchholz cut 1 (Buc1) is calculated by adding together the tournament points of each player encountered, irrespective of wins or losses, with points excluded from the calculation for the lowest ranked opponent encountered. The idea is that the same score is more valuable if achieved against players with better performances in a given tournament. Buchholz Total (BucT) is the same as Buc1, except lowest opponent points are not dropped from the calculation. Direct Encounter (DE) scores are awarded for direct wins against an opponent if players are tied on points. Players are ranked by points first (win = 1, draw = ½, loss = 0). Players equal on points are then ranked by Buc1 second, BucT third (if equal in terms of points and Buc1) and finally by DE if players can't be separated by points, Buc1 or BucT.

Nico Hauck looks justifiably pleased with his winning haul including Pujab Restaurant dinner for two, three month complimentary Chess.com Diamond membership and bouquet of flowers courtesy of Freddie's Flowers. This charity event was very much Emma Birrane's (shown right) brainchild. Photo courtesy of Nick Cornwall.

Semi-Finals

1. Danny Rosenbaum v Nic Ioannou 0-1

2. Nico Hauck v Gordon Hamme 1-0

Table 2: Final standings for the King's Cross group in the Swiss system qualifying rounds. The qualifier in first place takes the black pieces against the third placed qualifier, who takes the white pieces, for the first semi-final. The qualifier in second place takes black against the fourth placed qualifier in the second semi-final. Colours for the final were decided randomly. (Buc1, BucT and DE scores are explained in Table 1 above.) (The '=' signs indicate half-point byes due to the odd number of participants in this group.)

Freddie Miller is clearly truly delighted that he's won a signed chessboard from GM Simon Williams (aka the GingerGM) along with his complimentary three-month Chess.com Diamond membership and bouquet of flowers from Freddie's Flowers. Mr Miller (who by the way, is not the owner of Freddie's Flowers) won all seven of his games, the only player in any group to do so—well done Sir! (Emma Birrane appears centre and Gordon Hamme is shown right.) Photo courtesy of Nick Cornwall.

Semi-Finals

1. Tamal Matilal v Freddie Miller 0-1

2. John Gunn v James Rhatigan ½-½*

*Qualifier for final decided by a coin toss.

Table 3: Final standings for the Embankment group in the Swiss system qualifying rounds. Tamal Matilal is listed third based on a DE win against John Gunn in Round #3. John Gunn qualified fourth based on Buc1 (but would also have qualified based on BucT or his DE victory over Josh Cole in Round #2). The qualifier in first place takes the black pieces against the third placed qualifier, who takes the white pieces, for the first semi-final. The qualifier in second place takes black against the fourth placed qualifier in the second semi-final. Colours for the final were decided randomly. (Buc1, BucT and DE scores are explained in Table 1 above.)