THE ninth annual Rapidplay Congress organised by Bury Chess Club was held at the Elizabethan Suite, Bury Town Hall on Sunday.

More than a hundred players contested three sections with total prize money of £761.

Competitors, including 24 juniors, travelled from the north west and midlands of England and Wales, plus the usual large contingent fromYorkshire.

The oldest, from nearby Heywood, at age 95 proved that age is no barrier to playing chess quickly by scoring a respectable 2.5/6.

While the youngest, aged 10, fared even better with an impressive 4.5/6, which shows the effect of coaching by an International Master.

Sponsors of the congress this year again were Scottish Life, Metcalfe & Co Accountants of Bury and Skandia Life while Bury Metropolitan Borough Council provided grant aid.

This was a full day congress over six rounds, split into three sections: Open, Major and Minor. Each player had 30 minutes to complete each game.

The only Grandmaster, Nigel Davies from Southport, won the Open with a score of 5/6. He drew in the first and last rounds with DCT Engineering and Numerica 3Cs teammates.

Nigel beat last year's winner, Craig Hanley of Lancaster, in a crucial penultimate round game.

Second equal were Ben Hague of Rochdale and Alan Walton of DCT Engineering 3Cs in Oldham.

John Bentley of DCT Engineering 3Cs and Roger Williamson of Hunts Cross won grading prizes. Roger had won a grading prize in last year's Major and is continuing to improve.

There were three joint winners of the Major also with a score of 5/6, Nick Barnaby from Bolton and juniors, Dominic Rabbitte of Swinton and Jason Wright of DCT Engineering 3Cs.

Chris Vassiliou of Chorlton and Richard Glover of DCT Engineering 3Cs won grading prizes.

Robert Amos of Prescot & Knotty Ash won the Minor with the day's best score of 5.5/6, only conceding a draw in the last round.

Paul Stanley of Skelmersdale and John Sutcliffe of Caergwrle were joint second with 5/6. Dennis Davies of Blackpool and Graham Lea of Stockport won grading prizes.

Bury's Martin Bryant won the Lodwig Gruchlik Memorial Trophy.

Next year's event will be on Sunday, December 12 2004.