Tag: tournaments

Contenders was held in Johannesburg this year, with 5 Gauteng-based and 3 Cape-based players. Thanks to Andre Connell for hosting and directing the tournament.

The tournament produced a number of close games (four finishing within 10 points), and the top three positions were separated by just a game each. The final standings were as follows:
1) Victor Chow – 7 wins
2) Andrew Davies – 6 wins
3) Andre Connell – 5 wins
4) Chris Welsh – 3 wins
5) Lloyd Rubidge – 3 wins
6) Ben Bredenkamp – 2 wins
7) James Nicolson – 1 win
8) Paul Edwards – 1 win

Two way ties are broken in favour of the winner of the head to head match (Chris and James).
Victor, Andrew, Andre, and Chris automatically qualify for the event next year.

The 2019 Candidates was held on April 6 and 7. The results were as follows:

== day one ==
1: Paul Edwards
2: Paul Steyn
3: Michael Rapson
4: Ben Bredenkamp
5: Christiaan Maasdorp
6: Vincent Varkevisser
7: Fred Strauss

== day two ==
1: Paul Edwards
2: Sam Scott
3: James Nicolson
4: Ben Bredenkamp
5: Lloyd Rubidge
6: Paul Steyn
7: Dave Gale
8: Michael Rapson

The top four players of Candidates day two are through to the next round, the Contenders in September. Congratulations to Paul Edwards, Sam Scott*, James Nicolson, and Ben Bredenkamp. They join Chris Welsh, Victor Chow, Andre Connell, and Andrew Davies who qualify for Contenders as the top four players at Contenders 2018.

*Sam Scott was unavailable for Contenders, so his place went to Lloyd Rubidge instead.