Newcastle Mini Congress U130 section

Round four crowd scene.
In the foreground Steve Szwajkun's and Doug Barnett's opponents are hidden while Sandra Blackburn and Jack Healings play Andrew Barker and Ernie Wilkinson respectively. In the background Jacob Cartlidge and James Rothwell take on Glyn Valentine and Jon Blackburn respectively.

Pete Shaw poses for the camera mid-game, almost completely hiding Richard Martin. Further back are Bob Perry, Stuart Green and filler Steve Emmerton.

Jack Healings ran away with the section, winning with a round to spare. Despite this there were two other unbeaten unplayers (spot the draw experts) as Sandra Blackburn was the only player to take a draw off Jack, and Doug Barnett's stately progress left him lined up to play Jack in the non-existent round 6. Indeed Doug did a good line in non-existent all weekend, with his chair seemingly unoccupied as often as filled.

Final scores:
4½: Jack Healings,
3:    Doug Barnett, Sandra Blackburn, Andrew Barker, Nic Wright
2½: Julian Hawthorne, Steve Szwajkun
2:    Ernest Wilkinson
1½: Pete Shaw
1:    Dave Price

You can't be last to finish without attracting spectators, even in round two. here Andrew Barker has white against David Price, watched on the farside by Karl Lockett, and the near by Meir duo Bob Perry and Stuart Green.