2011-12 knock out tournament won by Steve Mellor

10 May. In the final, Steve Mellor was on the back foot for almost all of the game. After a complex middle game, Nick gained a passed pawn on the queen side, but Steve had an initiative with an attack on Nick's king in a rook and minor piece ending. As the players approached the sudden death time lime limit, Nick was still a pawn up, but had to play accurately to stop mate. With only seconds to go it proved easier to maintain the attacker's threats than to parry them and Steve won on time. Picture: Steve Mellor (left, playing black) faces Nick Harris in the Knock out Final.

22 March. Nick Harris is the first to qualify for the final beating Ray Collett in a replay after the first game was drawn. Steve Mellor made his way to the final with an expected win against Matt Kaufman on 26 April.

25 February. Steve Mellor, Matt Kaufman, Ray Collett, and Nick Harris are through to the semi-finals.

Quarter final draw and results

19 Jan. The quarter finals are next and the darw is: Keene-Harris; Yates-Collett; Smith-Mellor; and Vernon-Kaufmann.

22 Sep. The draw was managed by the Competitions Secretary with Jim Keene picking the names from a chess set box. First named player has white: George Henderson vs Jim Keene; Rob Sutton vs Roger Yates; Ray Collett vs Robert Walkowiak; Nick Harris vs John Clark; Matt Kaufman vs Aiden Binding; Phil Smith vs Pat Greenow; Colin Vernon vs Jimmy Tao; Steve Mellor vs Chris Godfrey.

Rules for Knock Out

• Draw. The draw for each round will be conducted at a club night by the controller
• Venue. You can play on a non-club night at another club (by arrangement) or at home. You may borrow equipment by arrangement with Ray Collett.
• Time control 35 moves in 1h 15 minutes followed by an added 15 minutes and playing to a quickplay finish.
• Grading. Standard play games are eligible for grading.
• In the event of a drawn game,
  • replay the game with colours reversed. This can be at standard play (eligible for grading) if both players agree or the default method of resolving the result is by means of a 5-minute game.
  • If a second standard play game is also drawn, the result should be resolved by a 5-minute game.
  • If the 5-minute game is drawn, a final Armageddon game will decide: the player of the white pieces must win to gain a place in the next round. In compensation white has 6 minutes whereas black has only 5 minutes to complete the game. Toss for colours for the Armageddon game.