RICHARD Palliser (York RI) followed up his success at the York Chess Congress by sweeping to victory in the York Rapidplay competition.

The event, held at the Elmbank Hotel, attracted 73 players in the adult section, and 36 juniors.

Palliser swept through the field to finish on 6/6. Mike Walker (Bradford), Peter Shaw (Wakefield), Chris Ross (Sheffield), Jeff Horner (Bolton) and Roelof Westra (Hull) all shared second on 5/6.

York players featured strongly in the event with Alan Borwell scoring 4, and among the pile-up on 4 were Jim Nicholson (York RI), who won the North Yorkshire Trophy, Norman Andrews (Lady Anne Middleton), David Adams (York RI), Martin and James Carpenter (Cavaliers), Paul Barber (York RI), Jos Woolley (Lady Anne Middleton) and Laurence Cornhill (Lady Anne Middleton), who won the Under 130 Trophy. The Under 100 Trophy went to James Gratrex of Alwoodley, Leeds.

The junior section was won with 7/7 by James Pollard (Dewsbury).

Chris Horner (Bolton) came second with 6/7, and third was James Bowler (Alwoodley) with 5/7.

Of the York players, Jonathon Burr won the Under-14 North Yorkshire Trophy, and Chris De-Planta won the trophy in the Under-11 category.

Merit badges were awarded to Alex Poarman, Manuel Graeber, Matthew Li, Fred Woodcock, Pierre Weller, Yasha Chevnik, Elliott Warriner-Bacon, Harry Li and James Brook.

The race for the York Chess League division one title opened up after leaders Cavaliers were soundly beaten by Shepherds 1.

Although Steve Huxley won for Cavaliers, Eric Key, Herbert Lockwood, Tom Adams and Richard Mounce responded for Shepherds, Barry Marshall drawing.

In the latest round of Yorkshire Chess League fixtures, the 'A' team continued their quest for the division one title by beating Rose Forgrove 5-2 .

Wins came from Richard Palliser, Paul Townsend, David Adams and Jos Woolley, Detlef Plump, Tony Slinger and Paul Hopwood added the draws.

In the same division, the York 'B' team lost at Doncaster by 5-3 but the 'D' team produced an excellent performance in the third division to beat Netherton by 4-3.

The draw for the seventh round of the club championship is P Hopwood v J Griffith, B Taylor v S Huxley, P Barber v J Shemilt, P Gower v T Turner, O Robson v B Marshall, E Cameron v R Allis, N Pearce v H Lockwood, R Hardy v C Conlin, S McDonald v D Milnes, K Smowton v P Brooks, P Masiak v J Lafferty, J Masiak v R Mitchinson, N Finburg v W Fulton, C Smowton v S Kirby, K Holliday v A Roberts, J Wynne v J Hewitt, S Jennings v C Thompson, R Hall v C Vause, C Smart has the bye. Games to be played on Tuesday, February 15.

Updated: 11:03 Thursday, February 10, 2005