The inaugural Porsche Trophy rapidplay tournament was organised by Club Italiano di Scacchi and held in the Plaza Hotel, Padua, Italy on the June ninth last. Padua is famous for its Basilica dedicated to St. Anthony and is also home to the second oldest university in the world. This extremely interesting and hard fought one-day open tournament took place over nine rounds, fifteen minutes per player per game.

This time control is particularly interesting as there is not enough time to get stressed or worked up about any particular game as before you know it is already over and you are sitting down to face your next opponent. Fifteen minutes per player is however ample time to ensure a high quality of play and in addition to lots of diversion for spectators. This is a format that might appeal to prospective tournament organisers around the country particularly in the current economic climate when there are countless hotels and venues nationwide which lie empty and would be only too keen to host such events. The popularity of this time control surprised the organizers as in excess of ninety players turned up for the inaugural event.

1 GM and 8 IMs were amongst nine nationalities who competed for various cash prizes and the top prize of a luxurious leather suitcase donated by Porsche worth 1500 Euro. In the end the event was won on tie-break by IM Roberto Mogranzini, who disposed of the author in round five after I was kind enough to leave a piece en prise. For further details of the tournament and future events held in Padova see clubitalianodiscacchi.com. This tournament is ideal for any player who would like to combine chess and a family visit to Venice over a long weekend break. Ryanair fly direct from Dublin to Treviso and Padua is thirty minutes train journey from Venice.

No better way to warm up for Ireland's premier rapidplay in Bray!