1991 British Isles Women's Sub-Zonal, 23-27 May, Nightstage Hotel, London SW12

1991 British Isles Women's Sub-Zonal		Fed	Elo	1	2	3	4	Total
1	Susan K Arkell (»Lalic)	ENG	2300wg	&;	½ ½	1 ½	1 ½	4
2	Sheila Jackson	ENG	2195wm	½ ½	&;	½ ½	½ 1	3½
3	Cathy Forbes (»Warwick)	ENG	2135wm	0 ½	½ ½	&;	1 ½	3
4	Helen Milligan (« Scott)	SCO	2045	0 ½	½ 0	0 ½	&;	1½

Average Elo: 2167

---

BCM, July 1991, p292

British Isles Women's Sub-Zonal

The qualifying system for Western Europe women takes account of the comparative weakness of this region. The Soviet zone has five places; Central Europe, including Germany, Austria and Israel, has two. Western Europe, split into three sub-zonals, has only one.

The British Isles tournament was conducted over the holiday period 23-27 May, and attracted just four entries, three English, one Scottish. This meant a double-rounder with two games being played on the second day. Susan Arkell scored a key victory over Cathy Forbes in the second round and was able to coast to victory thereafter.

[crosstable as above]

Lobbying had produced a second place for Western Europe in the interim, presumably on the basis of having a WGM in the shape of Susan Arkell. Then, quite illogically, it was announced that one place was being given to Anne Marie Benschop of Holland, winner of the Benelux/French sub-zone, whereas Susan Arkell would have to play off for the second place with the winner of the Iberia/Italy sub-zone, whose competition had not been held at last report! This seems to us grossly unfair.

For the record: The tournament that A. Benschop won had three unrated players from France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The highest-rated player was Christine Flear, 2225, and the average rating of the seven rated players was 2155.The average rating of the British sub-zone was 2167.

[score of Forbes-Arkell]

The Women's Interzonal is scheduled for late this year, with 40 places instead of 36 as last time.

The venue for the tournament was the Nightstage Hotel, London SW12. The organising body was the BCF [British Chess Federation]. Bob Wade was the arbiter assisted by Julian Simpole of the ECA [English Chess Association?]. Free accommodation was provided by Nightstage Hotel as well as a free venue.

---

BCM, December 1991, p575

YUGOSLAVIA—The women's Interzonal, 8-25 xi [November 1991], was being played at Subotica near the Hungarian border as we went to press. Assurances of personal safety were given by the Yugoslavs, despite the proximity of the fighting. Susan Arkell decided not to go, and, in a controversial decision, her place was taken by Sheila Jackson.

---

File Updated

Date	Notes
23 April 2026	First uploaded. 1 game plus 1 part-game. Crosstable and report from BCM.