Hilton Bennett Memorial Masters 2026
12 players participated in this 11-round tournament, held from 15 Jan 2026 to 21 Jan 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand. 4 titled players from 2 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 1900, and top seed was Robert W Smith (🇳🇿 NZL, FM, 2136).
Robert W Smith (🇳🇿 NZL, FM, 2136) won with 9.5/11, ahead of Antony L Carpinter (7.5) and R.A. Tony Dowden (7.5). Smith won solo starting round 4.
The biggest upset came in round 7: Grant Kerr (1705) beat Philip I Hair (1864), a +159-point gap.
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How it unfolded
Top 12 · 11 roundsFM Robert W Smith led from R4 onwards, the title was decided early.
FM Robert W Smith never relinquished the lead after R4; final gap +2.0 over the runner-up.
FM Robert W Smith opens a +1.5-point gap over the chasing pack (closest: Antony L Carpinter); the title is out of reach before R11.
FM Robert W Smith drew with CM R.A. Tony Dowden (White).
Cross-table
| # | Player | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pts | SB | Bh | Δ Elo | Perf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇳🇿FMSmith, Robert W | 2136 | * | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.5 | 45.25 | 56.5 | +9.2 | 2163 |
| 3 | 🇳🇿Carpinter, Antony L | 2083 | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.5 | 38.00 | 58.5 | -20.8 | 1977 |
| 2 | 🇳🇿CMDowden, R.A. Tony | 1961 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.5 | 35.50 | 58.5 | +9.4 | 1977 |
| 5 | 🇳🇿Fuatai, Fuatai | 1915 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 32.25 | 59.0 | +12.2 | 1950 |
| 4 | 🇳🇿Metge, J. Nigel | 1898 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 30.00 | 59.0 | +16.8 | 1952 |
| 6 | 🇺🇸FMVan Meter, Lester | 1918 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6.0 | 27.25 | 60.0 | -8.8 | 1884 |
| 7 | 🇳🇿FMGibbons, Robert | 1812 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5.5 | 24.75 | 60.5 | +11.6 | 1857 |
| 8 | 🇳🇿Dolejs, Dan | 1709 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | 16.75 | 61.0 | +30.0 | 1828 |
| 9 | 🇳🇿Kerr, Grant | 1705 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4.5 | 19.50 | 61.5 | +21.4 | 1799 |
| 10 | 🇳🇿Hair, Philip I | 1864 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 3.5 | 16.50 | 62.5 | -43.0 | 1720 |
| 11 | 🇳🇿Cooper, Nigel | 1639 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | 2.0 | 6.75 | 64.0 | -13.0 | 1598 |
| 12 | 🇳🇿Mukkattu, Philip | 1602 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 1.0 | 4.00 | 65.0 | -25.0 | 1474 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
- 1Dolejs, DanNZL+30.05.0 pts · #8
- 2Kerr, GrantNZL+21.44.5 pts · #9
- 3Metge, J. NigelNZL+16.87.0 pts · #4
- 1Hair, Philip INZL-43.03.5 pts · #10
- 2Mukkattu, PhilipNZL-25.01.0 pts · #12
- 3Carpinter, Antony LNZL-20.87.5 pts · #3
- R7+159 Elo gap
- R2+155 Elo gap