Gerardo wins Winter League

Gerardo Artola Pola clinched victory in the 2014-15 Galway Winter League by drawing with Jason Rawlinson, in a hard fought game.  That puts him 1½ points ahead of the field, with one round to go.  This is the first time that the Winter League has been won with a round to spare since it was reduced to 7 rounds ten years ago.  Last year at this time it was very close, with five tied for first place before the final round, and a play-off eventually needed to determine the winner; this year Gerardo has run away with the tournament in fine style.