John Thorley v Chris Carpenter (Margate)

[Event "Sandwich v Margate (Millar Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2024.04.30"] [Round "?"] [White "John Thorley"] [Black "Chris Carpenter"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1592"] [BlackElo "1594"] [EventDate "2024.04.30"] [ECO "E61"] [PlyCount "41"] {The new "2nd Earl of Sandwich" continues his rich vein of form in Sandwich's 5-2 Millar Cup victory over Margate...} 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f3 $5 {Rare, and evidently John's trademark move here} 4...O-O 5.e3 $5 ( {Usual is} 5.e4 {and now e.g.} 5...d6 6.Be3 c5 7.Nge2 Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Ng3 e6 10.Be2 exd5 11.cxd5 a6 12.a4 Bd7 13.h3 b5 14.f4 Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.O-O Rb8 17.e5 $10 ) 5...c5 6.Bd3 d6 7.Nge2 a6 8.O-O Nc6 9.a3 Rb8 10.d5 Ne5 11.f4 $6 ( {More solid is} 11.e4 Nfd7 {and only now} 12.f4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 {when Black should continue by pressing on the queenside:} 13...b5 $1 14.cxb5 axb5 15.b4 c4 $15 ) 11...Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Bd7 $6 {Passing on an early chance to take control of the game} ( 12...b5 $1 {This is not a sacrifice, but rather it wins a pawn.} 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5 $6 Nxd5 $1 15.Qxd5 Rxb5 $17 ) 13.Ng3 $2 ( 13.a4 $1 {preventing 13...b5.} ) 13...b5 $1 {Better late than never!} 14.b3 bxc4 $6 ( 14...Nxd5 $1 {With this bravura sacrifice Black uncorks a savage pin along the h8-a1 diagonal to win the white rook:} 15.cxd5 ( 15.Qxd5 Bxc3 $17 ) 15...b4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.Nce2 Bxa1 $17 ) 15.bxc4 Rb3 16.Bd2 ( 16.Rb1 $1 Rxb1 17.Nxb1 {resolves matters before Black can cause any more trouble in this corner of the board.} ) 16...Qc7 17.Rac1 $6 Rbb8 $2 {An odd retreat} ( {The obvious continuation is} 17...Rfb8 ) ( {but even better is the simple pawn grab:} 17...Rxa3 $1 18.Ra1 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 a5 $1 $17 ) 18.f5 $5 ( {Best now for White was} 18.Rb1 {but, considering the error it prompts, it's hard to criticise John's choice, which threates to tear to the top off Black's kingside pawns.} ) 18...e5 $2 19.Nce4 $5 {White declines to take en passant and instead tries to fish out the strong f6-knight.} ( {Black must have expected the en passant capture} 19.dxe6 fxe6 {but clearly White should decline a further exchange on e6 and instead continue with his intention of hacking at the black king's defences:} 20.fxg6 $1 hxg6 21.Qxg6 $14 ) 19...Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Bxf5 21.Nxf5 gxf5 22.Qxf5 $14 Qc8 {Black is sufficiently alarmed by recent events to offer an exchange of queens.} 23.Qg5 {Meanwhile, White is sufficiently encouraged to turn him down!} 23...f6 24.Qg3 Qe8 25.e4 Qg6 {Black is desperate to achieve this trade.} 26.Qe1 {White is equally desperate to avoid it!} ( 26.Qxg6 hxg6 27.Rb1 f5 {is a logical continuation but looks drawish.} ) 26...f5 $1 27.Rc3 f4 28.Kh1 Kh8 29.g3 Rb7 $6 ( {What Black needs here is some good old-fashioned counterplay, with rook to the seventh:} 29...Rb2 $1 30.Rcf3 Rc2 31.gxf4 exf4 32.Rxf4 Rxf4 33.Rxf4 Rxc4 34.Qf1 Rc2 35.Rf8+ Bxf8 36.Qxf8+ Qg8 $10 {and a perpetual check beckons.} ) 30.Rcf3 Rbf7 $6 ( 30...Rb2 $10 $1 ) 31.gxf4 $1 Qh5 $2 ( 31...exf4 32.Rxf4 Rxf4 33.Bxf4 Re8 $14 {looks as if it could be held by Black.} ) 32.f5 $1 {Exactly. This is why the pawn had to be taken.} 32...Rf6 $2 33.Qg3 Rg8 $2 {Black just can't get his defences arranged properly.} 34.Rg1 Qf7 $2 ( 34...Rff8 {is hardly much better now:} 35.Bg5 Qf7 36.f6 Bh6 37.Bxh6 Rxg3 38.Rfxg3 Rd8 39.Rg5 a5 40.Rf5 a4 41.Rg7 {Ouch!} 41...Qf8 42.Rd7 $1 Rxd7 43.Bxf8 $18 ) 35.Bg5 $1 {To quote John himself, "Game over!"} 35...Rh6 36.Bxh6 Bxh6 37.Qxg8+ Qxg8 38.Rxg8+ Kxg8 39.Kg2 Bf4 40.Rb3 Kf7 41.Rb7+ Kg8 42.Rd7 {Black resigns.} 1-0

Peter McGill (Margate) v Robert Starley

[Event "Sandwich v Margate (Millar Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2024.04.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Peter McGill"] [Black "Robert Starley"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1908"] [BlackElo "2151"] [EventDate "2024.04.30"] [ECO "C44"] [Annotator "Robert Starley"] [BlackTeam "Sandwich"] [BlackTeamCountry "ENG"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventType "team"] [WhiteTeam "Margate"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"] {Having successfully defended his "Black-and-White" title, Robert also leads by example in Sandwich's 5-2 win at home to Margate in the Millar Cup, bravely diving into the murky waters of the Göring Gambit Accepted. Robert annotates his own play. C44: Ponziani Opening and Scotch Gambit} 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 cxb2 {The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it, so I happily take both of the pawns offered.} 6.Bxb2 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.O-O O-O 9.Nd5 ( 9.e5 {is the other main option here, when White has decent compensation for the sacrificed pawns, but probably not quite enough if Black plays accurately.} ) 9...Be7 ( {Not} 9...Nxe4 $2 10.Qc2 Re8 11.Bd3 $16 ) ( 9...Nxd5 $6 10.exd5 $14 {would also play into White's hands somewhat.} ) 10.e5 $6 {This is not as good as it would have been on the previous move, as now the knight can escape from the pawn by simply capturing on d5.} ( 10.Qc2 d6 $15 ) 10...Nxd5 $17 11.Bxd5 d6 12.Be4 $6 ( 12.Qb3 $142 $5 $17 ) 12...Nxe5 $19 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qc2 $5 ( {Understandably, White wanted to avoid trading queens when two pawns down.} 14.Bxe5 Qxd1 15.Rfxd1 c6 $19 ) 14...Bd6 {I decided that I would rather keep the e-pawn than the h-pawn, so the long diagonal stays closed.} ( {Another option I considered was} 14...f5 $1 15.Rfd1 Bd6 16.Bd5+ Kh8 17.Rd2 $19 {which probably would have been even better, keeping all the pawns at the cost of slightly weakening the kingside and blocking in my light-squared bishop.} ) 15.Rad1 $2 {Now I can hold onto all three extra pawns without any problem.} ( 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Be4 $19 ) 15...Qh4 16.Rfe1 Rb8 17.Bd5 Qh5 18.Bf3 Bg4 $5 {I decided to give a pawn back in order to complete development and trade both bishops. After all, a two-pawn advantage should be enough to easily win the endgame.} ( {It was also possible to be greedy and keep all three extra pawns with} 18...Qg5 19.Re3 $19 {but then I still haven't completed development and White would retain some initiative.} ) 19.Bxg4 Qxg4 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Rfe8 22.Rde1 $6 ( 22.f3 Qf4 23.Red5 $19 ) 22...Rxe5 23.Rxe5 Rd8 24.Re1 Qb4 25.Rb1 Qd2 {Now the queen trade will be forced, as back rank mate is threatened if the queen moves away from guarding d1.} 26.Qxd2 ( 26.Qa4 Qd4 27.Qxd4 ( 27.Qb3 Qd3 28.Qxd3 Rxd3 $19 ) 27...Rxd4 $19 ) 26...Rxd2 {Now I have the simple task of winning a rook ending with 2 extra pawns} 27.g3 b6 28.Rc1 c5 29.a4 Ra2 30.Rc4 Kf8 31.Re4 Rb2 32.Re5 Rb4 33.a5 Ra4 34.axb6 axb6 35.Kf1 Ra7 36.Rd5 ( 36.Ke2 {would be met with} 36...Re7 $19 {forcing the rooks off.} ) 36...Ke7 37.Rd1 b5 38.Rb1 b4 39.Ke2 Kd6 40.Kd2 Kc6 41.f4 Ra2+ 42.Kd3 Rxh2 43.Kc4 Rc2+ {White resigned.} ( 43...Rc2+ 44.Kd3 Rc3+ 45.Ke4 Rxg3 $19 ) 0-1

David Marsden (Broadstairs) v Jon Hunt

[Event "Broadstairs v Sandwich (Steele Cup)"] [Site "The Bradstow Mill"] [Date "2024.04.29"] [Round "?"] [White "David Marsden"] [Black "Jon Hunt"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1409"] [BlackElo "1501"] [EventDate "2024.04.29"] [ECO "B21"] {This game just goes to show that it's always worth throwing in an opening trap when it costs you nothing to play!} 1.d4 c5 2.e4 cxd4 3.Nf3 {White was banging out moves very fast, considering the standardplay time controls, and so it seemed sensible to play the trappy move here.} 3...e5 $1 4.Nxe5 $4 Qa5+ {Winning the knight} 5.Nd2 Qxe5 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Bb4 $6 ( {A piece up, I should be aiming to play more solidly, e.g.} 7...Bc5 8.Nb3 d6 9.Bf4 Qh5 $1 10.Nxd4 {and Black develops into his win with} 10...O-O $1 11.c3 Bxd4 12.cxd4 Qxd1+ 13.Kxd1 $19 ( 13.Rxd1 $6 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Re8 ) ) 8.O-O O-O 9.Nc4 Qc5 10.b3 ( {I expected the immediate} 10.e5 Qxc4 11.exf6 {when} 11...g6 $1 {is the answer I couldn't quite find in my calculations. Perhaps it would have occurred to me if we had reached this position.} ) 10...Nc6 11.a3 Bc3 $1 12.Nb2 $2 ( 12.Rb1 $2 {is hardly any better.} ) ( 12.Bb2 $1 Bxb2 13.Nxb2 ) 12...b5 $6 ( 12...Qe7 $1 {After all, White can't even play Re1 now.} ) 13.Nd3 Qb6 14.Bb2 Bxb2 15.Nxb2 Bb7 16.b4 $6 ( 16.a4 $1 {seemed to me a much more useful move for White here:} 16...b4 17.a5 Nxa5 18.Na4 ) 16...a5 17.Rc1 $6 {At this point, I had the sense that White was really bluffing. I couldn't see how advancing the c-pawn would help his position, and the pawn dropping on b4 seemed real. It was!} 17...axb4 18.axb4 Nxb4 19.Re1 Na2 $1 {Bravo, Jon! This excellent move was a brave choice.} 20.Ra1 ( 20.Rb1 $2 Nc3 {drops the exchange.} ) 20...Nc3 21.Qd3 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Ra8 $6 ( {I was right to notice after 22...Ra8 that I had missed the chance to win the pawn on e4:} 22...Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Ncxe4 ) 23.Re1 Ra2 $1 {Bravo again, as this was a doubly brave decision! Black's point is that the white knight has nowhere to go but the back rank.} 24.Nd1 Ra1 $1 25.e5 $1 {The crucial last roll of the dice by White} 25...Nfd5 26.Kf1 $2 Rxd1 $6 ( 26...Nxd1 $1 27.Rxd1 Nb4 $1 28.Qd2 Bxg2+ 29.Kxg2 Qc6+ 30.Kg1 Rxd1+ 31.Qxd1 Nxc2 {wins.} ) 27.Rxd1 Nxd1 28.Qxd1 Nc3 29.Qd3 Qa6 $1 {Making a direct mate threat} 30.Bxb7 ( 30.Qxd4 $4 Qa1+ 31.Qd1 Qxd1# ) 30...Qxb7 31.f3 Qd5 $1 32.Kg2 Qxe5 33.Kh3 {Time was short now - on my clock, at least! - and so I'll excuse myself suboptimal moves now, so long as they win!} 33...g6 {I was just glad to give my king some luft, before White could conjure up any back-rank tricks.} 34.g4 h5 35.Qf1 $2 ( 35.gxh5 Qxh5+ 36.Kg2 Qe5 ) 35...hxg4+ 36.fxg4 Qe3+ 37.Kh4 Qe5 38.Kh3 Ne4 39.Qa1 Ng5+ 40.Kg2 Qe4+ 41.Kf1 ( 41.Kf2 {avoids the back-rank skewer but still leads to mate:} 41...Nh3+ 42.Kg3 Qe3+ 43.Kh4 ( 43.Kg2 Nf4+ 44.Kh1 Qe4+ 45.Kg1 Qg2# ) 43...g5+ 44.Kh5 Kh7 45.Qf1 Qe6 46.Qd3+ Qg6+ 47.Qxg6+ fxg6# {A remarkable finish!} ) 41...Qh1+ {White resigned, since 42...Qxa1.} 0-1

Michael Micklethwaite (Margate) v Robert Starley

[Event "Sandwich v Margate (Steele Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2024.03.12"] [Round "?.1"] [White "Micklethwaite, Michael"] [Black "Starley, Robert"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1675"] [BlackElo "2210"] [EventDate "2024.03.12"] [ECO "C89"] [PlyCount "120"] [BlackTeam "Sandwich II"] [BlackTeamCountry "ENG"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventType "team"] [WhiteTeam "Margate III"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"] {It's nice to see Robert get into trouble every once in a while...and even nicer to see him get out of it again to score us the full point just when we need it for a 2-2 draw against Margate! Like all the greatest works of art, it's unfinished, so you'll just have to use your imagination as to how he got there from the final position...} 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.d4 $5 ( 9.exd5 {is more usual:} 9...Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 {This appears to be a well known position in this Ruy Lopez line, with fairly even chances to judge from results at high level.} ) 9...dxe4 $5 10.Nxe5 Bb7 $6 {Here Robert perhaps goes wrong, since this move, though frequently played, has resulted in many a win for White.} ( {He might have preferred} 10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Bxd1 $1 Nd5 13.Rxe4 {where Black could argue that White is behind in development for the extra pawn.} ) 11.Bf4 $146 {We are totally out of book now.} ( 11.Nd2 {is the continuation with which White appears to have caused trouble in this line.} ) 11...Na5 12.Bc2 Qd5 $6 ( {Better is} 12...c5 $1 {threatening to open the d-file (I see this a lot in my Scandinavian lines), e.g.} 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Nd2 {(unless White wants to exchange queens, of course)} 14...Nd5 15.Nxe4 Bxf2+ $1 16.Nxf2 Nxf4 17.Be4 Bxe4 18.Rxe4 Ne6 $10 ) 13.Qe2 b4 $6 {Leaving the c-pawn at home is looking like a very odd decision now.} 14.Nd2 $1 e3 $2 {This sets up a "cheapo".} 15.fxe3 ( 15.Qxe3 $4 Qxg2# ) ( 15.Bxe3 $4 Qxg2# ) 15...Nh5 $4 {Robert is still fishing for mate on g2. However, he has reckoned without Mick's next move.} 16.Bxh7+ $1 {Greek Gift sacrifice!} ( {And not, of course} 16.Qxh5 $4 Qxg2# ) 16...Kxh7 17.Qxh5+ Kg8 18.Qf3 $2 {Luckily for Robert, Mick doesn't find the best way to sort out the cheapo.} ( 18.e4 $1 {is game over.} 18...Qd8 19.Re3 Bc8 20.g4 f6 21.Ng6 $18 {and it's goodnight from him.} ) 18...Qb5 19.Qg3 Rfe8 $6 20.Bh6 ( 20.c4 $1 {is a tricky little exercise in decoying:} 20...Qb6 21.Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 22.Bxc7 Qh6 23.Bxa5 $18 ) 20...Bf8 21.c4 $1 Qb6 22.Bf4 Qe6 23.b3 Rac8 $2 24.d5 $1 {This shuts Black's light-squared bishop out of play.} 24...Qf5 25.e4 $1 Bc5+ 26.Kh1 Qh5 27.Ndf3 Bd6 28.Nd3 Bxf4 $5 {I'm sure it's White who should want to exchange off the pieces here, not Black! (White is two pawns up.)} 29.Qxf4 c5 30.Nfe5 Red8 31.Re3 f6 $2 32.Ng4 ( 32.Rh3 $1 {Whither is the queen to fly?} 32...Qe8 $4 ( 32...Qe2 $4 33.Qh4 {ditto.} ) 33.Qh4 {and mate swiftly ensues.} ) 32...Rf8 ( {The engine requires} 32...Qg5 {but what's the use after an exchange of queens?} 33.Qxg5 fxg5 34.Nge5 $18 ) 33.Rg3 Kf7 $2 {My HIARCS engine scores this position at +26.85 to White. We're going to have to nickname Robert "The Human Houdini" after this game...} 34.Rf1 ( 34.Nxf6 $1 {finishes things fast, since} 34...gxf6 {is effectively forced, and now} 35.Qd6 {is a deadly infiltration.} ) 34...Ke7 35.Qe3 $2 Kd6 36.Qf3 Ba8 {This is another move HIARCS hates, but Black has to be practical. The bishop is entombed, but the knight is still breathing...just.} 37.Ne3 $6 ( 37.Qf4+ $1 {and HIARCS can see its way to mate.} ) 37...Qxf3 $1 {Black is only too glad to keep exchanging into that two-pawns-down ending and trying his luck with a 500+ points rating lead!} 38.Rfxf3 g5 39.e5+ fxe5 40.Rxf8 Rxf8 41.Rxg5 e4 $5 {HIARCS would put a piece on b7 now, but there's no doubt that human players understand the hypnotic effect of a passed pawn on the move...} 42.Rg6+ Kc7 43.Nxc5 Rf2 $2 {Yes, you read the notation right. Rook on the seventh is bad for Black in this position.} 44.Nxa6+ ( {Here's why:} 44.d6+ $1 Kb8 ( 44...Kd8 $4 45.Rg8+ Rf8 46.Rxf8# ) ( 44...Kc8 $4 45.Rg8+ Rf8 46.Rxf8# ) 45.d7 Rd2 46.Rg8+ Ka7 47.d8=Q Rxd8 48.Rxd8 $18 ) 44...Kc8 45.Nxb4 Re2 46.Nf1 e3 {The rook isn't even the right side of the passed pawn! HIARCS is unimpressed and rates White about +12.} 47.h4 $2 {Mick falls under the baleful influence of Robert's hypnotic pawn.} ( 47.Kg1 $1 ) 47...Re1 $1 48.Kg1 e2 $1 {You might like to consider how you would evaluate the position now that Black's passed pawn has made it to the seventh rank. HIARCS has knocked about 9 points off its rating of two moves ago.} 49.Rf6 Nb7 ( 49...Rd1 50.Nc2 Rc1 51.h5 $1 {Making a silk purse out of a sow's ear!} 51...Rxc2 52.Re6 exf1=Q+ 53.Kxf1 {and Black is still losing, so once again I can't prefer HIARCS' suggestion over what Robert is playing.} ) 50.h5 {The ear moves a step closer to pursedom.} 50...Rc1 ( {HIARCS' line} 50...Rd1 51.Nc2 Rc1 52.h6 {still doesn't seem any better to me.} ) 51.Nd3 $1 Nc5 $5 {By now I had finished my own game and was glued to this one. I was as hypnotised as Mick by the tactics surrounding the defence of e1, and I certainly didn't see that White can ignore everything Black is threatening!} 52.Rf8+ ( 52.h6 $3 {It's so hard to force yourself to analyse lines where you let your opponent queen first!} 52...Nxd3 53.h7 $1 e1=Q 54.h8=Q+ Kd7 55.Rf7+ Kd6 56.Qf8+ Ke5 57.Re7+ Kd4 58.Rxe1 Rxe1 59.Qxa8 $18 ) 52...Kc7 53.Nxc5 $4 {The engine swings to -1. Advantage Black!} 53...e1=Q 54.Ne6+ Kd6 55.Rf3 Bxd5 $2 $10 {0.0 (HIARCS). This sac is rather cavalier, and probably underestimates the power of the queen - funny, considering how much heavy lifting she was left to do on her own in the game!} ( 55...Qh4 $1 56.Rh3 Qe7 57.Kf2 Rc2+ 58.Kg1 Qf7 59.Rf3 Qxh5 60.Ne3 Rxa2 $17 {Black has queen for knight and four pawns, and this is probably winning for Black now.} ) 56.cxd5 Kxd5 $4 ( 56...Rc3 57.Rf2 Kxd5 {is fine.} ) 57.Nf4+ $1 {The knight heads for the fork Robert has missed.} 57...Ke4 58.h6 $2 ( {Mick misses the win one last time:} 58.Nd3 $1 Qd2 59.Nxc1 Qxc1 $18 ) 58...Qh4 59.Nd3 Qxh6 60.Nxc1 Qxc1 {A tantalising place for the notation to stop. The position is almost certainly a theoretical draw, with HIARCS scoring it at +0.3 to White (nothing more than his opening advantage). It's perhaps no surprise then that from here the stronger player managed to overpower his opponent into conceding a queen-versus-rook ending which Robert was eventually able to convert.} 0-1

It's a Sandwich Double!

The juniors of Sandwich and Folkestone renewed their acquaintance over the board in a ‘B’ team match on Saturday 9th March, a warmer and sunnier day than our previous chilly December meeting. Both sides retained two players from the earlier fixture, with Sandwich this time fielding two girls in our team. Once again the time control was 10|5 and the contest a six-round all-play-all in which each player took on all six members of the opposing team.

Sandwich once again took an early lead, and by the end of Round 4 we had built it up to ten points, leading 17–7. However, faced with an uphill challenge to keep in the running until the final round, Folkestone seized their chance with the white pieces in Round 5, winning it by a comprehensive scoreline of 5½–½. Needing another 5½ points to tie the match, and all 6 to win, Folkestone pressed hard with the black pieces in the final round but ultimately came up short, with the final scoreline 21½–14½ to Sandwich.

The players before the start of the match

The two top performances of the day came from Sandwich players, with Laurence top scorer overall on 4½ points, and the Sandwich captain Conor second on 4 out of 6. Newcomer Alfie scored an impressive 3½ points, showing perseverance and no little talent in the endgame, and tying with our highest-rated player Aayush. May and Aine both scored a very creditable 3 out of 6, with Aine surviving the most incredible time pressure in Round 2 to play out a winning ending on top board.

For Folkestone, Henry emphatically hit his stride in the last two rounds, while brothers Marcus and Tristan proved consistent scorers for their team; all three finished on 3 points. Siah impressed again, defending valiantly against Aine in that Round 2 game, to finish on 2½ points. Newcomer Aarav’s aggressive approach with the white pieces netted him a couple of remarkably quick mates, some red faces in the Sandwich team, and 2 points. And finally Alex was unlucky not to score more with his thoughtful play, succumbing a couple of times to checkmates he just didn’t see coming.

We’re already looking forward to next season, with a larger-scale match in the planning stages (maybe 12 boards, maybe more!) and hopefully fixtures against some other club or school sides. Click here to view the full match results on the ECF League Management System.