The closeness of this match is reflected in the score.
Jonathan got us off to the ideal start, winning in less than 30 minutes. I didn’t see his game but he kept an immaculate record.
Sam battled on in a difficult position from the opening but it ultimately proved unsustainable. Alan agreed an early, understandable draw.
When Louis showed the superiority of piece co-ordination over a pawn deficit the match result now hinged on boards 3 and 4.
Hanham held the initiative on both but Chris Parker’s way forward was unclear. After that draw was agreed we were astonished when Barry soon offered to share the point with Graham. Material was level and time not short for either player, but with the pressure of Barry’s far better deployed forces against his vulnerable king Graham was already in hand-hovering mode.
It’s a funny old game!
(1) A. Clarke 0.5 – 0.5 G.Beaver
(2) L.Martin 1 – 0 P.Lawson
(3) G.Strickland 0.5 – 0.5 B.Davies
(4) M.Jennings 0.5 – 0.5 C.Parker
(5) S.Turner 0 – 1 K.Marshall
(6) Jonathan Zeng 1 – 0 M.Howells
HORFIELD D 3.5 – 2.5 HANHAM A
NB: Horfield were black on boards 1, 3 and 5
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 