The first match of the season, our C team at home vs Downend D.
Nigel managed to mess up his opening against Ian on board 1 and after many (many) attempts Mr Pickup finally won his first ever game against him. James and Nigel played a no frills (thrills?) game on board 3 and agreed an early draw and on board 6 Joaquim was better out of the opening with more space and centralised pieces. He created a protected passed c pawn and it was enough to win the queen and pawn endgame.
On board 2 Alan marked his return to league chess (welcome back Alan) with a win. The main drama was in the endgame where white blundered an exchange, but neither Alan nor Dave saw the winning tactic (on two consecutive moves). Instead Alan was able to infiltrate with his rook and establish two connected passed pawns that decided the game. On board 5 Piotr built a strong position but playing junior time controls meant he got into time trouble and blundered a piece and with it the game. So five games completed by 9.30, match level, and just board 4 to go.
Graham had stepped in at the last minute to make up the six and was a pawn up but the game looked pretty drawn. No draw offers made and the game continued. Graham’s love of clock trouble came to the fore and whilst white burned time Dan was able to play creditably accurate chess in the ending and turned the game around taking the game and the match.
| 1 | Nigel Pollett (1753) | 0 | Ian Pickup (1769) | 1 |
| 2 | Alan Clarke (UNG) | 1 | Dave Williams (1661) | 0 |
| 3 | James Facey (1715) | .5 | Nigel Wilcox (1633) | .5 |
| 4 | Graham Strickland (1463) | 0 | Dan Parcell (1590) | 1 |
| 5 | Piotr Zielinski (1613) | 0 | Alexis Malibiran (1585) | 1 |
| 6 | Joaquim Luque (1634) | 1 | John Paines (1430) | 0 |
| Horfield C | 2.5 | Downend D | 3.5 |
The D team started off their campaign at Cabot’s new venue on Wednesday. Ben playing his first game for us drew on top board with Oleksii and Mike J won the battle of the Mikes by winning a piece early and taking the advantage through to the end game and forcing the promotion of a pawn. Joe and Graham came out on the wrong side of their games. So two matches and two close defeats. It’ll get better.
| 1 | Oleksii Novakov (1603) | .5 | Ben Learoyd (1744) | .5 |
| 2 | Robbie Thornhill (1538) | 1 | Joe Fearnhead (1295) | 0 |
| 5 | Mike Roberts (1515) | 0 | Mike Jennings (1496) | 1 |
| 6 | Phil Burnett (1396) | 1 | Graham Strickland (1444) | 0 |
| Cabot B | 2.5 | Horfield D | 1.5 |
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 