Stoneham C v University B - 26 Nov 2002

Firstly University's Report

Yes!!! We finally got a result and what a team effort it was with everyone contributing to the score, well done everyone!!!!

We started the night by getting told off by the barmaid for entering through the back entrance (ooh missus). 

Graham started the ball running by winning his game on board five and continuing his great form, with some great play. Ashraf, bravely playing with a headache went into an opposite bishop endgame with a pawn up, unfortunately the different coloured bishops meant he could only draw.

Then my opponent missing an opportunity to win a pawn and subsequently the game offered a draw and I accepted gratefully, though even after eighty minutes I noticed that my opponents flag was very stiff therefore he seemed to only have used 12 minutes instead of 40 (good ploy if someone tends to get into time trouble;-)). 

Ben whose position had looked precarious had managed to gain some material with interest but his opponent had the only queen on board and a draw was mutually agreed. Only needing a draw to win the match, Stephen held his nerve in a very tense tactical game to get the match winning half point. Hooray!!!

Phi Lawson - University B Match Captain

And now Stoneham's Report

It was good to be able to play hosts to the University team at our new venue, in other years (in our previous incarnation as the Unity club) we had often played our "home" fixture against the University at their clubroom due to difficulty for their team getting transport.  For the first time this season we were back to the "original" Division 4 champion team from last year - Dave, Sam, Kev, Rob and me.

We had decided to each take it in turns to pass the "H.L.Parsons trophy" from player to player during the season - hope it will not prove to be a sign of bad luck as Rob, the latest owner was first to finish his game, sadly for us on the losing side. Sam's game looked interesting - we had been discussing some trappy lines in the Vienna gambit and he was developing a ferocious attack - however his opponent managed to simplify to an opposite bishop endgame and they agreed a draw. Dave's game looked tightly balanced, and Kev's looked much too hairy for me, with Queen swapped off for a rook + knight and some pawns.

Meanwhile I was slogging away with a French Defence (Winawer system) attacking White's doubled Q-side pawns. I thought I was doing really well for time and wondering if it was due to 5 minute Internet chess games until my opponent pointed out that my clock flag had jammed the minute hand! (I claim that clock for my Black games in the next 5-minute Tournament!)  I missed a chance to gain a pawn and we agreed a draw in a fairly even rook and pawn endgame. Keven's game was also drawn though he'd had much more fun - taking two Queens off his opponent.  At 1½ -2½ down we were hoping Captain Dave might save the day for us but alas it was not to be - in his own words : "my game was a centre-counter with aggressive play on both sides. A highly tactical affair, everything exploded in the last 10 moves, all played in less than five minutes each ( that's fast for me ! ). Eventually, I had to concede a draw as my attacking possibilities ran out of steam." 

Pat Pavey - Stoneham Chess Club