An excellent result! Congratulations to John Turner on holding his opponent to a draw, and to Jonathan for defeating Bradford’s FM. How did the opening go, Jonathan? Something like this:

Holmes Chapel 2056   Bradford DCA Knights A 2098

321 w Blackburn, Jonathan LB 2170 1 – 0 Hague, Ben f 2301

322 b Turner, John M 2071 ½ – ½ Williams, Winston 2220

323 w Clark, Robert G 2035 0 – 1 Molofej, Denis 2043

324 b Hancock, Michael L 2098 1 – 0 Lang, Adam R 2050

325 w Doran, Chris 2020 ½ – ½ Brijmohun, Louis 2018

326 b Gorman, John A 1942 0 – 1 Patrick, David A 1961

3 – 3

Many thanks to Chris for stepping in and obtaining a solid result when Tony Soames had a “senior moment”, turning up for a two o’clock start, to find everyone had started without him! Never mind, Tony – it happens to all of us, and with increasing frequency in my experience ..

I sign off in sunny Dunedin – it’s time to go to the beach.

PS Jon points out to me that if his opponent had played 49 .. exf3, the ending was drawn. I agree.

This match should not have been difficult, based on the difference in grading strength, and that is how it has turned out, despite the opposition’s captain describing his team as his “Young Guns”. The grades of the youth in chess should always be regarded with the deepest suspicion.

Bradford DCA Knights B 1874   Holmes Chapel 2030

331 w Bak, Andrew 1946 ½ – ½ Turner, John M 2071

332 b Edwards-Wright, Miles D 1946 1 – 0 Hancock, Michael L 2098

333 w Corcoran, Gary 1868 ½ – ½ Clark, Robert G 2035

334 b Jones, Steven A 1829 0 – 1 Doran, Chris 2020

335 w Dean, Robert A 1882 0 – 1 Bennion, David A 2015

336 b Hackner, Oskar A 1778 0 – 1 Gorman, John A 1942

2 – 4

Dave Bennion had a topsy-turvy game with a neat finish:

Congratulations everyone, and now for the big boys tomorrow – Good Luck!