After the torpor of the earlier film, the sequel starts with tumultuous action.
A result! Draw on Board 1 as Jude's slight endgame advantage ebbs away when Mike trades knight for bishop. The Director completely misses the moment! But the players are soon conducting a post mortem in a desperate attempt to uncover the chess truths which eluded them in the game. A sinister figure (Death? The Devil??) looks on and mischievously throws in anarchic suggestions.
Unbelievably the action intensifies. There is another result. The immaculately attired Andrew P has despatched the now even more dishevelled Phil, and modestly accepts the congratulations of the admiring mob, before vanishing mysteriously into the night. Having never taken his coat off the entire evening. Suspicious or what??
The excitement of the match has dissipated, with the A team already up to 2.5 points. But the struggle of the individual for redemption and truth continues on Board 4. Bernard is pressing, his knight clearly superior to Joshua's hapless bishop. White's d5 pawn is about to be lost. Then pandemonium - a distraction sacrifice on the queenside gets Black some much needed activity, at the cost of giving White an extra passed a pawn. But Bernard's clock is ticking ever faster and is now down to 3 minutes. Lente, lente, currite noctis equi. He can't stand the tension and offers a draw, despite his extra pawn. The End. Another cliff-hanger as the resolution is postponed to Part 3.
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