We have recently had a large influx of new and junior players into the club. The team selected for this week's match reflected the club's wish to give juniors, in particular, exposure to adult league play rather than the wish to win the match at all costs.
As I said in a pre-match email "Although this might be a tough match - Keatan on top board for the first time and Gregory has not played a League game before - we can be confident of giving Leamington, at the very least, a good run for their money. With a favourable wind we have every chance of winning the match."
In the event, the opposition had a huge advantage in experience and a colossal grading advantage of - wait for it - 1,133!! An average of what? Well I'll tell you. 283 on each and every board! A floor wiping advantage you might, not unreasonably, think.
So lets see how the match went. Both myself and Paul were in attendance. The analysis is mine so please do treat this with a sackfull of salt.First to finish was Zac (1341) playing only his second ever game for us, against Alex Kagalis (1571) on board three. Zac's 1.d4 was met with 1...c5 ( a Benoni Defence I believe) which I think flummoxed Zac, although he handled it fine after 2 dxc5. Nevertheless, Zac came under quite a bit of pressure before briefly equalizing in mid-game. Sadly he overlooked the danger to his queen, sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of the board in a crowed position. He lost his queen and resigned. But a creditable performance well deserving of a place in a team next season.
Next to finish was Steph (1377), playing her first match for the club, against Mick Nevin (1668) on board two in a Queen's Gambit Declined. After playing an inaccuracy early in the opening, Steph gave a valiant performance but was later forced to drop a pawn in order to save her exposed queen. After dropping a further pawn and under tremendous pressure, Steph continually sought active moves and gave her opponent a good run for his money before finally succumbing.
Less positive supporters than Paul and myself may have been a little disheartened at the 2-0 score line. But we were aware of what was going on on boards one and four.
Keatan (1443) played Owen Clarke (1794) on top board and despite the huge grade difference of 351!!!!! had the upper hand from the outset and a beautiful knight sacrifice put his opponent under massive pressure with queen, rook, knight and bishop bearing down on an exposed King. Although this attack did not result in mate, Keatan did win a pawn. The advantage lay with Keatan when his opponent's time expired. A VERY impressive performance and attitude from Keatan (aged 15) whose use of time was an example to us all - well to me and Paul, anyway!
Brilliant though Keatan was and whose win brought us back into contention, the star of the show was undoubtedly Gregory (aged eleven, grade 1103) who was playing on bottom board against Charlie Corden (1364). Gregory broke the opening symmetry at about move seven, establishing a solid position which he held on to. He went on to win the exchange not flustered by the ghost of an attack against his king which he deftly sidestepped by pushing his h-pawn rather than recapturing on g6 - a mistake common to many a junior. Taking advantage of White's exposed king, Gregory managed to go a whole rook and three pawns up before giving the crowd a master display of how to win a simple endgame. HUGELY impressive play from Gregory who knew he had to win to save the match and despite a crowd of adults all gathered around was not at all phased by the pressure.
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| Last night's two heroes - Keatan (l) and Gregory (r) - plus Paul's report for the Coventry Chess Club Facebook page. There's a first for the KCC blog - two different reports of the same match!) |
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