Any Cup Final win merits an individual match report, so our dual triumphs at this week's Leamington League Finals Night will receive separate coverage. And first up is news of KCC's 3-1 win over Daventry in the final of the U-1600 Cup.
Once upon a time the letters K & K meant only one thing - Karpov and Kasparov. Then a few years later, but only briefly, it could have referenced Kasparov and Kramnik. But those days are long gone, and a new K & K era has begun. Now the letters stand for Katya and Keatan, who turned out to be the youthful heroine/hero of our first success in the U-1600 cup (and its predecessors, the U-120 and U-100 cups) since 2003. All together now (you know the tune!):
But enough of such digressions, it's finally time for Roy's report - suitably edited by me to remove a distinctly dubious historical/literary reference. He knows which one I mean!
"It was a struggle to get a team together for this match - we
have so many juniors and school takes precedence - despite the lure of La
Gloire! But a full team was assembled with just the two juniors, Katya and Keatan leading the way, plus Patrick, who has played very
little this season due to his unavailability on Monday nights, and captain Roy, who has played very little this season due to his completely justified estrangement from the Leamington League.
Having beaten Daventry in the showdown for divisional title a few weeks back, confidence was high since Daventry's best players were ineligible. Confidence went higher as the Daventry captain told me they had to default on bottom board! La Gloire (not the ironclad) was calling. In light of a major kerfuffle earlier in the season about an alleged board order infringement a quick consultation with the many League bigwigs who were present confirmed that it was in order to move Patrick up to board three whilst I sat it out.
Captain Roy did his best to calm things down and to ensure the team took nothing for granted. And we were off - not at all in the shadow of the big boys of our club who were also playing for something that evening against somebody. (match report of Kenilworth against somebody to follow in another artcile!) So, with a 1-0 scoreline before a piece was even moved, Katya on top board quickly established a comfortable position, then a three pawn advantage then a win. 2-0. Patrick's game set off at a blistering pace with almost everything rapidly coming off but leaving him with an inferior endgame - Patrick's knight and five v bishop and six. Patrick lost, though not without some controversy as Patrick's opponent touched his king in order to play an illegal move, but when this was pointed out by Patrick, his opponent moved a different piece instead - a rule contravention Patrick did not clock until after the game. 2-1
So, all down to Keatan on board two. Because of the board elimination rule Keatan needed a draw in order to secure team victory. If he had lost my bottom board default 'result' would have been eliminated and they would win. A case of me losing the match and losing La Gloire without me even playing a move!
But there was no worry, as at no point was Keatan in trouble. His opponent could, I think, have secured a draw with opposite bishops but of course he needed a win and probably pressed too hard resulting in another win for Keatan - and the team and the club. Which sat nicely with the A team's victory against someone.
Johnny-come-lately Paul Lam turned up to support us all, arriving seconds after Keatan's very last move. But it was great to have a crowd of supporters - albeit numbering just the one, who arrived after it was all over!
Although Mark, club gruppenführer, has already declined my suggestion that the club buys one of those things that shoots a thirty foot celebratory flame into the cosmos (I think this is the sort of thing Roy has in mind!)
or a Nuremburg style victory parade down Kenilworth High Street, there will be much to celebrate at the club's annual dinner and dance on the 31st. Although there will be no dance at the Sunam!"
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