Sorry to interrupt Joshua's "daily" reports from the British Championships (which seem to have run into the metaphorical buffers), but there's a Team Tournament involving KCC demanding attention.
Last Saturday, the Phil Holt Memorial Tournament took place at Tyseley WMC, remembering the recent tragic passing of Olton's top player, the widely known and formidable Phil Holt, as well as a number of other Olton players. The event, unfortunately clashing with the final weekend of the British Championships, attracted ten three player, grade restricted, teams - all from the Birmingham area/league, except ourselves. The fixture clash, plus a strange outbreak of non-communication and non-cooperation, meant it was a struggle to raise our two teams, but with a judicious use of ringers it was finally mission accomplished, and KCC was able to support this worthy event to a level appropriate to the long competitive rivalry and friendship between ourselves and Olton.
Rather than call ourselves Kenilworth A and B, I decided we would participate under the titles of Optimists and Pessimists, mainly because I couldn't stand the idea of me being in Kenilworth B while Bernard was in Kenilworth A! The Optimists lined up with Andrew P on Board 1 (unrestricted grade); Bernard R on Board 2 (Under 1850) and Hector on Board 3 (Under 1650); while I led the Pessimists, with Rhys on Board 2 and John Conway, who we borrowed from Coventry for the day, on Board 3. Lined up against us were 3 teams from Olton; 2 from Halesowen and 1 each from Shirley, Mutual Circle and South Birmingham. The competition ran over 2 rounds at the Leamington League time limit of 80 mins + 10 seconds per move.
The first round was something of a disaster for both our teams, marginally edged by the Optimists who secured 1/3, thanks to Andrew's draw with Black against Alan Lloyd (Olton A) and Bernard's draw against Paul Evans (Halesowen A). Meanwhile, I was the only scorer for the well-named Pessimists though as I only managed to draw against Richard Reynolds (Olton C) despite being up a queen and pawn for just 2 minor pieces, I didn't have much to be proud of!
But then the KCC boys came roaring back with a big effort in Round 2, doubtless fortified by the free lunch, with both of our teams scoring a mightily impressive 2.5/3. For the Optimists, Andrew beat South Birmingham's Board 1, Kevin Hurney, and Hector won on Board 3 against Tom Evans of Olton A, while Bernard somehow hung on for a draw against Richard Liszewski (Olton C). For the Pessimists, guest player John led the way with a win against Tony Taylor of Halesowen A, while Rhys fought back from a difficult position to draw against Tim Lane of South Birmingham. But, in the biggest shock since Foinavon won the 1967 Grand National, the real sensation was that, at the 11th time of asking, I finally won against Alan Lloyd (Olton A) after managing just 5 draws and 5 losses previously.
Regrettably, our storming second half showings couldn't propel either of our teams onto the winner's podium, but at least it ensured that (a) everyone of our 6 players was on the scoreboard; (b) we could hold our heads up high amongst the Birmingham League big boys; and (c) that Optimism triumphed over Pessimism.
Final scores
1 = Halesowen B and South Birmingham 4/6
3= Kenilworth Optimists and Halesowen A 3.5/6
5= Kenilworth Pessimists, Olton A and Olton C 3/6
8= Mutual Circle and Shirley 2.5/6
10 Olton B 1/6
Only two players scored 2/2 and very fittingly one of them was Trevor Holt, Phil's dad, playing Board 2 for Olton A, who included Rhys amongst his victims. The other was South Birmingham's Board 3, Derek Green. Decency prevents me naming the two players who scored 0/2, but importantly ..... neither of them was from Kenilworth!
Many thanks to Rob and Richard Reynolds for organising this event, and for inviting us to be part of a memorable occasion. It was especially poignant for me, as Phil Holt was the person I have played the most games of competitive chess against - 16. Not quite in the Arkell v Hebden category, but hugely significant in my chess life. The awfully long list of Olton players who have recently died includes two others I had played against - Richard Smith and Rob Wallman - and three, Bill Yeomans, Ken Allen and ("old") Tom Evans that I hadn't, but whom several KCC members undoubtedly will have. This has been a tragic couple of years for Olton and we can only hope they have an upturn in fortunes from now on.
Such events certainly make you think about your own mortality. There's only one song that comes to mind right now. No further words needed.
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