Three Steps to Heaven

Place: Solihull

Date: Wednesday May 8th, 2024

Details that will be spoken of in hushed tones for years to come, as this was where and when history was made. For the second time in three years we got all three of our Leamington League Cup teams through to Finals night. In 2022 we managed to lift the Open and U8750 Cups, while last year we "only" made the final of the Open and U1600 competitions but in winning both we again picked up to two out of three trophies. In 2024, KCC was again trying to go one better and win all three cups in the same season, for the first time ever. This was a feat which had been performed only once this century (by Banbury in 2015), so clearly this is no everyday happening. How did it go? Let me tell you!

Step One - Kenilworth 3.5 - 0.5 Daventry (U1600 Cup Final)

The Kenilworth team comprised three juniors - Dylan, Lionel and Gregory - and a (very!) senior - Roy. The Daventry team unfortunately comprised only three players in total, which meant a wasted journey for Lionel and an extra hour wait before he could claim the win - a great shame as this is clearly the only time he will ever be eligible for this competition, given his tremendous recent form and rocketing rating.  1-0 soon became 2-0, as Dylan scored an absolutely crushing win on Board 1 (with the Black pieces) after forking his opponent's king and queen in double quick time. This actually meant we had already won the cup, as even two losses would have left us winning on tie break (board elimination), but our boys were not having any of that, and after Roy secured a steady draw on Board 2, Gregory rounded things off with another win to give us a decisive victory.

The U1600 Cup Heroes: Back (l-r); Patrick (non-playing Captain), Roy and Dylan. Front (l-r); Lionel and Gregory

Step Two - Kenilworth 3.5 - 1.5 Stratford (Open KO Cup Final)

A fourth consecutive triumph (and 6 of the last 7!) for Kenilworth, and a third consecutive League and Cup double in the process. But it was not plain sailing by any stretch of the imagination. Javi drew quickly and efficiently on Board 1 against Ben Larkin, but it was all to play for on the other boards. I was especially nervous about Joshua's position (for virtually the whole evening!) though he has subsequently assured me the engine never thought he stood worse. I can only assume the engine in question was PinkFish, and is programmed to be biased in favour of Joshua-style dubious positions! Jude was actually second to finish, defeating Richard McNally for the second time in a few weeks, before Joshua - inevitably - took us to the verge of victory by beating Richard Dobedoe. The victory celebrations had to put on hold when Bruce, uncharacteristically, went down disastrously against David Gardiner in a queen ending where one side had a lot more pawns than the other, but victory was confirmed when after a very measured game Andrew's steadily growing control translated into decisive material gains against Sam Cotterill. 

The Open KO Cup Heroes - (l-r) Bruce, Andrew, Javier, Joshua and Jude

Step Three - Kenilworth 2.5 - 2.5 Olton (U8750 Cup Final) - Kenilworth win on tie break!

So two down, one to go, but things were not going according to plan in the U8750 final. Dhairya had got us off to a flying start with a brutal kingside attack against Andy Cottom which only ended when checkmate was delivered and when Paul drew against Rob Reynolds everything in the garden looked rosy. But then Solomon and Ben both fell to defeat (against Richard Evans and Richard Liszewski, respectively), which left us facing defeat. But there was still hope - if Keatan could win on Board 1, he would tie the scores at 2.5-2.5, and we would win on board elimination. But he faced no easy task, as Black against the very experienced Richard Reynolds (how about that - Olton had three Richards in their team!?) . The position was very complicated and Richard sacrificed an exchange, although it wasn't at all clear to me that it was good. And indeed Keatan, despite severe time pressure, then played excellently to invade with his rook and dominate White's remaining minor piece. A rampant passed a pawn then won that minor piece and with it the game - and the Cup. A tremendously composed and mature win from Keatan, in highly pressurised circumstances.

The U8750 Cup Heroes:- (l-r) Solomon, Paul, Keatan, Ben (Captain) and Dhairya

And so the season ended in an unprecedented blaze of glory. It was particularly gratifying to see all 6 of our junior players winning on the night. (Watch out KCC oldies - they're coming for you!) Congratulations to all the members of our three victorious teams - though I like to kid myself that non-playing captains and spectators also deserve a share of the glory - as Milton nearly wrote several centuries ago, "they also serve, who only stand and watch!"