For the students it was the first week back from their Easter (potentially Christmas) holidays, so it was hard to predict who may make an appearance. It was assumed league juggernaught Sam Chow would be in attendance along with our own 4NCL star Aitor Garcia-Ruiz Fuentes. We were at least half correct.

Henry deviated from his normal nonsense as black and played something suspiciously sound-looking. Although the university's board 2 was a new player, Chris had faced him earlier in the season in London and had won, filling him with undeserved confidence. Richard and Bogdan played the sort of game that happens if you repeatedly choose the first move suggestion on a Chessbase database (they deviated from theory well after move 20). Nigel was playing a solid opening but black found some options and managed to press in the centre. Jerry was pushing for (relatively) rapid kingside expansion and Will's game I know nothing about.

Despite Sam giving up a-pawn to try and gain some initiative, Henry found himself in command in his game and pressing for a strong attack. On board 4, Nigel had survived the pressure black was exerting and had reached a level endgame, so the two agreed a draw. After a seemingly good position Will was unfortunate enough to blunder a piece, which soon decided the game.

Once the theoretical dust settled, Richard appeared to have the upper hand and smoothly converted to a winning endgame. Unfortunately, Jerry's space on the kingside came to less than Mark's space on the queenside and the incredible run of 16 undefeated games in league gcame to an end.

As the clocks ran down Chris was hoping to not muck it up. He had claimed an edge that should be winning, but then Julio simplified matters with the blunder of a queen. The time pressure still mounting, Henry missed a finishing blow and offered a draw with a repetition of moves. Sam declined and within two moves found himself faced with a crushing attack.

With Clifton A all but wrapping up their title bid hosting Grendel (they need 1.5 points from their match against Bath for it to be guaranteed) it remains to see where our A-team can finish. Second is still a possibility and a win against Bath would see us in the top 3.