Our board 2 was late and as non playing captain I was trying to contact him. It was about ten to eight when I established he was unavailable and took my place on board 2. I'd hardly made a move when Bilal and his opponent were reversing the board for a friendly, Bilal had mated him on move 18.

Noah, playing his first league match, allowed his opponent to check him quite early and his king had to move to f8 and then g8 later with his rook impatiently tapping its feet on h8. Noah played most of the game without the services of that rook and it was only when the queens came off and he was a piece down that it became activated. His opponent was playing solidly and used his extra piece, a bishop, to win the freed rook by pinning it to Noah's king. Noah conceded he was doomed to finish second having made the game last an hour and a half or so and always looking to compete. Plenty to learn from.

Paul lost the exchange to a knight fork of his queen and rook fairly early on but dug in well enough for Barry to offer a draw with 2 rooks and 5 vs rook, bishop and 6 which Paul accepted.

My opponent was playing her first league match and competed strongly tactically but allowed my king to march forward in the endgame to make the difference and the mate was delivered on move 55.