Lewis was unavailable because he decided to have a go at some "prestigious event" called Titled Tuesday on chess.com.. Considering GM Simon Williams scored 5/10, I think we can be very proud of Lewis for his 4/10. The event was won by some chap called Sergei Karjakin, so if my maths is correct, Lewis came third? Richard was missing for more normal, but apparently also valid, reasons. Thanks to the depth of our squad, we were still without too many worries in putting a team out. (John, as The Rook1Es captain, may disagree!)
** Yorkshire Universities 1 - 3 Downend 1**
Chan, Sheng Liang vs Meadows, Michael
I was battered all over the board as my attempt at an "Anti-London" opening turned into a "King's Indian Defence - Very Bad Variation". So pummeled was I, that my only chance in the game came when white brought one too many pieces into the attack. Somehow, I got away with it.
Thompson, Robert vs Hopkins, Kit
An opening defined as normal, but with flailing queenside bits. Reasonable, until the centre opened and Rob launched in with an attack. White having the rook and knight against a bishop pair was nearly level until Rob polished off all the pawns and made it look easy.
Leah, Tom vs Williams, Stephen
In an opening that combined the Portuguese and the Dutch, it was only right that war should erupt as quickly as it did. Skirmishes on the queenside, then the kingside, and finally in the centre resulted in a level endgame with plenty of play. Unfortunately, a piece dropped and while black made heroic efforts to chomp that last pawn, white was able to defend it just in time.
Burroughs, Adam vs Bradey, Joseph
Shunning the dull waters of the Petroff, Adam found himself in a middlegame with the pairs rook and bishop against queen and knight. With the black's attack failing to materialise the rooks invaded and the queen and king proved too vulnerable to survive.
** Railsport 1.5 - 2.5 The Rook1Es**
Boardman, Jeffrey vs Stubbs, Oliver
In a night of unconventional openings, Oli didn't falter. His opponent launched into something trappy, but you wouldn't know it. Keen tactics saw white's rook trapped and it fell apart very quickly.
Ian was stonewalled and the position became very locked as white tried to provoke the queenside. While the position looked marginally better for white, it was sensible to crack open some extra files where possible to make room for the rooks. Even if swapped, it would be good knight vs shameful bishop. It's just a shame that this was the time to discover that double pre-moving isn't a lichess feature and a rook was chucked for nothing.
Jones, H Trevor vs Walker, Max
Thanks to internet problems, Max was very late to the game. This seemed to sap white's energy and after a somewhat lacklustre attack, Max was able to snag a pawn, exchange queens, and offer the draw to win the match.
Saunders, Aron vs Broad, Michael
With Aron's speciality being breathing life into famously dull openings, he went straight for the guts of a Petroff. Just as things were getting juicy, black made a surprising blunder of a piece and decided the best way to end the game was to lose on time.
** Downend 2 0.5 - 3.5 Bon Accord B**
Tipper, Dave vs Jennings, Richard
Dave continued his start in the 4NCL Online with an attempt at a Danish that was sent into the endgame territory that is usually the preserve of Rob. White was able to work the tactics to win a pawn, but with an offside knight, it was difficult to see how gains could be made in the endgame, as a bishop for passed pawn sacrifice would see the tables turn in black's favour. There may have been wins in there, and I'm sure we'll find out.
Vasiliadis, Theodoros vs Pickup, Ian
Possibly in attempting to recreate the magic of two weeks ago, Ian left his king in the centre while white got on with the job of attacking. In what is a shame for a Game of the Month vote in June, this time, it didn't quite work.
Bilal's game was probably the most theoretical of the night. A Marshall Gambit no less; not territory for the unprepared. Despite white finding a lot of good moves, black was able to get both rooks into the attack after the queens came off and the standard development problems proved too much for white to hold.
McLeod, Alisdair vs Benkhoucha, Samy
White got all the initiative in an Evans Gambit that left black's queen fianchettoed and under intense fire. After some tough attacking from white, harsh defence was required and when the dust settled Samy didn't fancy the long late middlegame down a queen for a rook.
** CSC 3 0.5 - 3.5 The Full Ponty**
Despite swapping off pieces in a cramped Benoni, in which Toby must have brought back to level, white was able to push on with ludicrous looking (but hard to refute) queen moves. Under the pressure the queen was lost and the game would be soon after.
If anyone feels disappointed with their result this week (and I don't think they should), just imagine how my opponent feels.
Update: In my haste to get a report out, I neglected to mention that The Rook1Es have guaranteed themselves promotion with this win, with one game to spare! Next season in Division 2! Downend 2 are currently second, which would guarantee promotion, but have to not slip up against Clevedon next week.