The Rook1Es were at it alone this week with the senior teams not quite making the cut-off for the playoff spots last week. By a coincidence, it meant a complete repeat of last week's fixture for the juniors against local rival West is Best 2. Needless to say, both teams pulled out all the stops and on paper it should have been another comfortable win for the club.
** West is Best 2 2.5 - 1.5 The Rook1Es**
Yeo, Gareth vs Hosdurga, Chirag
The position was locked early on in a Czech Benoni. Despite white's efforts to play a kingside hack, the pieces in the middle of the board made it difficult for any breakthrough to be expected. Invading with the queen on the queenside proved a bit of an ask as the queen soon ran of squares and white pounced on the change to trap it, which ended the game.
Stubbs, Oliver vs Taylor, William
Black did very little against Oli's attack, but remained solid enough to keep the edge minimal. Pieces were swapped but Oli opted to give up the rooks for a queen and pawn. Thinking the match could be drawn with a white win (though on board count the match was lost) Oli pushed very hard and took risks. Time trouble makes fools of us all and both sides made mistakes but the position remained level until black was compelled to bail with a perpetual draw.
Max had a tough time up against Aron's opponent from last week. Needless to say, if you're up against an incredibly accurate opponent, it's difficult to make progress and the game was lost after an exchange was won by white.
Despite coming under immense pressure on the kingside with a fearsome attack, Ian's defence was accurate and the tables quickly turned to win the point for the team.
** Brentwood 2 - 2 CSC 3**
It was another repeat fixture for CSC 3 in the quarter finals. Toby was up against a very strong opponent who, after settling into a level middlegame, gave up a pawn for queenside attacking opportunities. Toby's play then made this look like nothing more than a blunder. Giving up two rooks for the black queen, a monster of a passed pawn gave white enough pressure to carry through the win.
Thus ends the club's foray into the first 4NCL Online as CSC 3 were out on board count. Let's see what we can manage next time!