The Downend steamroller continues. The Upstarts are top of Division 2, while the Bishops remain undefeated in the Division 5 Swiss. I am the Flat Stanley caught under the roller of match reports.

Stanley was surprisingly big on the correspondence chess scene.

** Downend Upstarts 6.5 - 1.5 Surbiton Juniors A**

Saunders, Aron vs Sturge, Sam: Game 1, Game 2

Despite the initial sparks, Aron had a more traditional Exchange French first with a rook and pawn ending reached where white was a pawn up. White pushed hard and it nearly slipped away entirely, but Aron held the draw. Despite some worries in the second, Aron's endgame skills managed to hold the draw there too.

Morrison, Joseph vs Carter, Thomas: Game 1, Game 2

Played very much as a reversed Sicilian, a level looking endgame was reached in the first, but some clever play won an exchange and while the battle over passed pawns was raging, Tom decided to play the checkmate instead. In the second, and this is the only time I'll say it, opening up the f-file didn't benefit white as much as expected. A pawn roller came through the middle but Tom was able to exchange to a drawn endgame.

Ahmed, Bilal vs Jonikas, Augustas: Game 1, Game 2

Bilal's first game looked like theory all the way. 17 moves of undercurrents in a Spanish opening until white blundered a bishop and an exchange, at which point the game was ended. The same is true of the second where a King's Indian Defence was reached after some initial coyness, but then bam! A sacrifice from Bilal's only undeveloped piece showed the danger white's king was in and ended the game.

Kushagra, Avishi vs Goodhew, Finn: Game 1, Game 2

While rook and pawn endgames have a tendency to be drawish, it helps that Finn had an extra four pawns in the first game. In the second Finn was unlucky not to get more from the opening, but after weathering a counterattack white won a rook and the rest was straightforward.

** Manchester Juniors B 3.5 - 4.5 Bristol Bishops**

Fairclough, William vs Manouvel, Loic: Game 1, Game 2

Forks were order of the day in the first game, which meant Loic was going into the endgame up a rook. In the second, white was up a pawn for the endgame, but rooks on the seventh for black was more than enough compensation. The game was decided by a sneaky rook mate.

Clegg, Anya vs Eccleston, Rowan: Game 1, Game 2

An odd blunder put white ahead in the opening of the first game. As material was exchanged a few more slips left white completely winning. A rare Bird's Opening was seen in the second, and while black made good progress, an exchange was lost and the king was too trapped to hold on.

Nagai, Ken Stephen vs Saha, Soumil: Game 1, Game 2

White attacked too recklessly with the queen and black's better development was able to snag lots of material and force the king to march into the centre in the first game. A much more level game came next, with black invading menacingly but white was able to lock down the position for a draw.

Manouvel, Maëlys vs Casserly, Darcy: Game 1, Game 2

Maëlys took plenty of material in the first game and was able to capitalise on that to claim the first point. The second was a slower game that went straight into a queenless middlegame. Eventually some pieces fell and the endgame was easily won for black.

** KJCA Young Kestrels A 6.5 - 1.5 Chess in Schools**

Balaji, Aaravamudhan vs Kan, Toby: Game 1, Game 2

Toby's run of top level opponents continued, as did he top level performance (not forgetting the generic traitor comment). White got heavily invested in snapping material off on the queenside and forgot the king was getting vulnerable. In the end it was a bishop pair and some pawns against a rook and Toby coordinated excellently for the win. The second was a quieter Italian game and exchange was enough for black to push for the win.

Excellent results for the players and the teams. Onwards to next week!