Last season the A-team required at least 2.5 points in its final match against Horfield B to guarantee a league title win. As you may recall the team was successful, but only just. With Horfield B calling up two reserves and perhaps more importantly, a lot less pressure on the match, the A-team had every reason to feel confident starting the new season.

Without Henry, who had inexplicably decided that writing a PhD thesis was somehow more important than our evening league, players were bumped up a board and Rob slotted in on board 5. Although we started on time, Dr Fry had been unable to revive his terminal mobile phone which resulted in our summer's star signing arriving 5 minutes before the default time.

There were no major surprises in the openings, though my game promptly took on a decidedly Exchange French feel which left me free to examine the other boards. Chris opted to punt a cheeky mate trap opening that barely belongs in bullet chess. Somewhat selfishly Mike decided to not allow the checkmate, which left Chris spending a few further tempi untangling. Charlie accepted a gambit pawn and intended to make it difficult for white to recapture the-pawn. Richard appeared to be barreling down some sharp main-line theory, but it soon erupted with some spectacular tactics. Rob, as expected, was charging for an endgame, and Jerry appeared to making the most of a few opening inaccuracies by his opponent.

First to crack was Rob's game, which looked very promising until an oversight resulted in the sacrifice of a bishop for two pawns. Fortunately, any thought of worry was avoided when the piece was blundered back, leaving a straightforward rook and-pawn endgame for white to win. Charlie finished soon after having agreed a draw with Peter who had won back his pawn having gained a good deal of pressure.

It wasn't long until Richard finished his game with a fine win having capitalised on his opponent's blunder with a pseudo-sacrifice, followed shortly with rook sacrifice to claim the game. With the score now at 2.5-1.5, Jerry decided to split the point with Nigel, though a later examination suggested he had the option to continue.

The score now at 3-1, we needed either a draw from Chris or me to seal the match. In Chris' game a complex double rook and double bishop endgame was being played out, Chris having declined a draw earlier on. In mine, I felt compelled to castle long and race my pawns to white's king. Unfortunately, a well-timed-pawn sacrifice from Katejan meant that that was the last I saw of the initiative. Fortunately, the time pressure began to tell and we found ourselves repeating moves with three minutes left on the clocks. Chris on the other hand had simplified to an even more complex rook and-pawn endgame where-pawn-structural considerations appeared to be being actively avoided. With time getting low Chris and Mike also agreed a draw.

So the A-team begins its first season for 20 years as defending champions with a 4-2 win. Let's see if it can continue!