AAARG!!!!
We almost had the result of the (admittedly young) season last night with a narrow loss to a very strong Macclesfield A side.
With just my game remaining the score was 2.5 each. Sadly I had thrown away my advantage and had no time left to find a swindle so we lost. Here is the scorecard:
1. P Ramsey 0-1 A Soames (172)
2. K Holton 0-1 D Risley (171)
3. D Broadbent 0.5-0.5 V Kumar (155)
4. D Taylor 0-1 D Lobo (153)
5. T Rickards 1-0 G Laurence (150)
6. P Bamford 1-0 P Caulkett (148)
Their average grade was 158 against our 137!
I had a nice King's Indian against Soames. He had no threats at all in the middlegame whereas I had a Kingside pawn storm so I turned down his draw offer. Sadly at one point I pushed the wrong pawn and lost a pawn for not enough compensation. I managed to create some threats in the late middlegame but his time advantage was too great and he found a way to exchange into a winning endgame. An enjoyable game though.
Keven was gradually ground down by Risley who had long-term Queenside pressure on Keven's pawns.
Dave B had a great opening against Kumar and was a pawn up at one stage. He exchanged off into a good endgame but Kumar managed to draw.
David T lost the exchange to Lobo and then won it back but was ground down in the ending.
Tudor has a great King's Indian as his opponent castled Queenside and Tudor flung his pawns forwards. Laurence had little counterplay and Tudor's attach was irresistible.
Paul had a great opening against Caulkett and was far ahead in development. Next time I looked Paul was defending an endgame 2 pawns down but he managed to win it!
A great performance. We will play weaker teams in future and field stronger teams so if we can keep this level up we will be fine.
Next match in two weeks at home to Chorlton.