Bramhall put up a fight

ECA continued their good start to the season last night with another win, this time over Bramhall.

Bramhall, one of the weaker teams in the division, were heavily outgraded but they made us fight for the points and we eventually won 4.5 - 1.5.

Here is how it unfolded:

1. John Reed 1-0 Peter Thursfield (134)

Playing his favourite system against the Nimzo Indian Defence John soon won a piece and then the game with a raging attack.

2. Graham Ball 1-0 Nicholas Flaherty (125)

On the Black side of a Torre attack Graham tempted his opponent to over-extend himself and then mopped up a piece.

3. Phil Ramsey 0.5-0.5 Keith Hodgson (108)

I was expecting an easy game against a lower rated player but he played a solid Philidor's Defence - an opening I have very little experience of playing. I built up a good position but threw away my advantage in the time scramble and had to fight for the draw in a rook endgame.

4. Dave Broadbent 0-1 Hartley Oldham (101)

It is hard to beat low-rated players who keep making good moves! On the Black side of an Old Benoni Dave had a slightly cramped position and then loosened his kingside too much allowing his opponent a stinging attack.

5. Keven Holton 1-0 Duncan Chandley (86)

Keven played the Exchange Ruy Lopez and soon won a couple of pawns with some accurate moves.

6. David Taylor 1-0 Geoff Smith (71)

Playing a sort of Queen's Indian Defense David soon had a more active position and then used his pressure to win a pawn and then the endgame. David has continued his good form from last season. Let's hope he has a bad night on Wednesday when he plays me!

Next up our own East Cheshire B this Wednesday.

C Team vs Stockport D, 10th November 2010

A rare defeat.
East Cheshire C - 2: Stockport D - 3. The scores were:
Geoff Clarke.....0...1....David Preen
Mike Cunnane 1...0...Marc Jackson
Ian Vaughan.....0...1...John Kelly
Andy Walker....1....0...Ian Anderson
Roy Burrows....0....1...Ray Bradney
Ian and Geoff took early baths: Ian won an exchange but blundered away a middle game advantage and a solid position. Mike was worse off for much of his game but played a good end game. Andy (playing stronger than his grade this season) attributed his win to a tactical exchange begun by giving away a bishop.
We were outgraded on every board, so a respectable score and congratulations to Mike and Andy.

East Cheshire Ship Shape at Wilmslow

East Cheshire marched into the semi-finals of the Charnley Cup with a 5-1 victory at Wilmslow. We were able to field almost our strongest line-up and Wilmslow were unable to keep up with the pace. Here is how things worked out:

1. C Guffogg (126) 1-0 John Reed

London System vs Chigorin? Didn't see much of this one as it ended early when John blundered in a solid position.

2. R Warhurst (122) 0-1 Graham Ball

If Robin had done his homework he would have known not to play the French Defence against a world expert in that opening! Graham won a piece in the early middle game and the game was soon over.

3. M Palmer (114) 0-1 Phil Ramsey

Playing the London system against my King's Indian Defence my opponent decided to sacrifice a piece early on for some fun against my king rather than be ground down! Unfortunately for him he then accidentally sacrificed another piece and I managed to finish the game with a nice piece storm against his king.

4. A Flynn (109) 0-1 Dave Newell

Dave's trusty Bird's opening came good with a Kingside pawn storm that swept away all before it.

5. C Jackson (108) 0-1 David Taylor

On the Black side of a symmetrical English David built up an active position and then unleashed a fearsome combination to win a pawn and the exchange. Game of the night I think.

6. M Garvin (84) 0-1 Tudor Rickards

Playing the Queen's Gambit Tudor soon won a pawn and then easily ground out the win in the endgame.

On to the semi-finals where we will probably meet Holmes Chapel! That match may be a teeny bit harder...

East Cheshire C vs Macclesfield B, Wednesday 27 November 2010

A win for the C Team - 3 1/2 to 1 1/2.

The scores were:-

Board.........ECC............................Macc B

1.............Alan Stokes......0......1..Richard Murphy

2............Paul Bamford.....1......0..Alan Sime

3............Mike Cunnane..1/2..1/2..Brian Woodhall

4............Ian Vaughan......1......0.. Angie Howe

5............Roy Burrows.....1......0..Peter Rawlins

Roy surprised both his opponent and himself by achieving a smothered mate. Ian's game involved a pawn battle in the centre which led to a decisive advantage. Both Roy and Ian finished early enough to play several friendly games against their opponents.

Mike as black played a QGA which went well, but after the middle game his opponent had plenty of counterplay and Mike's offer of a draw was accepted.

Paul's game begun with 1e4 e6. Paul played a King's Indian and it seems won a two pawn advantage early in the game.

Alan was on the black side of a Ruy Lopez which started 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.c3 d6 8.d4 exd 9.cxd Bb6. Alan says he should have played 8. .... Bb6 to stop his opponent recapturing with the c pawn on d4. He says he got into trouble after not noticing his opponent had left a knight en prise. Again, Alan arguably made best use of the time on the clock, gathering many spectators for the last half-hour.

We will look forward to the return match.

ECA Marches On

Another match, another victory for ECA!

I was expecting a tough match against Altrincham but it turns out that their captain only remembered about the match the night before and so had to cobble a team together at the last minute.

Their weakness showed as we stomped over them 6.0!

Here is how we stacked up:

1. John R (169) 1 - 0 D. Merryfield (142)

2. Phil R (155) 1 - 0 D. Hughes (130)

3. Dave N (154) 1 - 0 K Linke (124)

4. Keven H (142) 1 - 0 C McNulty (121)

5. Tudor (137) 1 - 0 C McCoy (93)

6. Paul B (132) 1 - 0 S Ward (86)

John as Black had to grind down a stodgy Colle System but eventually managed to loosen up his opponent's King and win a pawn.

I was on the White side of a solid Ruy Lopez and won first a pawn and then a piece as my opponent misplayed his position.

Dave's opponent will not win any awards for subtlety as he attempted a version of Scholar's mate against the Sicilian. Fortunately Dave saw the threat and refuted his opponent's ridiculous opening!

Keven's success with 1. e4 continued as he quickly won material with his closed system against the Sicilian Defence. I'm glad that the London system has been abandoned for now!

Tudor's game started (if I am not mistaken) 1.e4 d5 2. Qe2 ?!! I'm not sure what his opponent had been smoking but Tudor had no problem getting a full point out of this one.

Paul played the ultra-aggresive Danish Gambit and seemed to be more material up every time I looked at his game. Nice work but not every game in Division II will be as easy.

Well played and next up is Urmston in the cup at home on Wed 27th Oct.

The C Team vs Urmston, 5th October 2010

The C Team won 3-2. Moreover, everyone enjoyed the match. The scores were:
Urmston (Home) East Cheshire C (Away)
J Royle 0 1 Alan Stokes
T Plunkett 0 1 Geoff Clarke
J Bradley 1 0 Bill Tait
C Maudsley 1/2 1/2 Andy Walker
G Randall 1/2 1/2 Roy Burrows
Total 2 3

Roy (acting Captain) set up an unanswerable threat and accepted the draw offered by his much higher-graded opponent.
Andy also drew his game against strong opposition. He was on the back foot for the first 15 moves, but then managed to bring in a knight that both reinforced his defence and threatened the opponent's queen. This turned the game around and it went to the wire, but with insufficient material for a mate in the time remaining.
With the match at 2-2, the result hinged on Alan's game, a slow cerebral battle which Alan won on time, before the time control was reached.

October East Cheshire Rapidplay

On Wednesday 6th October East Cheshire held their first early season club rapidplay.

Fourteen members turned out and after 6 rounds Phil Ramsey was the winner with 6/6. Paul Bamford won the 135 and under grading prize with 3.5.

John only lost his game to me after accidentally dropping his Queen where I could take it! Otherwise things might have been very different.

Here are all the scores:

1st - P Ramsey - 6

2nd - J Reed - 4.5

3rd - T Rickards - 4

4th = - D Newell - 3.5

P Bamford

6th = - D Broadbent - 3

M Cunnane

K Holton

A Stokes

D Taylor

11th - I Vaughan - 2

12th - G Clarke - 1.5

13th = - R Burrows - 1

B Tait