Lightning never strikes thrice

The third annual NLC Lightning Chess Tournament was held at Whitehall Place on Wednesday 27 February. Mister Hughes of the RAC has swept all before him in the first and second Lightning competitions and was hoping for a hat-trick. Was it to be?

The stage is set

The line up

A bumper crop this year, with 13 players drawn from across six clubs.

  1. Julio Brau (O&C)
  2. Mister Chamberlain (NLC)
  3. Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) (NLC)
  4. Captain Hamme (NLC)
  5. Richard Hughes (RAC)
  6. Master Jacobs (NLC)
  7. Luke King (EIC)
  8. Doctor Kirby (NLC)
  9. Steve Phillips (Landsdowne)
  10. Will Ransome (MCC)
  11. Miss Shulte (NLC)
  12. Nigel White (O&C)
  13. Mister Whiteley (NLC)

Round 1

Round 1 was a random draw, so there were some mismatches and quick results. No great surprises or upsets.

Brau 1 0 King
Kirby 1 0 Chamberlain
Giffin 1 0 Phillips
Ransome 1 0 Hamme
Hughes 1 0 Shulte
White 1 0 Jacobs
Whiteley 0.5 BYE
Nigel White got off to a flyer in the first round
Captain Hamme stumbled early on, and struggled to recover in later rounds

Round 2

Things began to get serious in round 2, as some of the main contenders began to lock horns. Doctor Kirby, the NLC’s best hope for bringing the Ming Vase home, lost to Julio Brau; a result that put a big dent in his challenge.

Kirby 0 1 Brau
Ransome 1 0 Giffin
White 0 1 Hughes
Chamberlain 0 1 Whiteley
Hamme 0 1 King
Jacobs 0 1 Phillips
Shulte 0.5 BYE
Round 2 and things are getting serious…
The NLC’s hopes, dashed against the rocks of the O&C Board 1
Master Jacobs couldn’t quite translate his blitz skill to the lightning format
The furious action

Round 3

Whilst Julio Brau continued to work through the field Richard Hughes was quietly picking up the points. He saw off Mister Whiteley, who was in good form that night, and maintained his 100% record. At this point it was Brau and Hughes in front with 3 each, and King, Kirby, Phillips and Ransome chasing on 2 points.

Brau 1 0 Ransome
Whiteley 0 1 Hughes
Giffin 0 1 Kirby
King 1 0 White
Phillips 1 0 Shulte
Hamme 0 1 Chamberlain
Jacobs 0.5 BYE
Ransome tried his luck against Brau in round 3, but with the little luck
The NLC’s Ms Shulte in her Lightning Chess debut

Round 4

Round 4 was the big match up: Hughes v Brau. Hughes drew the white pieces and so took a slight advantage. But it was Brau who had more in the tank, and pushed on through to victory. He now had 4 points, with King, Kirby and Hughes on 3. As Brau had beaten each in the prior rounds, he was crowned Victor. Whiteley was on 2.5 at this point due to having a bye in round 1. If he had not, and instead won his first game, he would have been on 3, and in with a shot in the final round. What ifs…

Hughes 0 1 Brau
King 1 0 Ransome
Phillips 0 1 Kirby
Whiteley 1 0 Giffin
Chamberlain 1 0 White
Shulte 0 1 Jacobs
Hamme 0.5 BYE
It was Julio Brau’s day as he swept all before him. Surely this is the pinnacle of his chess career?
Richard Hughes ruing his missed opportunities. Next year?
A strong performance in round 4 saw Mister Chamberlain put away Nigel White

Round 5

So Brau, in his victory lap, saw off Whiteley, and gained his 100% record. Very well done. The Ransome and Phillips match up went to the wire, with NLC member Mister Shredder being called away from his club grill to offer a view on the game. He quickly declared Steve Phillips the victor and went back to variety of grilled meats.

Brau 1 0 Whiteley
Kirby 0 1 Hughes
Chamberlain 0 1 King
Ransome 0 1 Phillips
Jacobs 1 0 Giffin
Shulte 0 1 Hamme
White 0.5 BYE
The Landsdowne’s own Steve Phillips saw off the MCC’s Will Ransome in the final round

Final standings

So a new name was etched on the fabled Ming Vase, and Mister Hughes was thwarted in his hat-trick attempt. This was the toughest Lightning competition to date, with the greatest number of players and strength of play. The final standings show Luke King to have put in some good work to come joint second, with Kirby and Phillips following up in joint fourth.

Victor Brau 5
2nd Hughes 4
2nd King 4
4th Kirby 3
4th Phillips 3
6th Jacobs 2.5
6th Whiteley 2.5
8th Chamberlain 2
8th Ransome 2
10th Hamme 1.5
10th White 1.5
12th Giffin 1
13th Shulte 0.5
Mister Whiteley had a strong finish, and ended with 2.5 points
Luke King nearly reached the summit
The proud victor
The magnificent Ming Vase, now in new hands
The ringmaster

Dinner

And so to dinner. An excellent Escalope of Turkey Milanese. Much needed after the rigours of lightning play.

Replenishment for weary minds

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