The National Liberal Club has mixed views on blitz.
On the one hand, the Luftwaffe bomb that smashed through the roof of the Club causing extensive damage on May 11 1941 is seen as rather a regrettable incident – the general view being that a repeat is best avoided.
On the other hand, the NLC is an enthusiastic supporter of blitz chess, the risk to the atrium being that much less.
And so it was, that on Tuesday June 20th the NLC Chess Circle held the second annual Summer Blitz Chess Championship. At stake was a the glittering and highly sought after Kennedy Cup.
Five fearless warriors took up the challenge – Messers Osserian, Widdicombe and Whiteley, Doctor Kirby, and an NLC Chess Circle debutant Mister Giffin. A very warm welcome to him!
The action was fast paced and cut-throat. With a double round robin format the games were back to back (save only for the necessary replenishment of fluid levels half way through). Points were taken from each other as the blitz calculations went awry. Losses were taken in good spirit as the wisdom of five times Soviet Champion IM Rashid Nezhmetdinov was remembered: “He who analyses blitz chess is stupid”. No clear leader emerged at the half way point.
The games ground on and the shape of the tournament began to become clear. It looked like it was going to be three way tussle between Messers Widdicombe, Whiteley and the Doctor.
Here’s Doctor Kirby and Mister Giffin locked in battle. The Doctor threaten’s Qxh7 mate and after Mister Giffin’s exhausted his checks there was little left to do but offer his hand.
The final round saw Mister Widdicombe on 5 points and Doctor Kirby on 5.5. Only a victory would do for Mister Widdicombe. Alas, it was not to be. The Doctor edged it, and the final results showed a convincing margin for the Doctor.
| Osseiran | Giffin | Kirby | Widds | Whiteley | Total | |
| Osseiran | x | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 |
| Giffin | 1/1 | x | 0/0 | 1/0 | 0/1 | 4 |
| Kirby | 1/1 | 1/1 | x | 1/1 | 0/0.5 | 6.5 |
| Widds | 1/1 | 1/0 | 0/0 | x | 1/1 | 5 |
| Whiteley | 1/1 | 0/1 | 0.5/1 | 0/0 | x | 4.5 |
And on to dinner…
