Tuesday 19 September saw the Hamilton-Russell season opener for the Libs against the Athenaeum.
A six board match up had the stongest NLC team out, with HR debutant Mister Whiteley trying his luck on board 3.
In an unusual and somewhat unexpected development the match was played across various different tables in the smoking room. Whilst this detracted from the peace needed for good chess, it did provide a wonderful backdrop for play.
Board one saw the newly-crowned NLC champion take on Peter Lee.
The game was dead level up to move 19, when Be6 allowed White to take the g pawn and Doctor Kirby struggled to make it back in to the game from that point on.
Board two had Mister Widdicombe and David Shankland reprise their game from last year and go into the depths of the Marshall Gambit again. The game last year was a well fought draw. This time, however, Mister Widdicombe’s opening knowledge failed him when he deviated from theory on move 17, when 17. Be3 was called for rather than the erroneous 17.Nd2. On such small things are games decided.
Board three saw the game of the evening. Mister Whiteley was turning out for the first time in a Hamilton-Russell match, having played only Gladstone, blitz and friendlies to this point. Captain Kirby was keen to blood him and the rest of the team to see mettle tested in battle. He did not disappoint. White sacrificed a knight for a pawn on move 20 to open up Mister Whiteley’s kingside and force in his Queen. With the white h- and g- pawns threateningly well advanced, many lesser men would have cracked. Mister Whiteley held firm, forced a trade of queens then coolly countered down the open e-file with rook and bishop. Textbook strategy combined with ruthless execution quickly dispatched the Athenaeum board 3 and secured the only full Lib point of the night. A very promising start and a strong addition to the top boards of the NLC team.
Board four saw Mister Hamme tackle a tricky Sicilian defence. 16. g3 allowed a knife in the ribs 16…d5 thrust, and Mister Hamme rightly accepted an early end to proceedings.
Mister Trivedi went down to David Taylor on board five. With Doctor Schady holding out for the half point on board 6, the Libs matched last years score of 1.5 to 4.5.
Predictably, there was just too much quality through the visiting side for anything other than a repeat of last year’s match score.
- Doctor Kirby v Peter Lee 0-1
- Mister Widdicombe v David Shankland 0-1
- Mister Whiteley v Nick Smedley 1-0
- Mister Hamme v Kester George 0-1
- Mister Trivedi v David Taylor 0-1
- Doctor Schady v Brian Gilmore 0.5-0.5
And so to dinner.
