Well it’s finally happened – the NLC has won a Hamilton-Russell Cup match! After the ‘so near yet so far’ experience of the Hurlingham match, who would have thought sweet victory would just take a couple of weeks.
The six brave warriors headed off into Chelsea expecting a difficult evening. The Chelsea Arts Club had won the Friendly and Hamilton-Russell Cup matches 3-1 last year.
Two victories were speedily achieved on the bottom boards, then as time trouble crept in, two losses on the top two boards. This left Mister Chamberlain and Mister Widdicombe to fight it out in the middle order. Mister Widdicombe secured victory, meaning at least a draw for the NLC. Then Mister Chamberlain brought it home. Result: 2-4 victory to the NLC.
Special mention must go to the Chelsea Arts Club, who were gracious in defeat, tolerant of our jubilation, and were genuinely happy that the NLC had secured its first Cup match win since the 1980s.
Doctor Kirby fought a hard match with Richard Black on Board 1. The Doctor had a promising King’s Side attack against the FIDE Master and Bermuda No1, but blundered a piece in time trouble and resigned. Post-match analysis indicated the resignation was premature and that the piece could have been regained though the opponent would have been in control. But that’s what time trouble does.
Mister Whiteley had black against the very effective Izzie Thomas. Mister Whiteley held out well in a King’s Indian, but the opponent’s King’s Side attack eventually broke through.
Mister Chamberlain quickly won the exchange against the dangerous Mike Radcliffe, but the opponent’s knight was a thorn in his side with the constant threat of forks. Mister Chamberlain managed to come through in time trouble to secure the victory and the match.
Mister Widdicombe was under pressure from the off, having tied himself up in the opening. He dug in, taking the punches for 20 moves before pushing back on the kingside, breaking the nasty double attack on f7 and then breaking in the centre. With a centre file opening up Mister Widdicombe sounded the charge and piled his heavy pieces through white’s position. With 40 seconds left on his clock he secured his opponent’s resignation and immediately retired to the bar to calm his shaking hands.
Mister Trivedi continued his special affinity with Board 5 with a win over Lino Mannocci. Mister Trivedi is undergoing something of a health kick at the moment, sticking to vegetarian food and cutting down the wine. Perhaps it is improving his chess!
Mister Dias continued his impressive run against Tatiana Mallinson. Mister Dias secured an advantage in the opening which he readily converted into a speedy victory.
Gathering his weary but elated band of victors at the bar for a pre-dinner pint, the Captain reminded his team: “The target for the year was to win a Cup match – this has been done. Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
And so to dinner. No special menus at the Chelsea Arts Club, just a run at their excellent A La Carte menu. And very good it was too, with Doctor Kirby very appreciative of the Celeriac Soup followed by the rib-eye steak. (Mister Widdicombe can vouch for the steak). The Chelsea Arts Club didn’t skimp on the wine either…
And so to the speeches. Mister Widdicombe (perhaps unwisely) captured Doctor Kirby’s tired and emotional remarks for posterity. But this time we came, we saw, we conquered….and then we had dinner.
For those gentlemen less familiar with the supernatural-themed cinematic collaborations of Murray-Ackroyd-Ramis (circa 1984-89), here is a refresher.
Thanks Ben. So far at least, this was our finest hour!