National Liberal Club Chess Circle
The website of the NLC Chess Circle
Tuesday 27 November had the NLC trooping off to the Athenaeum for a Hamilton Russell game. The first competitive match for a long time following a run of friendlies. The NLC had what might be its top side out, and they were ready for action.
The result ended up 3.5-2.5 to the Athenaeum, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Here’s the action as the events unfolded.
Board 4 came to a quick conclusion after a series of swaps, leaving an odd pawn structure.
So far, so good. 1-1 and all to play for.
Messers Widdicombe and Whiteley were to finish next, with a draw for Mister Widdicombe and an uncharacteristic loss for the Whiteley winning machine.
So 1.5 – 2.5 to the Athanaeum. But here’s where things got dramatic.
Mister Chamberlain, playing at Board 2 (he’s the joint-NLC Champion, of course) pulled out what must be one of his finest games in NLC colours to date, taking down David Shankland in some style. Mister Shankland is a damn good player, but, as this game shows, it was no fluke from Mister Chamberlain.
Mister Chamberlain commented after the game: “After a Slav opening, white launched a premature queenside attack which black rebuffed, winning the exchange. It could have perhaps been more, but even after some suboptimal moves black held an advantage and his opponent’s theoretically impressive bishop pair never pulled their weight. In the end one gobbled a poisoned pawn, allowing the other prelate to be taken, and then black’s knight and rook eagerly devoured white’s remaining past pawns and brought a rapid resignation.” Very well done sir. The competition for the Board 2 berth is red hot right now.
So the score was now 2.5 – 2.5, and things looked close on Board 1. Could the plucky NLC hold the Athaneaum to a draw? That would surely be the finest result yet.
All eyes on Doctor Kirby.
