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 line up
A bumper crop this year, with 13 players drawn from across six clubs.
- Julio Brau (O&C)
- Mister Chamberlain (NLC)
- Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) (NLC)
- Captain Hamme (NLC)
- Richard Hughes (RAC)
- Master Jacobs (NLC)
- Luke King (EIC)
- Doctor Kirby (NLC)
- Steve Phillips (Landsdowne)
- Will Ransome (MCC)
- Miss Shulte (NLC)
- Nigel White (O&C)
- 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 |
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 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Dinner
And so to dinner. An excellent Escalope of Turkey Milanese. Much needed after the rigours of lightning play.
Well done Ben – top organising!